CHAIRMAN Vickie Barker opened the May 24 meeting with details of the final arrangements for the summer trip on the Countess of Evesham from Stratford on June 21.

The speaker was Janice Wade, who retired after 30 years with West Midlands Police force, rising through the ranks to Detective Superintendent.

After a two-year probationary period she specialised in CID and told of numerous amusing incidents that happened during her long career.

She worked undercover in Plymouth and was a training officer and she also worked in Lesotho in the African police force during the period when Nelson Mandela was released.

She finished her exciting and varied career as head of Special Branch, West Midlands.

The next meeting is at Alcester Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 7, at 8pm when Mary Smith's subject will be antiques.