PRESIDENT Brenda Dainty opened the November meeting with the sad news that member Betty Hague had died and a minute's silence was held.

Reports were given of an enjoyable bingo evening held at the Shawhurst Community Centre and of the recent Christmas crafts afternoon, organised by Wythall WI and attended by several Drakes Cross members, who picked up many useful tips.

Speaker Vince Williams gave a slide-illustrated talk about an adventurous trek he made with three relatives and guides to the base camp of K2 in northern Pakistan.

At 28,250ft, this is the world's second highest mountain. Their aim was to place a bronze plaque in memory of Jeff Lakes, a cousin of Vince and a well-known climber, who perished on the mountain in 1995.

To achieve this they walked 100 miles from the last inhabited village over glaciers and other hazardous terrain.

The Christmas buffet lunch on December 17 will be followed by entertainment from Mike and Pat Ledbury with A Victorian Family's Musical Christmas.