OUR March meeting was held by kind permission in the mayor's parlour owing to vandalism that had taken place in the community hall.

Our vice president Brenda Clarke welcomed us. During business matters, we heard that the bring and buy held at last month's meeting raised £20. Various notices were read out of forthcoming events and outings.

This afternoon's speaker was Val Bloom, from Droitwich Library. She gave a most engrossing talk and asked us to imagine your home had caught fire and what books you would save from the flames. She had a bag already packed for this emergency. First of all, her current library book, Queenie by Beryl Bainbridge, the hostess who became a close friend of Samuel Johnson. Apparently he was a very entertaining fellow. Reading the classics at school is very different when you are older, it is like reading another book. She particularly enjoys George Elliot's Middlemarch, as it gives you a deeper insight. The compelling magic of the Bronte sisters' Jayne Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Also William Golding's The Spire is another favourite and the heartache of Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth, as is Captain Correlie's Mandolin. Barbara Walker gave the vote of thanks.

The winner of this month's competition was Dorothy Jacques for the oldest books - hers was about 200-years-old. A bookstall was held and made £15. The remaining books were give to St Richard's Hospice.

The April meeting is at another new address, this time the Old Library at 2.15pm. Hopefully we will be back in the community hall in May.