MEMBERS of Redmarley Women's Fellowship had good reason to celebrate with 50 years since its formation and still going strong. Founder members and more recent ones all got together in the Village Hall to meet and reminisce, one former member travelling from Carmarthen, others from Ross on Wye, Cheltenham and Worcestershire. It was a great occasion.

It all began when Mrs Niblett, the wife of the then rector and president of the Mother's Union, formed a Young Wives Group, junior members of the Mother's Union. The meetings were held in Redmarley Rectory and began, as now, with a hymn and a prayer and there was an interesting and varied programme throughout the year. They helped us with the senior citizens, church services and Christmas fair and the high spot of the year was carol singing. They have many happy memories of buying the stocking gifts for the Eastnor Children's Home and how appreciative Mr and Mrs Tandy, who ran the home, were. They have also raised many hundreds of pounds for charity.

The members still travel the village at Christmas and remember nostalgically being invited into homes where the children were kept up late or brought down stairs in their pyjamas to hear the carols and hot mince pies were enjoyed.

With the help of Mrs Davis, the Vicar of Longdon's wife, the Young Wives Group was renamed Women's Fellowship which gave them the opportunity to extend a welcome to women of all ages. Later Mrs Niblett and Mrs Mary Arnall were invited to Mrs Jill Taylor's home at Eldersfield to introduce and start a Women's Fellowship there and that group continues today.

As Mrs Arnall said: "Throughout the years we have been blessed with wonderful committee members, who arranged the party today". The Fellowship are always looking outward and encourage and welcome new members.

A delicious tea ended with the cutting of an iced cake by the oldest member, 90-year-old Miss Joan Lawrence and Mrs Arnall and then the free raffle was drawn with many lovely prizes.