THE meeting opened with a minute's silence in memory of national chairman Barbara Gill and our own member Marie Hale.

Sheila O'Shaugnessy is acting secretary while Margaret is away but otherwise the committee remained unchanged.

Arrangements were made for the shopping trip to Chester, and a different type of rambling trip , visiting the canal locks of central Birmingham.

The hall lights were dimmed to create an atmosphere for the guest speaker Chloe Lees, a member of the Midnight Storytellers. She told stories from around the world, some traditional and some modern.

After a break for tea and mince pies Anne Laugharne conducted the carol singing and the competition for a Christmas stocking was won by Josie Morgan.