UNFORTUNATELY, due to family illness, the booked speaker was unable to attend the last meeting of Cheriton Fitzpaine WI. However, Mary and David Nunn stepped in with a description of the St John Fellowship members’ visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Along with 300 other members from across England and the Islands, the Exeter and District Branch took part in a special service to remember the fallen on the first day of the Somme.

After the Boer War, there was a special Government Commission which, in 1907 declared that members of St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and members of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry should all be required to support the RAMC during hostilities.

Men who were already members of St John, or the Red Cross, were automatically made stretcher bearers or medical auxiliaries, and many were killed, especially on July 1.

After the service, members enjoyed lunch together before going to visit other memorials which had a special interest for them.

David visited the 846 Squadron Fleet Air Arm Memorial, and Mary the Q.A.R.A.N.C. David ensured that there was a photograph of the beautiful memorial dedicated to the Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps, as one of our WI members, Jean Carr was a Landgirl in Cheriton Fitzpaine, and thankfully for us, never went home!

Mary Burchmore had organised a very successful trip to the Northcott Theatre to see “Shadowlands”, transport having been funded by a grant from the Devon Community Foundation.

She is also organising a coach trip to Otter Nurseries on Wednesday, August 17, leaving the Half Moon pub at 10am and returning from Ottery at about 3.45pm. Friends are welcome to come with us at a cost of £2, and should contact Mary direct on 01363 866157.

Once again our WI took part in the Co-operative entry for the Mid Devon Show. The competition was intense, and we did not win this time, but the aim, to bring women together to share their individual skills was certainly achieved. Thank you Mary Burchmore for all your hard work in co-ordinating the entry.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 21 at 2.15pm in the Parish Hall, when our own local historian Elly Babbedge will be talking about “Illegitimacy and Murder in our Village”.

Mary Nunn