At the June meeting of CHERITON FITZPAINE the Speaker was Alexis Swain from Dunchideok.

Alexis was born in Northern Rhodesia where she was the third generation of Scottish settlers who farmed the land. In 1964 (one of the coldest on record), she was sent to School in Musselborough - a real culture shock!

After attending University and obtaining a Zoology degree, she married her Civil Engineer husband and travelled widely.

When they moved to Devon for his work Alexis had aspirations of cultivating a beautiful garden, but soon realised that being so near the River Teign, nothing would grow.

Having joined the WI she was encouraged by another member to breed Muscovy ducks for meat.

We were treated to an hilarious account of the vicissitudes of raising ducks in the face of determined opposition from moles, foxes and badgers. However, she was successful, and now provides frozen ducks for a niche market.

After tea, we discussed our forthcoming entry into the village carnival, and also our forthcoming 80th Birthday Party in July, to which we have invited former members, VIP’s and adjoining WI’s.

Our next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, August 15, when the subject is “Hats”. Members are asked to bring their geraniums grown from the plugs provided in order to compete for the June and Ena Cup.

The winner of the Elworthy Cup, for the most points in the monthly competitions, was Mary Burchmore, and the runner-up, Tessa Powell, who both received the Phyllis Cheriton Cup.

Mary Nunn