AT the October meeting of YEOFORD members were shown by Ann Hosker how to make a pixie on a toadstool and everyone present was able to take part in this particular handicraft task to our satisfaction.

We asked for suggestions as to where we would like to go for our Christmas meal and various members are obtaining menus.

The winner of the flower of the month competition was Julie Cole, 2 Vera Squires.

We sent our best wishes to Betty Miller who has just spent a short time in hospital.

JN

THE October meeting of MORCHARD BISHOP began with president Angie Williams welcoming everyone. Business items were dealt with promptly. A separate evening W.I. has been formed in Morchard Bishop, with the help and encouragement of our president and committee.

This W.I. will primarily cater for those who have daytime commitments and it hopes to widen the scope in a modern manner!

Members voted on the Christmas lunch venue, were urged to attend a fun group social evening at Black Dog on November 14 and play bingo-whist; many members have put their names down for a workshop on Chinese Painting next year.

After the President's address, secretary and treasurer reports, plus "thank you's" to all who help throughout the year, the Annual Meeting was held. Two committee members have retired due to commitments and all others wished to continue, no new candidates came forward at the meeting. Angie Williams was re-elected President to everyone's delight.

The speaker was local farmer Robert Vere who gave a lucid history on the "Send a Cow" charity, of which he was a prime instigator some 21 years ago! Robert explained its aims in Africa, then and now, adding that the charity had grown beyond all expectations and raises million of pounds.

The "first herd" was flown to Entebbe – now, cattle are almost "self-propagating" and families are still being given a cow, often in calf, which is given to another family to start a further chain of self sufficiency.

He added the cow became part of a family and was cared for as such. The emphasis now is more on instructing organic methods of producing good crops as well as keeping up advice on good husbandry etc.

Ten African countries now benefit from the charity.

Robert was thanked officially by Angie Williams and he received plaudits from other members!

The committee then produced a cream tea plus a superb iced cake to celebrate two birthdays – members could be accused of looking "creamily" satisfied.

Flower of the Month winners: 1 Joan Dellamuro, 2 Sue Pluckwell. Used stamps collected by members throughout the year will go for charity.

The speaker at the November meeting will be from Susan's Florists (Crediton) showing Christmas Flower Arranging.>

MEMBERS and friends were welcomed to the October meeting of CREDITON by the president, Daphne Evans. Correspondence was then dealt with revealing a busy month ahead.

We are hosting the October Group Meeting at Sandford and arrangements were finalised for this.

Our speaker was Joan Soul and her subject was "Ghosts".

This was very interesting as she took us all around Devon telling us of haunted areas, Exeter Cathedral and Topsham being two mentioned.

A social evening at Black Dog has been planned and several members will be attending.

The competition was for a home-made witch's hat and was won by: 1 Jean Turner, 2 Jill Halsey, 3 Anne Grubb.

Flower of the Month contest was won by: 1 June Phillips, 2 Jill Halsey, 3 Phyll Salter.

Visitors are always welcome and prior contact can be made to Daphne Evans on 01363 774064 or Josie Mashford (secretary) on 01363 773222.

PG

Zeal

Monachorum

IN our last issue we reported the October meeting of ZEAL MONACHORUM WI. There were two errors. The new subscription will be £29.50, and not as stated in the information supplied to us.

The Christmas meal will be held at the New Inn, Coleford and not where previously stated.

THE Annual meeting of COLEBROOKE was well attended and we were glad to welcome a new member who has just moved into the village. We had our usual refreshments of cheese, wine and nibbles.

The existing committee were voted in again en bloc and we were pleased to have Liz Smith join as a new committee member. Val Pennington will continue as President for another year.

The programme for 2010 is now nearly complete and looks like being another interesting year. Our thanks go to Betty Summers of Down St Mary for giving us some suggestions for speakers.

Several members were going to the Red Earth Group Meeting at North Tawton a couple of days later and a group of us are going on the shopping trip to Bristol in November.

We have subsequently heard that there will be a coach leaving from Crediton again this year.

After the meeting we had a quiz with a small prize and this was won by our new member.

Our next meeting on "Christmas Cooking Ideas" will be on Monday, November 9.

BM

RESIDENT of SANDFORD, Margaret Tucker, welcomed members to the October meeting and thanked Gwen Cleverdon for organising the forthcoming trip to Homeleigh, Launceston on November 3.

The Christmas dinner will be held on December 4 at the Devonshire Dumpling, Morchard Road and a £5 deposit is required by the Annual Meeting on November 10.

Secretary Ann Evans said that Down St Mary WI have seats on their coach outing to Truro on Saturday, November 21 and they can pick up at Copplestone. She told members that their WI subscription for next year would be £29.50.

Margaret Tucker told members that following the business and election of officers at the November meeting there would be a fish and chip supper.

Speaker was Mr Hugh Scudder from Kenton and he gave an illustrated talk on Christian Response called "Making things better in Moldova". He told members that Moldova was previously part of Russia and under communist rule, but now it is the poorest country in Europe.

He showed pictures of the very smart parliament building followed by one of the squalid apartments less than a mile away in the capital city which have just one room, a tiny kitchen and some have only a small bedroom where whole families exist.

Education is reasonably good but, without computers, all children write clearly and well and are eager to learn.

Currently, Mr Scudder said they are building a centre with a soup kitchen to provide nourishing food for children and the elderly. The centre will also include a computer and facilities for children to do homework in warm and comfortable conditions.

He said they are now trying to raise funds for a second-hand mini bus to take housebound people out to a centre to enable them to meet other people.

Sandford members presented Mr Scudder with a number of shoe boxes to take to Moldova when he visits in December. He also told members that they always need blankets, good clothes and toys.

The competition for a knitted doll was won by: 1 Margaret Phillips, 2 Phyllis Conibere. Flower of the Month result was: 1 Phyllis Conibere, 2 Margaret Tucker, 3 Annie Aggett.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall when the competition will be for "your prettiest plate".^