Doreen Armstrong took the chair and welcomed members and visitors to our February meeting. She thanked Elsie Weatherhogg for chairing the last meeting.

She sadly reported the death of a past member, May Botfield. May had been a member for several years and had to retire because of ill health. Five of our members attended her funeral and a floral tribute was sent. Doreen asked for a few moments of silence.

Win Willetts is retiring both as chairman and also Federation Committee. Margaret Tew is standing as chairman.

The Federation Carol Service raised £172.77 for St Thomas’s Church, Stourbridge, where the service was held.

The monthly free raffle saw packs of dishcloths won by Grace Campbell, Sheila Bevington and Lynn Green.

The first outing of 2010 will be to Chatsworth and the first strollers meeting in May to Lightwoods Park.

The charity table was well supported and a plea was given for in date packaged and tinned food for the Birmingham City Mission. It was decided we will revert back to supporting a single charity for the coming year. The Guild would like to support ‘Help for Heroes’ and this was unanimously agreed.

Our speaker was Madeline Stride whose talk on grandma’s secrets proved to be an absorbing subject. She had brought along a selection of items including coins, a 1937 edition of the Radio Times, his and hers knitted swinsuits and an Edison Bell ‘Little Gem’ phonograph.

All in all a very interesting and sometimes amusing talk. Madeline donated her fee to the Compton Hospice.

Our next meeting will be on March 24 at 10.30am and this will be our AGM. All meetings are held at the Moose Hall in Beeches Road, Blackheath.

Visitors are always very welcome.