THE Coads Green WI programme for the year has been interesting and varied.

The June meeting was held at the St Kitts Herbery, where members found out how the owners had established their workshop, café and shop.

In contrast, for the July meeting president Linda Willan introduced Carol Meakin, who had a moving tale to tell about her life as an adopted child. Carol, who was brought up in a Stoke-on-Trent mining village, made the discovery as a child that she had been adopted. She gradually learned that her mother still lived locally, and that she had two step-sisters. In later life, she also discovered she had a third, older sister who had also been given up for adoption. The only parents for Carol were the ones who had brought her up, loved her, wanted the very best for her and made her feel special, especially as they had adopted her later on in their lives. Carol’s birth mother had, literally, given Carol away to a childless couple as she just could not cope.

The story was also about the prejudice that existed in the strict Methodist community towards a child born out of wedlock. There were never invitations to other children’s parties and even teachers were heard to say that she didn’t count. However, with loving parents to support her, Carol received a grammar school education, leading to a career in nursing. Her birth mother got in touch, after her parents died and became a part of her life but could never and would never try to replace the two real parents who had nurtured her.

Rosemary O’Brien thanked Carol for the interesting talk about her life.

The delegate from Stoke Climsland WI had attended the National AGM where both WI Resolutions were passed to raise awareness of the plastic soup in the ocean and in support of carers.

Members were invited to sign up for a variety of activities offered throughout the county, from making hanging baskets to quilted bags, attending a beeswax workshop or a spa day, to visiting a winery.

Dates for the diaries included a trip to Sterts on August 29, to see My Fair Lady.

Members were asked to help with the tea tent at the Launceston Show on July 27, and with refreshments at the Coads Green Farmers’ Market on Saturday, August 26.

Daphne Tucker won the competition prize, with Julia Radford taking second place and Christine Walters taking third.

Janet Ham took first prize for the flower-of-the-month, with Margaret Hopes and Julia Radford in second and third places, respectively. Birthday posies were presented to Mona Pengelly and Meg Walker. Alison Gribble won the draw.

The hostesses for the evening were Daphne Tucker and Christine Walters.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 16, and will be the ‘Summer Social’, at the kind invitation of Rosemary O’ Brien.