The recent meeting of the Bude WI was held at the Methodist Church Hall on Tuesday, October 11, and their president, Carol Sparham, greeted 66 members.

This meeting was the annual Harvest Festival and members brought their home produce which was sold by Mamie Wildman, Jane Culverwell and Carole Edwards during the tea break. The sale raised £105.83 for the WI’s charity of the year, the local youth project, The Pearl Exchange.

The members were introduced to the work of The Exercise for Mobility charity, (E4M), by Sara one of the team members. Everyone joined in with great gusto and Cynthia May thanked Sara for getting the membership so animated!

As usual members were invited to take part in a variety of outings, workshops and a spa day at the W Club.

President, Carol Sparham, commented on the wonderful messages received regarding the mosaics which have been laid to celebrate the 100th year of Bude WI. This has been followed by the planting of a tree, a flowering cherry, near the Neet side building. Continuing celebrating the WI’s 100 anniversary Cynthia May and her Anniversary committee have organised a dinner at the Falcon Hotel on Wednesday, November 9. This date is exactly 100 years since a small group of Bude Ladies met in the current Red Cross Shop to found Bude WI. Two years after this, in 1924, the Women’s Institute hall was built in Broadclose Hill on land then known as Home Field acquired with a down payment of £200 from George A C Thynne.

There were nine original Trustees for the WI, these were: Leila Carver (the first President), Geraldine Foster Melliar, Hilda Hallett, Edith Alice Hones, Althea Nicholson, Constance Oliver, Grace Vickery, Elizabeth Ellen French, May Thynne.

As it was a harvest supper everyone enjoyed a pasty and a drink organised by Julie Grice and her catering crew. Due to family commitments committee member, Lynn Geldart, has had to resign her position. She was presented with a gift by Carol Sparham thanking her for past work.

As usual there were two competitions, flower of the month which was won by Carol Sparham, second Brenda Dunstan, third Lynn Faulkner. The other competition, how many words could be made from Harvest Festival was won by Nicki Raper with over 600 words, second Marie Blackwell and third Ruth Pearce.

Next month the November meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 8, when the speaker will be the High Sheriff and Princes Council member Mar Mark Thomas.

As usual any lady who would like to sample the Bude WI are welcome to attend as a guest.