ALVECHURCH WI had another successful informal summer evening in August at the cricket club when we were able to relax, have a chat with friends, and enjoy a light supper and drink.

We also went on a summer walk around Blackwell, being led by Jean Taylor, and then we returned to her house for scones and cream - delicious! Thanks, Jean.

The September meeting was held as usual in the village hall and, as Denise Cashmore, our president, was away, vice president Leona Downing led the evening very successfully. Brenda Lynch was thanked for providing a lovely flower display for the front table and then all our activities were discussed as there are plenty to enjoy.

Pauline Giles was thanked for getting a team to take part in the Group Quiz. We can choose to go to a Group Meeting in Beoley and the Annual Council Meeting at Pershore in October, also the Worcestershire trip to London in December, and theatre visits to the Crescent Theatre and the Palace - plenty of choice for everyone.

Members were also asked to consider whether they would like quizzes and entertainments after the main events of our meetings and, if so, whether some members would take part in helping to arrange them.

After the business of the meeting ended we were introduced to our speaker for the evening, Madeline Goold, whose talk was titled Living with Peacocks for 25 Years...not the retail company!

Mrs Goold was an excellent speaker, descriptive, amusing and easy to listen to. She told of how she inherited two peacocks when she and her husband bought a crumbling old house.

She explained how her interest in them developed slowly, so that she learned how to care for them and others. We heard of their amusing habits, how their tail feathers grow at Eastertime and fall in August, and how this eventually led to Mrs Goold becoming a talented wildlife artist of peacocks. Her slides were beautiful and enhanced what was a very enjoyable talk.

The vote of thanks was given by Valerie Mercier and Christine Grey won the competition.