St Joseph's Ladies Circle: Chairman Laura Farmer opened the June meeting and began by thanking Jennie O'Hare for leading the previous meeting in her absence and Elizabeth Wilson for stepping in as treasurer.

Apologies were taken and the minutes of the previous meeting were read. Lilian Taylor gave her annual financial report. Final arrangements were made for the June visit to Ushaw College and the trip to the Arthur McGlen Designer Outfit and the City of York by coach on July 16. The quiz, organised by Mary Hoban and Sheila Patterson, was won by Jennifer Murley and Vera Rooke and Jean Smith and Elizabeth Wilson. Refreshments were served by Winnie Muldowney and Vera Rooke. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 2, at 7.30pm in the Jubilee Room, St Joseph's RC Church. Eileen Brydon from the charity Enable will talk about working with disabled children in India.

Belmont WI

PRESIDENT Marjorie Oates welcomed members to the June meeting including two new members. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary Jean Morgan. Names were taken for the annual summer outing to Snod's Edge WI and for a trip to Ushaw College. In July a cake stall will be held in aid of WI funds. Birtley Music Society entertained the group with a rendition of light classical music. The June competition, a music box, was won by Elizabeth Anderson, second was Marion Hately and third Flora Kelly. The June birthday girl was president Mrs Oates. Raffle winners were Isaline Milburn, Olive Canning and Vera Hughes. The next meeting is on Monday, July 14, at 6.45pm in Belmont School.

Shincliffe WI

VICE president Pat Guy welcomed members to the June meeting. The speaker was Jane Young who gave a talk and showed slides on Floral Facts and Folklore. Susan Lister then cut the 85th birthday cake which had been decorated by Barbara Horner. Tickets were on sale for the strawberry evening on July 10 when members will be entertained by Kate Fox. The competition, a rose, was won by Evelyn Simpson and the door prize was won by Elizabeth Wilson.

Merry Oaks WI

PRESIDENT Margaret Thornhill welcomed members to the June meeting, and introduced Garry Hilary from Finchale Training College who demonstrated hanging baskets and tubs, which were later raffled. Mr Hilary gave lots of tips and good advice on how to improve gardening skills. The plant stall was very successful and the competition for the best button hole was won by Eira Evans and Sheila Storey. During the business the president announced that the charity concert by Snug had raised £304. Plans for visits to the theatre and a boat trip on the Tyne are in hand. Next month there will be a talk by David Hughes, a bookstall and strawberries and cream. An evening walk has been organised for July 15.

Coxhoe Ladies

THE June meeting was opened by Jean Holmes. Get well wishes were sent to Alice Duffy, who broke both wrists while negotiating difficult manoeuvres on the dance floor, and to May Egglestone. The evening was spent putting the final touches to the annual wine and strawberry evening next month. Betty Winter designed and made the posters to go round the village. Liz Atkinson offered to make the strawberry jam and many members are making the scones. Gillian will see to the cream and wine and Jean will organise the strawberries. At the event members will be in the kitchen serving wine and scones. At least 200 tickets are expected to be sold. Carole Sanderson provided a music quiz and read poetry. Nancy Gavin won the quiz and the competition, a pretty makeup bag, was won by Marjorie Iceton.

Gilesgate TG

The monthly meeting took place on June 9 at 7pm in the St John Ambulance Hall. The chairman Jennie O'Hare welcomed three Federation officers from Hartlepool. The chairman introduced speaker Ida Johnson who gave a talk and demonstration on flower arrangements. The theme was wedding anniversaries, silver, pearl, ruby and golden. Jill Kennick gave the vote of thanks. There was then a short break for refreshments. The flower displays were raffled along with other prizes. Winners were Cath Murphy, Ethel Braithwaite of Hartlepool, Betty Caskey, Phyllis Ovington, Heather Alderson, and June Watson. Ida judged the competition, a posy in an egg cup, and the winner was Shirley Whiteley.

The guild business then took place. The minutes of the April meeting were read and agreed. A brief report of the May day outing was given. The last two financial reports were read by the treasurer. The business had to be rather brief as time was getting on. Mrs O'Hare is the delegate to the NCM in Birmingham on Friday, June 15. Mrs Kennick is the Federation delegate. Events were discussed including the Federation chairman's 'At Home' on July 2, there was a visit to the Gala Theatre this week, a possible outing to Brotton Village on July 22. On Monday, June 2, the group welcomed its twin guild Fairfield Manor for an evening. All members enjoyed a marvellous faith supper. The entertainers were two women from Spennymoor who talked about their experiences of taking part in television quiz shows. The next meeting is on Monday, July 7, when Linda McDonna will give a talk on fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The competition is a small trinket box.