This month we celebrated our WIs
80th Birthday with sparkling wine and a birthday cake. The cake,
made by our member Angela Tomes, was an exact replica of our
green official tablecloth together with every President`s signature
dating back to 1933. The only memory we have of the cake are
the photos because we have eaten it! Judith Walker our current
President and secretary Sylvia Morlidge went on to remind us
of various County events and also of the Anniversary dinner
on April 27th and the Arts and Crafts Exhibition on September
1st.
Intriguingly, the speaker for the evening, Gwen Zanzottera,
was to tell us about why she goes topless around Stratford!
When she retired from her secretarial job at the age of 61 Gwen
was looking forward to indulging in her hobbies of sewing, knitting,
reading and gardening. However, much as she enjoyed these pursuits,
they were all home based and Gwen wanted to get out and meet
people. Also it would be quite handy if she were able to earn
some extra pennies. A friend suggested she become a guide for
the Guide Friday Bus tours around Stratford. She would be working
on an open top bus hence the "topless "part of the
title. Gwen qualified after 6 weeks vigorous training which
included learning a depth of detail about Shakespeare and medieaval
England not to mention genning up on details of the 5 Shakespeare
connections in Stratford. Eventually she did the one hour guided
tour of Stratford which she enjoyed immensely meeting many interesting
people including one little Japanese lady who was apparently
stone deaf but had learned to lip read in English. The worst
part of the tour was coming back down the Birmingham road where
there is not much of historical interest so this was where the
her fund of background knowledge was useful. Gwen went on to
become a Blue Badge Guide covering an area from Stoke-on-Trent
to Cheltenham entailing a three hour written exam and knowledge
of five cathedrals. Twenty years on and Gwen now trains other
guides. Did you know that the expression "a frog in the
throat " comes from ancient times when a frogs saliva was
used to treat a sore throat. Modern research has found antibiotic
properties in the saliva. Gwens talk was very entertaining and
amusing.
The next meeting will be Wednesday 10th April when the speaker
will be Lorraine Mansfield who will talk on "Extra Care
Management ". Business Care Development Manager for Orbit
Housing.
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