The president welcomed 39 members – one new member and two visitors – to the July meeting. Dorothy Older gave a report on the AGM in Cardiff, where the guest speakers were Hilary Benn MP, Dame Deirdre Hutton and Bob Rees. Our entry into the East of En

The president welcomed 39 members - one new member and two visitors - to the July meeting. Dorothy Older gave a report on the AGM in Cardiff, where the guest speakers were Hilary Benn MP, Dame Deirdre Hutton and Bob Rees.

Our entry into the East of England Show came joint seventh of 20, a slight improvement on 2005.

Members enjoyed the Blue Badge guided walking tour of Oundle and are looking forward to the August Mystery Tour.

Refreshments were served and Carol Gibbings introduced the speaker, Michael Bentinck, author and broadcaster, whose topic was wartime women. He wrote his first book, My Father, My Hero in 1987 after his father eventually told the story of his life as a Japanese prisoner of war. An amazing story. He then told us how, on BBC Radio Cambridge, he had asked women to send in their wartime stories and received letters by the sackload from all over the country. Proceeds from his books go to charity. Dorothy Older gave the vote of thanks.

July birthday girls were Jean Bacon, Judy Buck, Betty James and Beryl Viles, and the raffle was won by Jean York, with Kath Carr winning the table flowers.

The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September 5, when the speaker will be Dorothy Halphide - Dot of the Dairy.

New members and visitors are always welcome.