ROUND THE SOCIETIES

Mothers' Union

On the 21st April, in company with our friends from Upchurch, we welcomed Mr. Hibbert from U.S.P.G. After an introductory talk we enjoyed a most interesting film taken in Basutoland where a dedicated team of medical missionaries are relieving the pain and suffering of many of this country's people. We were astonished to learn that in this very mountainous region the only means of transporting seriously ill people to the Mission Hospital is by horseback. The Hospital is being rapidly expanded and the greatest need at the moment is for qualified staff.

J.A.

Young Wives' and Mothers' Fellowship

On the evening of 19th April, the Young Wives were shown three very interesting and colourful films. One by Hovis on "Flour milling for bread", one by Robertson's on making jam and a lovely "Come to Norway" one, which nearly caused the entire gathering to rush out and book a passage! We were very pleased to welcome three new members, Mrs. Saxby, Mrs. Tong and Mrs. J. Beecham.

The next meeting will be May 3rd, when Mr. Tollhurst will be "Planning a Garden". We hope for a large audience.

M.N.

Women's Institute

Firstly a reminder that the meeting on May 10th will be in the evening at seven o'clock and we look forward with pleasure to seeing again those members who cannot attend in the afternoons.

Among films presented at the April meeting "The History of Carpets" provided colourful viewing and the fact emerged that Queen Elizabeth the first liked to have her coat of arms woven into her carpets. Did this remind some of us of those fat, cosy, rag rugs beloved of our grandmothers into which were woven if not the family coat of arms at least the arms of the family's coats!

Gentlemen of Hartlip cease searching for your comfortable old garden jackets and your ancient slippers. They were kindly contributed by your women folk to the W.I. Jumble Sale and were eagerly snapped up by gentlemen whose comfortable old jackets and ancient slippers had almost certainly been sent to other jumble sales.

N.T.