BOOTHSMERE WI members enjoyed the annual literary lunch in Christleton, when David Sekers gave an interesting account of the life of Hannah Greg, wife of Samuel Greg, founder of Quarry Bank Mill, Styal.

‘All the Fun of the Fair’, involving old fashioned games like splat the rat and hoopla was a great success.

Several members took part in the sponsored Twilight Walk, in aid of the East Cheshire Hospice.

Members have been invited to join Crosstown WI at the ABBA concert at Gawsworth Hall in August.

Visits to the National Arboretum and the Lake District are also being planned.

Aled Jones was the guest speaker. His talk, entitled ‘The Life and Work of Florence Nightingale’ gave an interesting insight into her life and character.

She was born in Florence in 1820 and became known as ‘The Lady with the Lamp’. At 26, she married Sidney Herbert, an aristocrat and an MP for the Conservative Party. At the age of 30, she trained as a nurse in Dusseldorf.

When the Crimean War broke out, her husband was in charge of the welfare of soldiers fighting out there.

In 1854, Florence was asked to take nurses out to the base camp hospital but, as a woman, it was not welcomed by the army.

She was influential in raising money to improve conditions at the hospital and soon she became a heroine and received the Royal Red Cross from Queen Victoria.

She became a recluse when her husband died in 1857, and it was 13 years, before she rediscovered her passion for the improvement of nursing.

She founded The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, a centre of excellence for the training of nurses. Florence died peacefully at age 90.

The next meeting is on May 12 with a talk is entitled ‘Ladies’ Lingerie’.

Diane Downs