THE president welcomed everyone to the June meeting and gave a special warm welcome to three visitors.

The speaker for the evening Judith Townsend presented a talk entitled ‘Bin Baby’. On March 12, 1949, Judith was born in China. Unfortunately, the policy in China at that time only allowed families to have one child. The result being – and as happened to so many second borns in China – she was placed in a sack and thrown on the rubbish heap.

Fortunately for Judith, she was discovered and nursed back to health. Her talk included how she was brought up in a mission and that, when she was 15 years old, she was thrown out for being disobedient.

It is quite clear that Judith is a very independent and determined individual, and when she had set her heart on a career to become a nurse, there was no stopping her.

Judith told the members how she met her husband and that it was only due to his persistence that they married and had two children and are happily married today.

She concluded by expressing her sincere thanks to England for giving her the opportunities to study and train as a nurse and to raise a family. Considering Judith’s poor start in life, she genuinely believes that someone somewhere is looking out for her.

A vote of thanks was given by Jean Pomfret, after which refreshments provided by Joyce Kirkpatrick and Jean Whitlow were served.

The competition for the most amusing photograph of a child under five years old was won by Helen Mitchell, second was Joyce Kirkpatrick and third Jean Pomfret.

The raffle was drawn and the winner announced as Joyce Kirkpatrick.

Within the business of the meeting, future dates for the diary are a painting class with Gill Adlington on July 29 and a bingo and hotpot supper evening on October 29.

The president reminded the members that the next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 23.

The speaker will be Neil Cliffe, presenting a talk entitled ‘How I made my first million and spent it’. The competition will be ‘before the best’ bargain buy.

Kathryn Whitlow