WI

OUR president, Jacqui, welcomed two guests to the meeting on the evening of 25 May.Meirion was sung unaccompanied.Three birthdays will be celebrated before our next meeting and Jacqui congratulated The Barmouth Belles (three of our members) who had taken part in The Race for Life in Caernarfon, raising over £2,000 for charity.Minutes of the April meeting were read and signed and in the matters arising, 15 members enjoyed a dining out meal at The 1957 bar and restaurant, six members attended the fashion show in Porthmadog and six members went on the spring ramble which started at Coed Artro. Five players went to play darts at the Interfederation darts match in Pwllhelli but did not win, six members went ten-pin bowling and for a meal at The Eagles and two teams took part in the quiz night in Dolgellau.The ‘Ever Hopefuls’ finished with 72 points and the ‘Down But Not Out’ team finished with 82 points, being the winning team out of 15 teams.The summer trip will be to Llangollen on 29 June, leaving Barmouth at 10am.The WI Federation’s public affairs resolutions were voted on and the results sent to Christine Hemsley.The county letter was read and relevant dates and events noted. In the letter Barmouth WI was congratulated by our Federation President on winning the 2015 Scrapbook competition.Our guest speaker was Elliw Jones PCSO, who talked about her work as a support officer, covering an area from Bontddu to Talsarnau.There are 268 PCSOs and 1,200 police officers covering north Wales with 283 police stations. She has been a support officer for nearly two years and hopes to become a police officer eventually. As part of her job she attends local community and public meetings, has to be visible and approachable to locals and visitor alike.She can detain but not arrest and supports the police with more serious incidents.Can give advice on crime prevention, and deal with traffic violations and anti social behaviour incidents.PCSOs are invaluable in their support role for the police, handling everyday jobs so helping in solving and preventing crimes. She was thanked by Rose Morris. Geraldine, Mary and Geinor the tea hostesses were thanked by Jacqui. The raffle was won by Janet Davies, and the flowers by Alma Havercroft.The monthly competition, two decorated fairy cakes was won by Christine Leese.The date of the next meeting is on Wednesday, 22 June.

Christian Aid week

THE week started with a United Service in Christ Church. Representatives from the town’s churches came together for this special service to launch the week. Thursday was fund-raising day and this proved a great success with a total of £400 being raised by selling coffee and cakes in Christ Church, street collectors, donations and the offering during the Sunday.Our thanks go to all those who helped and those who generously donated to this very important Christian charity.

Bowling club

MAY brought some welcome fine weather, which has helped quite a lot with members’ enjoyment of the lovely game of bowling. On Saturday, 7 May, the Lady Captain, Pauline Roberts, won the ladies’ Round Robin Cup, with runner-up Iola Evans.Iola has only recently joined as a player to watch.The following week on 14 May, saw Ron Rees win the Roy Morton Cup, with runner up Margaret Williams. Both Ron and Margaret are prolific trophy winners and appear to be unbeatable.On Friday, 3 June the club will be staging a race night, which will take place at the Buffs Club, Barmouth, at 7.30pm.It promises to be a good fun night for everyone.If you and your friends and family like to try a little flutter, do go and join club members at the Buffs Club on Friday, 3 June.

New mayor

VALERIE McArdell was elected as Mayor at last week’s Barmouth Town Council AGM with Rob Triggs elected as the deputy mayor.They are wished well for the coming year and thanks were expressed to Matthew Harris as outgoing mayor for his hard work over the last year.

U3A

THE monthly meeting will be held in the Arts Room at The Dragon Theatre on Wednesday, 8 June, at 1.30pm and the talk is called Trees and Bees. Paul Aslin will bring along to the meeting a glass-sided observation hive and a selection of the candles, polishes, skin creams and soaps that they make.He will talk about the work they do keeping colonies of honeybees at home and at several other sites within a few miles. Paul and his wife Pauline from Bees and Trees have kept bees since 2001 and have been making and selling honey and beeswax products since 2004. They live on a smallholding that includes woodland, various chickens, Muscovy ducks, bronze turkeys, sometimes pigs, vegetable and fruit gardens and somehow find time for hill walking, making wine, jams and preserves, woodwork, the Welsh language and mountain rescue. It promises to be a very interesting afternoon so if you are over 50, retired or semi-retired and inquisitive to know more about U3A and all our activities, why not pop along and you will be made very welcome.

Coffee evening

THE annual St Mary’s coffee evening will again be hosted at the Jesuits House at Llanaber on Wednesday, 15 June, at 7pm. There will be the usual variety of stalls along with a model display.