THE latest community news from Llanilar.

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MEMBERS were invited to prepare a favourite food item to share, and to bring the recipe. This proved to be a most enjoyable evening.

The members were pleased to welcome Dinah Gibbons, treasurer of Ceredigion County Federation, to the AGM. Dinah acted as teller and also prepared a light-hearted quiz about flowers. She congratulated Judy Lile on her election as the new chairman of the County Federation. The members, too, are delighted that she has received this honour. Congratulations were also extended to Carol Evans on winning the county bursary towards a visit to Denman College. Eirlys Jones and Betty Wakelin shared the award for the member gaining most competition points last year. Maurine Edwards had the highest attendance. After hearing reports from the outgoing officers, the new committee was chosen, before members relaxed over refreshments. The raffle prize was won, appropriately, by Dinah Gibbons. The next meeting featured a talk by Lyn Smith on The Body Shop. Its founder, Anita Roddick, whose ethos was to avoid testing products on animals, opened the first Body Shop in Brighton, followed by branches elsewhere. One of her first products, peppermint foot lotion, formulated originally to sooth the weary feet of marathon runners, is still available. The members were shown a range of products to pamper hand, foot and body, also cosmetics and Christmas items. Shirley Ferguson volunteered to receive a makeover. The following week, Judy Lile welcomed Ceri Owen-Jones, who came to this country some years ago from Canada, and Elsa Davies, for an evening of traditional folk music. They collect tunes from ancient manuscripts, copies of some of which they showed the members. Ceri played two types of harps, while Elsa played a violin and a crwth, they also sang. Their performance was enhanced by background information about the songs and the instruments. They were warmly thanked by Jean Evans.

At the end of November, the speaker was member Jayne Hancock, who, aided by photographs, told of her visit which she and her husband made to the southern states of America. They went to Brooklyn, New York, Richmond and Virginia, and walked along The Appalachian Trail. They also visited a Welsh Ironworks at historic Tredegar.

President, Judy, gave the vote of thanks. The competition for a recipe from the southern States was won by Janet Webb.

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