THE latest community news from Llanilar

WI

It was good to meet again after the summer break, when president Judy Lile spoke with contributions from member Althea Tyndale, of a recent visit to Dennman College.

The visit included a day trip to some Cotswold villages, which grew up around the woollen industry. These included Witney, Burford, the very picturesque Lower Slaughter (slaughter meaning ‘a boggy place’) and Filkins where they spent time in the shop and museum.

The following week featured a most interesting talk by Lampeter WI member, Rev Victoria Hackett, who told of the time she spent as a teacher in London.

Many of the youngsters were from disadvantaged backgrounds, and she spoke with compassion of how she endeavoured to help them both socially and financially.

After retiring from teaching, she moved to Lampeter, where she is now a full-time curate.

She is also a trustee for Carmarthenshire Federation WIs.

The evening concluded with the presentation of a cake, baked by member Betty Wakelin, to Gillian Manton as a celebration of a special birthday.

Margaret Peel won the prize for a photo of a church or chapel.

Ioan Guile began his recent talk, entitled ‘My Life in Theatre,’ by tracing the origins of The Wardens in 1944, when Aberystwyth air-raid wardens started a play-reading group, giving their first performance in May the following year as a ‘Welcome Home’ to the troops.

Interest declined in the 1960s and the group disbanded, but in 1979 they regrouped with a performance in Theatre y Werin. Their first panto was Jack and The Beanstalk.

Panto has evolved over the years; today, props are hired, where-as originally they were made locally; the choreographer is a professional, but the other participants have day-jobs.

At present roughly 40 people are involved, and Ioan has participated in 37 pantos in Aberystwyth.

The competition of a picture of a pantomime dame was won by Hazel Rimmer.

At the end of September, speakers Dot and Claire gave an insight into the history and work of the Salvation Army. They explained how it was established by William and Catherine Booth, at a time when open-air meetings were commonplace. Catherine was one of the first women to preach.

Women still feature prominently in their work, which aims amongst other things, to give the under-privileged ‘a hand-up not a hand-out.’

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