WI

SINCE its inaugural meeting in January 1923, there has been a branch of the WI in Llangeitho, so it was with very heavy hearts that the remaining few members met with a county WI adviser on Thursday, 11 February to wind up the branch administration.The branch had struggled to maintain its membership over a number of years and had finally voted at the AGM last October to close.Several members had already joined other WIs as associate members and various invitations had been extended by local branches for members to join them as visitors initially. Rose Rooke, the president welcomed everyone to the meeting and the minutes of the AGM (October) and the minutes of the previous meeting (November 2015) were read and signed. Erma Lockham presented the accounts for the previous year which had been audited by Lynne Lloyd of the Tregaron branch. These were accepted and a cheque for the remaining monies given to Gay Evans (WI advisor) to forward to the County Federation where it will be held in a suspense account for three years and returned should the branch in Llangeitho be reformed.Decisions were taken regarding the remaining property. The hand-embroidered banner was to remain hanging in the Jubilee Hall , the ceremonial table cloth will go to the archives, as will the scrapbook.The Mattie Williams memorial cup purchased in honour of our late president (which was given each year to the competition winner), is being presented to Mattie’s widower and two daughters for them to decide its future use. The distinctive WI bone china tea sets were to be offered to the County Federation for their offices and the remainder would be advertised in the monthly newsletter.The secretary will write a letter to the trustees offering these items.Rose thanked Gay for overseeing the formalities and Ann for hosting the meeting, as the Jubilee Hall is under repair. Once the business of the night was concluded, members enjoyed a last buffet supper together, although they had all decided that they would meet regularly at Carwyn’s Café for a cuppa and a gossip.