There was a very good turnout for the first meeting of Gilwern WI in 2016 on a crisp, cold and snowy January evening with Mrs Ann Tysoe-Pettifer, the president, in the chair.

Each year the WI asks members to vote on relevant and topical issues that they want the organisation to campaign on or raise awareness about. This was done accordingly at the Gilwern meeting with a show of hands. The outcome nationally will be relayed in due course.

The Centenary Scrapbook is now finished and has been delivered to Cwmbran for judging. Each WI was asked to compile a scrapbook to record the events of 2015, the centenary year. A lot of hard work went into its composition and it will serve as a permanent record of this milestone in the WI’s history.

The evening then progressed to a talk given by John Webb, of Webbs of Crickhowell, on the history of his family-run company. It’s the story of how a hardworking, tenacious, enterprising and loving family established a very successful business. Peals of laughter echoed through the hall as John related the progression of the shop over the years with several anecdotes of the situations encountered. For those who haven’t been to Webbs, there is always something in this shop that you didn’t know you needed!

The competition was ‘Your favourite Christmas Card’ won by Mrs Jane Pratt with a photograph of an old Welsh chapel in Ceredigion.

The next meeting will be on February 11, when Ms Lena Dyche will give a talk on Sweden. New members are always welcome.