Sixty-eight members of NFU Ladies Monmouthshire gathered for their March lunch at St Mellons Golf club.

Prior to lunch Vice President Mrs Kay Spencer explained the changes to the rules of the organisation which had been brought to the AGM last October for updating and relevance to 2015/16.

Main points included: the term of office for president to be for two years, committee members to be elected for up to three years, then possible re-election after one year’s break from committee. Members were invited to note these proposals and let the committee know if there were any problems envisaged with the changes.

Grace was then said by Pat Cullimore, followed by a salmon lunch.

The theme of the event was ‘Colour Analysis and Image Consultation’. Nora Burns from Nelson explained how she had really gained in self-confidence after taking advice on the colours that suited and uplifted her - and as a result of this had trained to advise others on their colour choices when planning their wardrobe and choosing make-up.

Colours fall into categories – strong versus soft and cool versus warm - according to the client’s skin tone, but not necessarily hair colour. The colours which are found to suit you now will still suit you in the years ahead - so pinpointing those colours is a lifetime investment.

Nora’s model was President Clare Jones who, by comparing numerous colour swatches, was shown to be best suited by strong/warm colours,.

Nora completed the ’makeover’ by using makeup to complement Clare’s colouring, talking through the procedures for makeup to last.

Following Nora’s advice that if you haven’t worn a particular item of clothing for two years it’s time to be ruthless and cast it out, many members planned to return home to ‘rationalise’ their wardrobes.

The vote of thanks given by Joan Rowlands from Yorkshire to Nora Burns from Lancashire, on behalf of mostly Welsh ladies, was very apt!

April’s lunch was held at the St Pierre (Marriott) Golf and Country Club, near Chepstow, on a beautiful spring day. The business part of the meeting covered forthcoming events including a trip to Stratford, afternoon tea at the Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club, Hendre and the President’s Charity Lunch in aid of Breast Cancer Care, in June.

After an original Grace by Brenda Edwards, 78 members were served lunch, followed by an illustrated musical talk on ’Ol’ Blue Eyes’ by Mr Richard Jordan from Grosmont.

The hourlong talk covered Frank Sinatra’s life from his birth in 1915 until his death in 1998, incorporating his Sicilian parentage and tracking the highs and lows of his singing career, the ladies in his life and his connections including the Rat Pack and Mafia!!

He was also a very generous philanthropist - donating a billion dollars to under privileged children, palliative care for cancer victims and blind children, over the latter years of his life.

Well-known Sinatra tracks were played to accompany the talk - with ‘My Way’ as a very fitting finale.