Calder Vale WI  February Meeting 2011 celebrated its 79th birthday at Alston Hall.

Alston Hall itself has no claim to a ghost or worse, so members of Calder Vale WI were able to  enjoy stories of murder and mystery at the institutes anniversary without any anxiety. They could relish the drama. 

An enjoyable meal was a prelude to some business –brief, but important, for traditionally this is when the name of the village’s Festival Queen is given out. President Brenda Price announced that this year Jessica Sharples is the lucky girl.

The Betty Leather Rose Bowl is awarded on this occasion to the member gaining the most points in the competitions. To the president’s surprise she herself was the worthy winner. Gifts and certificates for full attendance were awarded. Brenda thanked Val Carroll for her work in reclaiming the gift-aid tax rebate.

The president appealed for last minute items for the Women’s Refuge in Preston before giving  times of the visit to Lytham Hall on 13^th February to see the snowdrops.  There was a reminder of the Easter Monday Bingo in aid of the Community Outing and a request for prizes etc to be brought to the March meeting.

It was time then to settle comfortably and quietly to hear a multitude of Lancashire tales, some strange – some even grisly. Fortunately all were far enough in the past as not to be alarming on a dark night. The speaker, a real story teller, had a rapt audience and Veronica Stanley Smith conveyed everyone’s pleasure in her vote of thanks.

The meeting in March will see Calder Vale WI back in the newly decorated village hall and welcoming guests from other institutes. ‘Identify Colours and Styles that suit you best’ ,is the talk by Penny Elger of the House of Colour.