VICE-CHAIRMAN Sheila Kempster opened the February meeting of the Guild, welcoming 45 members and a new member.

Reports were received from the various sections. Lightcraft were making £50 donations to each of three charities and were working towards their next craft event in the summer.

Chairman Audrey Haines spoke about outings, suggestions being Hatfield House, Windsor, with a boat trip and cream tea, Buckingham Palace and Hylands House.

Christmas lunch has been arranged for December 14 at Clavering and the pantomime on December 19.

Audrey also told the meeting of a visit to High House at Purfleet in April.

The sales table had been well supported and there were quite a few entries for the competition.

The committee was re-elected en bloc at the AGM.

The accounts showed the Guild to be in a very healthy position and Wendy Spanton, as secretary, gave a good report on the Guild’s activities during the yeare.

The chairman thanked Rose Forster for being a loyal president for the past year.

She was pleased to announce our new president was Ada King, who was presented with her Badge of Office.

Our speaker was introduced from Thurrock Council, Sue Bloss, who she spoke about recycling of our waste and how much more it cost to landfill than to recycle.

Our competition was a photo of a member as a ‘Recycled Teenager’, which was won by Yvonne Lauder.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, March 28, at 1.30pm at the Methodist Church hall, in Hathaway Road.