The Andover Homemakers’ Club’s annual meeting took place at St Ann’s Hall in November 2016, and business took place after a moment’s silence to remember long time member Eve Smallbones.

The club rules and motto were read, followed by the last annual meeting minutes, the annual report and the treasurer’s report. Club accounts had been audited, and were in order, and though this year there was a very small loss it was thought annual subscriptions could remain at £5.

The committee had lost several valuable members in 2016, their posts as yet unfilled, but an appeal resulted in some help being offered. The biggest anxiety remained helpers for serving tea. Grateful thanks were paid to the existing committee who had all worked very hard. Jacky Hutchins and the remaining committee were re-elected en bloc. Laughter greeted a query from the floor regarding the upper age limit of the committee, but there is nothing in the rules to limit age.

Notice was given of the Christmas Fayre at Andover Nursing Home, together with details of the club’s Christmas lunch and appropriate birthday cards were distributed. Then, as always, the annual meeting was followed by several enthusiastic games of bingo, with chocolates for the winners.

Competition winners this month for the ‘Prettiest Lace Item’ were: 1, Jacky Hutchins; 2, Mary Hazard and 3, Ann Allen. Finally season’s greetings were extended to those members missing the festive lunch.

The Christmas lunch took place in December at ‘The Chestnut’ in Weyhill Road, where 20 members sat down to a very nice Christmas meal. Prizes were awarded as always after lunch to the winners of the most competition points over the year, and also to two lucky members, Sheila Walsh and Maureen Weldon, who were sitting in the right seats at the right time, numbers being drawn by an obliging diner nearby!

Christmas cards were distributed widely, and the afternoon closed with coffee and mince pies.

The first meeting of the new year will be on 17 January and will take the form of a ‘Musical Afternoon’, after which the committee will serve tea and cake.

Guests and new members are always welcome. Contact Jacky Hutchins on 01264 323520.