MEMBERS of Charlton WI welcomed guests from both Andover Afternoon and Andover Evening WIs to their April meeting by the president.

The WI’s business covered the annual ‘Pennies for Friendship’ collection, news of a potential lunch Club and a book club.

Members were delighted to welcome Kit Malthouse MP, the Member of Parliament for North West Hampshire.

Kit began his talk by speaking of his Liverpool upbringing in the troubled 1980s and how politics both inspired him and led him to a career in government — a very similar path to that taken by his predecessor, Sir George Young. He worked as a Councillor in the City of Westminster and his memories as Deputy Mayor of London to Boris Johnson were peppered with some amusing anecdotes. He feels extremely positive about leaving the EU and was very proud to be in Parliament when such significant changes and decisions are being made. He spoke of his enjoyment in his role as MP and of living in Hampshire.

He then took questions from the floor concerning medical and leisure services in Andover, which included the thorny subject of the temporary demise of the swimming pool and sports centre, while the new centre is being built.

Two senior members of Charlton WI with very special birthdays, one celebrating her 100th birthday, were presented with flowers by Kit and wished them both ‘Happy Birthday’ and thanked them for their past work in the local Conservative office. He chatted with the birthday girls and other members as refreshments were served.

Not wishing their guest to leave empty-handed, he was presented with a plate of cakes to take home, which, he assured his audience, would be given to his children. It was a very interesting and enjoyable evening.

Members of Goodworth Clatford WI were delighted to welcome Madeleine Salvetti to their April meeting with her talk ‘Mistresses and their Influences on our History’. Madeleine took them through some often amusing scenarios starting in the time of Henry II and introducing them to the intrigue of political alliances in the Middle Ages, of ambitious mothers, the creation of many dukedoms and titles, which were set up to benefit illegitimate heirs, and the forming of the Order of the Garter in 1348. Until the 17th century mistresses were generally of noble birth but Charles II started to change attitudes. Actresses became more the accepted norm when Nell Gwynne became his mistress. Madeleine also told of the fortunes and times of Amy Lyon, who progressed via the Royal court to eventually become Lady Emma Hamilton and on towards modern times, of mistresses including Lily Langtry, Sarah Bernhardt and Alice Keppel finishing with the Royal family.

Her second group of men and their mistresses to be scrutinised were the politicians, looking particularly at those in this country and USA and finally, as very much publicised these days, the celebrities.

The speakers at the April meeting of Andover Afternoon WI were Dave and Linda Shurlock, who spoke about the charity WaterAid.

Dave focussed on his work as a volunteer at Glastonbury Festival in 2013. WaterAid is one of the charities providing volunteers at the festival, although there are paid helpers as well, providing some of the essential services. The festival now copes with 203,000 visitors each hear and all want an element of essential services, like clean water to drink and sanitation.

There is much security at the entrance gates, and no one gets in without a ticket, so the event is generally quite safe. There are various types of toilet facilities, but none are connected to the main sewerage system. The idea behind this is that festival goers experience some of the problems encountered by the many people who do not have access to modern sanitation.

There are events going on all day on the various stages. The festival gives funds to two other charities, Greenpeace and Oxfam.

Linda then told her audience of some of the other work of WaterAid. Both she and Dave visited Burkina Faso to see some of its work. Much of the population lives in poverty and some have to walk four miles to get water, and even then it may not be fit to drink and it causes illness.

In the whole world there are estimated to be 663 million people living without clean drinking water and adequate sanitation. Linda learned how to repair a water-pump and to teach the local people the importance of hygiene to prevent illness. One of the acronyms used by WaterAid is WASH — Water And Sanitation Hygiene.

Just before Easter one of the WI’s members hosted a very successful coffee morning at her home. She served hot cross buns as well as delicious homemade cakes to go with the coffee. In addition to the usual bring and buy table and raffle, she had organised a few games for the members to play while they ate, drank and chatted with each other. These proved to be very successful in keeping the guests amused. The members were very generous and the morning raised funds for the WI.

A big thank you to everyone who supported Abbotts Ann WI at its recent Easter Eggstravaganza — it was a great success. The WI was delighted to see so many and hope everyone enjoyed themselves. The proceeds of the morning are helping the WI to fund its centenary celebrations later this year. Some members dressed up — albeit not as ‘those’ bunny girls, but there was an abundance of tails and ears!

The various social groups of the WI have been busy with a very successful breakfast club at the Rosebourne Garden Centre. The supper club enjoyed a meal at ‘The Lion’ in Clanville; the walking group made their way around Longparish and the lunch club enjoyed a delightful lunch at ‘The Oak’ in Smannell, where most members took advantage of a two-course deal, which represented great value. The portions were very generous as well.

No doubt, many of the WI’s members are avid fans of ‘The Antiques Roadshow’, but it would appear that not many of them have learnt a lot if the April meeting is anything to go by.

Bill Evans brought along 14 objects, acquired during his many years at Globe Galleries in Andover, and he wanted his audience to identify what they were used for, to guess when they were made and to give an idea of their value. There was a lot of laughter as members sought to find an answer, but most were wild guesses and rather wide of the mark.