A crowded room full of members and visitors was welcomed by this month's President, Veronica, to the start of our Institute's 70th birthday year. Extra chairs were brought in to seat everyone, as members heard about the wide range of planned activities that have been arranged. Having seen the play based on the film of "Calendar Girls" a few years ago, a group of members are off to see the Musical version, "The Girls", at the Lowry. Others are considering going to the National Theatre's live streaming of "As You Like It". More locally, two groups are going to view the new development at Barons Quay in Northwich, whilst a large number of members signed up to join the new Book Club under Jenny Roberts' leadership. Inspired by the fun enjoyed by members whilst making the banner and bunting for the centenary celebrations last year, a new Craft Group is also being formed with Rosemary Mullett . The committee, which had welcomed two extra members after the AGM, is also looking for ideas on how to celebrate our birthday later in the year. It has already been suggested that we should renovate the seat at the top of Acton Hill, originally erected by the WI to celebrate its first 10 years, and then renovated at the time of the Queen's Silver Jubilee. This year we could mark the Queen's 90th birthday, as well as our own 70th, with a new commemorative plaque.

Having also paid their subs, received their membership cards with the year's programme of talks, and heard an explanation of the year's budget from the Treasurer, members then enjoyed an interesting and informative talk by Cath Turpin on the lives of the families working the narrow boats on our canals, especially during the first half of the twentieth century. She had brought a number of photographs from the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, where she is a volunteer. The talk at next month's meeting, on February 9th at the Acton Bridge Parish Rooms, will be on "Making the Most of your Garden Space" and given by Jane Allison. All visitors are very welcome, and further details can be found on our website at www.actonbridge.org.

The November 2015 Meeting Report is here.

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