Report for March 2007

The President Mrs. Ann Diamond welcomed the members and the speaker, Christine Rayner, to the March meeting.  Birthdays this month were Yvonne Taton, Joyce Cheeseman and Francis Greenfield, each received a buttonhole of spring flowers.  Ann Diamond thanked all the members for the work they did to make the birthday party a great success.  The president, Ann Diamond, and seven members will be attending the Group Meeting at Painters Forstal on the 13th March.  Ann Diamond reminded members of the Coffee Morning which will be held at her home on the 14th March.  Members will be attending birthday meetings at Selling on the 12th April and Painters Forstal on the 17th April.

Ann Diamond then introduced the speaker Christine Rayner who is the Editor of the “East Kent Gazette.” John Parret first published the Gazette in 1855: he was keen that there would be no outside influence and the paper would be devoted to the publication of news. The paper has occupied the same office, “opposite the church,” for the whole of its publishing life. Christine Rayner is the eleventh editor in the history of the Gazette, and the first woman editor.  Marian Finch then thanked Christine for a very enjoyable and interesting talk.

Joan Dutton and Barbara Skilton served refreshments during which the members were able to look through the archive copies of the Gazette, a look at the history of the people of Sittingbourne over the last 150 years.

The winner of the monthly competition was Barbara Hodges and a Camellia entered by Barbara Dale won the Flower of the Month Competition. 

The next meeting will be on the 4th April at 2.15pm at the Community Hall (Labour Hall).  The speaker will be Coral Bosworth who will give a talk entitled “Hats”. 

Joyce Playford