The recent October meeting of Elstead Afternoon W.I. was  held in the Village Hall, started with several happy items of news. The President, Anne Moon, extended congratulations to long-time member Inez Lascelles on reaching her 96^th birthday, Joan Matthews and her husband, who celebrated their diamond wedding and our treasurer Mary Sharpe and her husband, who celebrated their golden wedding.

A warm welcome was extended to two new members, Margaret Welsted and Jane Whitehouse, plus two visitors and fifty-one members.

Future events include a Painting Exhibition by the W.I. and local artists, to be held at St. James' Church from 14^th to 16^th October, and the Group meeting at Farnham Memorial Hall on 20^th October. The Drama group is busy producing some great entertainment for everyone who attends the pre-Christmas lunch on 13^th December, and plans for the lunch menu, provided by the members, are well under way.

The competition for home-made biscuits was won by Ursula Dunlop.

Mrs. Tubbs gave a talk on The Isles of Scilly, illustrated with excellent slides. To reach the Isles, transport is either by helicopter or flat-bottomed boat, but once there, the scenery is breathtaking. There are five main inhabited islands but, including all the wildlife sanctuaries which are home to terns, gulls and seals, there are one hundred and forty nine, around which basking sharks swim.

The Duchy of Cornwall owns most of the islands with the exception of Tresco and Rock Samson, which are privately owned, and visitors have to pay a landing fee to visit these. The main port is on St. Mary's, where Hugh Town is the main centre. Most of the buildings here are made of granite. Then there is St. Agnes Island, Bryher Island where the daffodils are grown, and St. Martins Island. Each island has its own church illuminated by candlelight. Children attend local schools until they reach the age of eleven, after which they go to the mainland school in Penzance. Rules of the road are the same as for the mainland, including full road tax charges.

A beautiful sunset can be photographed when facing Rock Samson, which has two humps between which the setting sun can be captured.

A vote of thanks was proposed by Christine Welland. Tea and cakes were provided by Joan Howard, Beryl Jeffery, Rene Clark and Diane Balchin.

The next meeting will be on 3^rd November, which is the Annual General Meeting.
There will be an Art and Craft Display by the two activity groups.

Christine Welland

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