ROWLANDS CASTLE WI: May 12 was the 62nd birthday of Rowlands Castle WI and it was celebrated with a beautiful cake made by Sarah Lee, one of our members.
Five other members iced and decorated it in a pattern of Charles Rene Mackintosh.
It was also resolution meeting and members had two resolutions to vote for, both of which were carried unanimously.
These will be presented at the NFWI AGM in Liv
erpool later in the year.
The first resolution put forward by Deborah Trollope stated: "We urge HM Government to urge the EU to ban bottom trawling which causes catastrophic loss of marine life."
The second, put forward by Barbara Smith, stated: "In view of the adverse effect on families of the imprisonment of people with severe mental health problems, we urge HM Government to provide treatment and therapy in a more appropriate and secure environment."
Since the closure of many large mental hospitals in favour of care in the community schemes, there is nowhere for such persons to be adequately supervised.
During coffee members had the opportunity to look at the scrapbooks with articles and photographs of the previous 62 years of the group and to sign up for the many social events and outings being organised.
Then came the highlight of the evening: an enthralling talk by Suzanne Maile, one of our members, entitled 'three years behind the wire.'
We sat spellbound as Suzanne unfolded three years of her life spent as a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines with her family from December 1941 to February 1945.
She was just 10 years old. What a contrast to her previously privileged life before Pearl Harbour when the Americans entered the war.
There was much hardship and complete lack of privacy but hardship brings out the best in people and many lasting friendships were made with reunions still held 60 years on.
The next meeting will be on Monday, June 9 when there will be a talk entitled 'Mishaps of an Organist' by Ruth Warren.
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