MRS V Wright chaired the first meeting of 2014 and greeted 27 members.

The meeting proceeded as usual with the reading and signing of the minutes of the previous meeting in November. The treasurer’s report was also given. The National AGM will this year be held in Cardiff and arrangements for transport were mentioned. The harvest supper normally held in Wollaston is cancelled, instead there will be a harvest lunch. Mrs Wright had correspondence including an invitation to the Mayor’s Ball and thanks received from the Air Ambulance Charity and Mary Stevens Hospice for the group’s donations. Social secretary Mrs Writtle had finalised arrangements for the visit to the Hop Pocket Shopping Village. This is to take place on April 1. The birthday dinner will be on March 25 and held at Himley House Hotel.

Derek Clark gave a most interesting illustrated talk on the restoration of the back-to-back houses in Birmingham. Several of the fronts of these houses were, until recently, being used as shops, whereas the back premises were completely derelict.

The amount of work that has gone into the restoration of these properties is amazing and we were all surprised by the research described into discovering the authentic materials involved in this work even to discovering the contents of mortar between the bricks and the original type of chimney pots, some of which, we were told, had for many years contained geraniums in various gardens. Mr Clark was thanked.

Next month, March 18 will be the AGM.