JUDY Townsend was the speaker at the Wednesday club’s recent meeting. She was lucky to be found alive in a rubbish sack when she was only a few days old.

She was befriended by a hospital matron as girl babies were not wanted in China in March 1949 and many were abandoned and left to die. The life story of this strong, indomitable woman enthralled and inspired the audience. She was brought up in an orphanage run by Plymouth Brethren but was expelled from there at short notice for visiting a Chinese opera on a Sunday afternoon when she should have been learning a psalm.

Hard work and perseverance eventually got her to England where she trained as a nurse, became a district nurse and married a naval officer. She was thanked by Val Miller. Chairman, Heather Casson told members that the afternoon tea scheduled for the August meeting had been discussed by the committee and will be held in memory of former chairman and long-standing committee member, Mavis Dutton. Proceeds, including a raffle and bring-and-buy stall will be given to Macmillan Nurses.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, July 9. Marian Bray will describe “A little bit of China in your garden”. Visitors will be very welcome.

Jean Harrop