DESPITE covid-related restrictions being in place, a Northwich Women's Institute are still managing to get together for monthly meetings.

Great Budworth and District WI held their September meeting in the garden of one of their members and despite the heavy rain, received 'a wonderful surprise' when guest speaker provided them with an award.

High Sheriff of Cheshire, Nick Hopkinson MBE, presented President June Wilkinson with the High Sheriff of Cheshire's Award in recognition of the WI's 'great and valuable service to the community'.

Shirley Almquist, of the WI said: "It was a wonderful surprise.

"Our speaker arrived resplendent in court dress - velvet tail coat, breeches, stockings, hat and sword - and gave an amusing and informative insight into the history of High Sheriffs, and his role and aims for the year.

"Disappointingly Covid-19 has stopped all his civic functions including dinners, a Royal Garden Party and The Royal Cheshire Show but on the positive side it has given Nick much more time to focus on his charity work and fund-raising, at which he is very successful.

"Following members' questions, we celebrated with strawberries and cake and glasses of fizz, kindly donated by a hard-working committee member celebrating her 50 years as a WI member."

"Despite the heavy rain during the day, we were very fortunate to be able to take shelter in our member's indoor swimming pool when the weather became chilly, deckchairs spaced out, and caught up with the WI news.