March was a busy month for Wyesham WI, with crafters making beautiful knitted flowers, some for display on the gates of St James Church, Wyesham and Jane Laurie kindly making tote bags to help boost funds. Members had enjoyed another evening of skittles at the Royal Oak.

Three intrepid ladies represented Wyesham WI in the Gwent Federation Quiz and, although not winning, had a great evening and were a credit to Wyesham. Roslyn kindly organised a lunch at Bridges cafe which was a great success. The speaker for the evening in March was Jo from Wye Valley Flowers who gave us a very engaging talk about setting up and running her British grown cut flower business from her premises in St Briavels, which she started in 2019 because she realised that the average bouquet travels about 4000 miles. It is a carbon neutral business which relies on shape and form and a colour palette at any given time, rather than on a specific flower which may not naturally be in season at the required time, but there is generally a good substitute available.

Her farm is organic and natural pest control is encouraged. She runs floristry courses from March to September and the business is open to the public during British Flowers Week. As if that didn't keep her busy enough, they also run a glamping site. She was even asked to provide flowers as part of the Coronation of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey. Everyone agreed this had been a really interesting and enjoyable evening.At the April meeting the speaker was Mr Richard Paskell, MBE,who is the Chief Volunteer for St John in Wales. He gave an illuminating talk, all about the history of the Order of St John, which dates back to 1070 when it was founded to serve pilgrims in Jerusalem. They were known as Hospitallers and served everyone, of every faith. In the years that followed, nursing was parallel with warfare, but by the Victorian era, the focus was not on the battlefield, but took the virtues of the knights to the hospital. Through first aid and other healthcare activities, St John members follow the virtues of the very first hospitallers.

Today, St John is an international organisation (as well as being an Order of Chivalry). As well as providing first aid, St John is often the main provider of an ambulance service around the world. We were surprised to learn that St John provides most ambulances in the Asia Pacific region. Indeed in Papua New Guinea, Western Australia and New Zealand St John is the state provider.

Richard's talk was fascinating and explained the far-reaching role of St John Ambulance in the world and UK today.Next month's meeting will be on Monday 12th May and will be the AGM. But there is still a space for a speaker, even on an AGM evening! May's speaker will get us up off our chairs as it's Barbara, the Tai Chi and Pilates tutor. Newcomers welcome, 7pm St James Community Hall, Wyesham.