WRI bulletIn

President Sheena Kyle welcomed members and introduced florist Eriti Mitchell who demonstrated some flower arrangements for Valentine’s Day. Competions: handmade Valentine’s card (any craft) – 1 A Gwynn, 2 L Bell; decorated heart-shaped biscuit – 1 A Gwynn; flower of the month – 1 S Heggie.

President Norma Smith welcomed members and informed the meeting that the scheduled speaker had cancelled. Competitions: Valentine biscuit – 1 G Hogg, 2 J Cowan; pretty jug – 1 J Martin, 2 G Hogg, 3 J Cowan. President Wilma Scott welcomed members. The spring show was finalised, with the institute taking part in Elizabeth Gardner heats for Pointless. The speaker for the evening was Sarah Bradley, operations manager from Check-In Works/ Giraffe Café, who spoke about the organisation and its two cafes and garden centre. Competitions: photo of winter scene – 1 C Prescott, 2 N Blair, 3 W Scott; flower of the month – 1 N Blair, 2 M Folan, 3 J Byrne. President Fiona Bruges welcomed John Marshall from Auchtermuchty to talk about potatoes. He brought along some old implements and pictures of his display at Chelsea Flower Show in 2015 where he and Morrice Innes won a gold medal. Competition: vegetable animal – 1 M Hale, 2 D Coffin, 3 C Hogg. Bridget Black welcomed members and visitors from Amulree, Ardeonaig and Mid-Atholl institutes and introduced Anna Gurung from the charity Bring Back The Smile To Nepal, who gave an illustrated talk on the charity’s work. Competitions: chutney – 1 K Conway, 2 P McDiarmid, 3 B Black (visitors – C Linee, Ardeonaig); limerick – 1 L Alexander, 2 P McDiarmid, 3 A McLaren (visitors – 1 L Frost, 2 J McKenzie, both Ardeonaig).

President Lesley McRae welcomed members and introduced Claire Paton, a beekeeper from Kinross, who gave a talk titled A Pot Of Honey. Competitions: three honey biscuits – 1 C Marshall, 2 P Stewart; a favourite mug – 1 M Silverman, 2 C Marshall, 3 E Taylor; flower of the month – 1 A Nairn, 2 P Williams, 3 C Marshall.

Karen Durkin gave a demonstration of how to make pasta using a pasta machine.

President Ann Falconer welcomed members, guests and members of the public to the open evening and introduced Balmullo SWI vicepresident Mary Reilly, who spoke about two famous Scots – Robert Adam and Thomas Cochrane. Competitions: flower of the month – 1 G Baird, 2 M Campbell, 3 V Finlayson; two girdle scones – 1 G Stevens, 2 G Baird, 3 L Hamilton; seascape photograph – 1 L Hamilton, 2 W Whyte, 3 P Wiles.