JESS McKenzie was the guest speaker for the February meeting of Gladestry WI. Well, perhaps not so much a speaker as an enabler, encouraging members to take part in a play.

Jess, who is well known to members as she lives in Gladestry, works as a teacher for The Courtyard (Hereford) Theatre Outreach Service. She came with copies of a short play which she asked members to read as though they were playing the parts. Firstly, she warmed the WI members up with some fun and games, which encouraged them to lose their inhibitions and relax by making them laugh.

The play was a shortened version of a Dad's Army episode. Jess allocated parts to each of the group. The whole experience was great fun, even though some members made mistakes like reading out stage instructions as well!

Joan Hughes won the prize for a favourite quotation.