Wells WI January 2020 meeting report.

News from our groups this month: the skittlers are aiming to repeat last year's top form by winning an imminent fourth-round match at the Crossways in North Wootton; our crafters will be decorating ceramic plant pots with decoupage; the book group have chosen their next novel; and the walking netball group will be eating out together after their first session of 2020.

Thirty-eight members have booked for our new year's dinner which, following the popular cookery demonstration they gave us last year, will be at Goodfellows in Wells who have devised a delicious three-course menu for us.

The main event this month was a demonstration of Greek dancing from Yiannis, who dazzled us with his solo skills before getting us up to join him in different group dances.

Yiannis has lived in the UK for decades but entertained us with tales of his childhood in mainland Greece.

Dancing was always a big part of his life. Before the days of television everyone listened to the same lone radio station and, when a particularly popular song was played, everyone would rush out into the streets to dance to it together.

Yiannis taught us some moves and steps, and we danced in lines and circles to traditional Greek music.

In a spectacular finale three members knelt and clapped along to the music while Yiannis whirled around them and performed some impressive high kicks over their heads.

He assured us that in his youth he could kick high enough to clear the heads of people standing up, but is rather too prone to injury to risk that now.

The day of our meeting happened to be the celebration day for everyone named Yiannis, so he was presented with a traditional WI gift of a jar of jam.

We all felt energised by the music and dancing, and thanked Yiannis for bringing a sense of Greek sunshine to cold dark Wells in January.

We are planning another one of our coffee mornings to raise funds for a charity working in a field important to WI members.

This year the issues shortlisted as potential national campaigns are: helping victims of modern slavery; using female crash test dummies in vehicle safety testing; encouraging discussion about death and end of life care; a call to increase stem cell donor registration; and raising awareness of the need to conserve helium. Members will cast their votes at the February meeting.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday February 4 at Wells and Mendip Museum, from 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.

Our speaker will be Norm Longley, author of books including the Rough Guides and Slow Travel Somerset.

There will also be an opportunity to swap any unwanted Christmas presents, so don't forget to bring them along.

New women are always welcome at Wells WI and can attend as guests before deciding whether to join. More details are on our Facebook page via the red button below.

By Veronica Howe