WHO said you can’t judge a book by its cover?

The members of Chipping Sodbury (evening) WI certainly learnt that this also relates to the tittle of the presentation given by Gill Leaper from Butterfly Space.

Some of us were expecting a talk and photographs about butterflies but this could have not been further from the truth. The talk related to the work that her daughter has been doing for the last 11 years in Malawi.

Her daughter travelled around the country as a student and returned to make a film for six months after graduation.

Three nurseries, a school, an AIDs project, supporting the locals with small businesses and 11 years later, she is still there. A true visionary young woman.

June has been an exciting month with the WI’s AGM held in Cardiff with Stella Remington and Huw Edwards as guest speakers entertaining us with funny experiences from their careers.

This year’s resolution which is to recognise the importance of parity between mental health and physical health and to act to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health issues as much as physical issues achieved a 98 per cent vote for.

There were not many dry eyes when members could ask questions or put their views forward after the professional speaker.

One lady stood up and talked to a packed arena and told us about her daughter and how as a child she used to self-harm.

When she asked for help the response was, if your daughter tries to commit suicide we will be able to do something.

It would have been too late if her daughter had succeeded and many us were thinking the same think.

The WI is recognised as an organisation to be listened to with its history of campaigning and we owe a lot to our former members for their campaigning.

In our legal system the WI campaigned on jury service in 1921, urging women to “accept their full responsibilities” as citizens in whatever way they may be called upon to serve their country” and later urging the government to open up jury service to all.

Our next meeting will be on July 5 at 7.30pm which is held at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

With a talk on the 18th Century Bath. Be part of an organisation that can and has proved to make and will continue to make a difference. If you wish to come on your own we will ensure that you will not stay on your own.