Former Officer Shares Humorous Tales at St Issell’s WI Meeting

At the December meeting of St Issell’s Women’s Institute (WI), members were treated to an engaging evening with former police officer John Donohue, who shared humorous anecdotes from his two decades in the police force. His entertaining talk captivated the audience, leaving attendees in fits of laughter.

Diane Rigden, the president of St Issell’s WI, extended a warm welcome to all members, particularly to Donohue, who has authored four books detailing the lighter side of police work. His wealth of funny stories resonated with the audience, prompting Jeanette John to express gratitude for the delightful presentation. Following the talk, several members took the opportunity to purchase his books, eager to delve deeper into his experiences.

After a brief intermission filled with camaraderie and refreshments, including delicious nibbles and fruit punch provided by the outgoing committee, the meeting transitioned to its business segment. Members acknowledged Anne Leech for her contribution of flowers for the top table, while birthday wishes were extended to Shirley Cunningham, Pat Poole, and Sandra John.

In the business meeting, Diane highlighted upcoming events, including interest in the Wales Conference scheduled for March 26, 2026, in Aberystwyth. Attendees were reminded of available seats for the Cardiff shopping trip on January 8. Bev distributed the programmes for the upcoming year, with members expressing appreciation for her and Anne Slade’s hard work in organizing the events.

Diane also thanked members for their donations of Christmas cards, which she plans to deliver to local residential homes. The competition for December was won by Rachel Jones, while the first prize in the bumper raffle went to Shirley Cunningham. In a charitable gesture, members opted to donate £2 instead of exchanging Christmas cards, raising a total that will be contributed to a charity chosen by Joy Nixon, the draw winner.

As the meeting concluded, Diane wished everyone a joyful Christmas and a healthy and peaceful year ahead in 2026. She reminded members that the next gathering would take place at 2 PM on January 12 at the Regency Hall in Saundersfoot, encouraging everyone to attend.