PRESIDENT Val Wheeler welcomed members of Finstall and Cofton Hackett WI to their first meeting of the year with a special welcome to five new members.

Val drew members’ attention to the varied programme for the year. She especially mentioned the first Brian Draper Trip to Elgar Country on April 28, which led smoothly on to the introduction of the speaker, Jon Goldswain whose talk was entitled Elgar – the Man and His Music.

Jon started by playing a 1931 recording of Land of Hope and Glory conducted by Elgar himself in which we heard him talking to the orchestra.

During Jon’s talk, he played many of Elgar’s well-loved compositions, including Salut d’Amour and Enigma Variations.

Born into a Catholic family on June 2 1857 at Broadheath, Elgar grew up in Worcester above his father’s music shop.

He played the piano at five and the violin at seven, and accompanied his father, who was a piano tuner, to many of the great houses in the area.

Jon later succeeded his father as church organist and started composing religious music. Following his marriage to the devoted Caroline Alice Roberts, his music became more well known.

He wrote his first symphony in 1908 after being knighted in 1904.

The Cello Concerto was one of his last major works in 1919 and he continued composing until his death on February 23, 1934.

He died a baronet and Master of the King’s Musick – a long way from the little boy who lived above the music shop in Worcester.

Jessica thanked Mr Goldswain for giving a fascinating insight into Elgar’s life.

The competition was won by Jessica with Deana second and Mary won the raffle.

At the March 3 meeting, the dates for the group’s coffee morning and garden party were announced and members signed up to the tour of Elgar Country in April.

Val then introduced Eugene and Margaret Schellenberg who talked about the Ifakara Bakery Project, in Africa.

The project began 12 years ago when they visited their son, who was a doctor in Tanzania.

The sister of the local convent asked them if they could build a bakery, as she wanted to provide a staple food for the local people all year round, even if the maize harvest failed.

Many difficulties had to be overcome before it was up and running, but it is now a great success and has made a real difference to people’s health, especially the poor, hospital patients and school children.

Instead of having nothing to eat at the start of the day, these people now have a daily breakfast of a piece of bread and a mug of tea.

Jessica thanked Eugene and Margaret for the story, which everyone found heart-warming.

Finstall and Cofton Hacket WI’s next meeting is their birthday party in April.

Their meetings are on the first Monday in the Month in Finstall Village Hall and new members are always welcome.