Skill and dedication were the themes of the Midsomer Norton Townswomen’s Guild’s last two meetings. John Yeo, an entertaining and talented man, joined us for our 29th birthday meeting on 21st November.

Having discovered the glory that is stained glass at two brief classes in Frome, John decided to resign from his history teaching post, and through trial and error, created an absorbing career.

We learned a great deal from the array of items displayed, as he talked us through the composition of glass; his preliminary artistic sketch and tracing design work, and the various processes involved in producing from those the many wonderful stained glass windows he has been commissioned to create.

One has a local connection; the daughters of Nortonian, Mary Christina Edwards, 1932 – 2005, living in America, commissioned him to create a stained glass memorial window for the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Ghost in the town, resulting in the stunning Saint Benedict window, which the daughters travelled to see in situ.

In October, we welcomed farmer’s wife, Jane Norris, a skilled midwifery nurse still practising in Bath, Frome and Trowbridge, who spoke of her career at home and abroad. Seeking a challenge at age 24, she travelled to Labrador, the largest and northernmost geographical region in Atlantic Canada, based at Melville Hospital, where facilities were spartan and medical supplies basic and limited. Indigent Inuit and other patients travelled many miles for treatment, and midwifery staff also endured extremely dangerous journeys to remote places, with tear ducts freezing up in temperatures of -30 degrees.

After working in Labrador for the limit of two years, Jane returned to Oxford, later joining the Royal Navy. In 1985, she was honoured to lead a Corps of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy nurses at the Service of Remembrance. Jane’s fee was donated to Animals Remembered, a small charity that recognises the contribution of animals in conflict.

Midsomer Norton members met up with Bath Guild members to travel by coach to Wells Cathedral for one of three national Carol Services on Thursday, 7th December, which included choral items performed by the Mixed Chamber Choir of Downside School.

Members of the Guild had contributed to the national fundraising for a Townswomen’s Guild memorial to be created and sited at the National Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, at a cost of £15,000, including future maintenance. Unveiled by TG Patron, HRH Princess Anne, the memorial is dedicated to TG members who have served in HM Forces, or civilian organisations and died as casualties of war, civil conflict or peacekeeping.

The Guild is proud of its two former Flight Mechanic WAAFs (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force), Jean Brewer and Sally Cantello, both now in their nineties and of others who worked in hospitals and other civilian occupations during the Second World War.

The Guild contributed once again to the annual Shoebox Appeal, Secretary Glen Hepworth delivering our gifts to Betty Pratten for packaging. The Guild has responded to and awaits an announcement on the Boundary Commission’s public consultation on the intended equalisation of electoral wards in B&NES, which should lead to the number of ward councillors being reduced by six. In the interim, the Commission has announced its proposals for an enlargement of the North East Somerset constituency boundary, (sitting MP Jacob Rees-Mogg), to include Wells, Shepton Mallet and other Mendip villages.

We closed the year with our annual Christmas Party on Tuesday, 19th December. Secretary Glen Hepworth will be pleased to provide further details of the Guild for future interest, telephone: 01761 413528.

Joan Norman