Vice President Pauline Haydon welcomed members to the April meeting of Rhayader WI. Joan Caie gave a report on the Wales Federation Conference held at Brecon.
Members will be attending the National Federation AGM in Cardiff in June and Joan Caie would be delegate.

The Speaker was Kate Doody - a Lady Blacksmith. Kate told members that she preferred to use recycled metals to carry out her work. She attended many festivals such as Glastonbury and also went to France. Kate had slides showing what it was like at a festival where people came to have a go at making small pieces such as hooks etc. She also had pictures of beautiful candelabras and other items she had made. She had spent some time helping in a small South of France town which was becoming depopulated, helping the lady Mayor to regenerate by projects and workshops involving 'smithing'.
She had pictures of many of her exhibitions and told members that developing herself as a blacksmith had been a marvellous learning process. She has held 'weddings' 'over the anvil' and explained the tradition regarding joining of hot metals and controlling the fire. She also spoke of sayings such as 'strike while the iron's hot'.
Competition for the most useful metal item was won by Liz Lloyd, 2^nd Jen Oakley and 3^rd Mavis Jones. The raffle winner was Ann Philips.

A Mini Show was also held to choose items to go forward to the County Show. Mrs Ann Edwards came to offer her advice on the most suitable items for entry. Those members whose items would go forward were Hat - Chris Phillips, tapestry picture - Margaret Lloyd, photo - Sylvia Richards, watercolour painting - Sylvia Richards, lemon drizzle cake - Ruth Hide, bread - Jane Narborough, fancy cakes - Shirley Jones and Chris Phillips, marmalade Margaret Lloyd, floral display - Margaret Lloyd, decorated welly - Chris Philips. All the entries were very good and the decision was a very hard one to make.

The May meeting will be held on Tuesday 25 May and will be the Resolution evening for the NFWI AGM and a members evening of photographs with a story.