Speaker - Grace Morris 'And Here's One I Made Earlier'

As a former school teacher, club member Grace Morris knows how to subdue an unruly class. A skill she amply demonstrated at this week’s meeting…

Her presentation subject of “Here’s one I made earlier” remained a mystery until Grace – from the depths of an Advent Christmas box - unearthed a variety of knitted reindeer, snowmen and Santa miniature figures.

Which, she explained, had been in preparation for some months, hence the “made earlier” reference.

The class were then urged to make their own Christmas-style decorations as Grace distributed a mixture of cardboard, lollipops, glittery tape and the requisite supply of sticky-backed plastic noses and eyes, “a la Blue Peter”.

The assembled company proceeded to manufacture a rather less than dazzling array of miniature candy walking sticks and reindeer faces, complete with lollipops for noses. All of them capable of being hung (the reindeer, not the club members) as tree decorations.

Much amusement and some therapy was enjoyed.

Grace then led the class through her version of a school nativity play rehearsal, entertaining all by singling out individuals for a mixture of jocularity and sarcasm.

In proposing a vote of thanks, Ian Black praised Grace’s ability to engage everyone with learning and fun at the same time and providing a rather novel version of the Christmas story.