The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Browns W.1. branch celebrates 60th anniversary Browns Women‘s Institute branch celebrated their 60th anniversary on Wed., May 6 which was exactly 60 years to the day, of the first meetâ€" ing. Donna MacPherson, president and Ruth Skillings, secretaryâ€"treasâ€" urer of Oxford North District, were invited guests. A most delicious 60th anniversary It was a pleasure to have Margaret Arthur of St. Marys call me last week to come and take picâ€" tures at the 60th anniversary of Browns Women‘s Institute last Wed., May 6 at Browns Church. Upon entering the church.was surprised I knew so many of the Inâ€" stitute members and also the guest speaker Dolores Shapton, pastâ€" president London Area W.I. Compliâ€" ment president Evelyn Arthur for capably conducting the programme. Enjoyed Rev. Rienk Vlietstra for his solo. Also thank Carol Miller for showâ€" ing me all the displays from byeâ€" gone days across the road in Browns School. There were quilts, wedding dresses, ladies hats, wall hangings, fancy dishes, etc. all brought by members to make a colourful disâ€" play. meal was catered by Janice Mitchell and assisted by Marian Poel. Anniversary cake The anniversary cake was cut by charter members Annie Uren and Joyce Burgess, assisted by president Evelyn Arthur. President Evelyn welcomed everyone, and Carol Miller introduced the head table and special guests. Greetings were brought by Donna MacPherson from Oxford North Disâ€" tricts and by the Rev. Rienk Vlietstra, minister of Browns Church. Margaret Arthur read the minutes of the first meeting, with the first slate of officers. The branch was first of all the Real Pals Sunday School Class, who wanted a midâ€"week activity and they invited all the women of the community to this first meeting. They used to have crokinole and euchre parties in the Orange Hall in Lakeside and invited the Uniondale and Lakeside Branches to join with them. Nov. 13, 1955 was the first W.J. church service which included the branches in this corner of the disâ€" trict. They sent 1,738 squares to Zamâ€" bia this past year. In 1980, they helped with the meals in the W.I. tent at the plowing match at Woodstock. The money earned put the new washroom in the BroWwns School. Each year a Spring luncheon and euchre party raises money for many health projects including cancer, heart and Stroke, diabetes, alzheimer, schizophrenic to name & few, a total of $9,441.75 has been raised since this event was started. Many community things hapâ€" pened as well, getting mail delivery to the gate and stop signs at railâ€" way crossings, White line in the midâ€" dle of the road to name but a few accomplishments. ‘Basket of apples‘ Rev. Vlietstra sang a couple of » songs, including Danny Boy, and was accompanied by Annie Uren. Margaret Arthur introduced the guest speaker, Dolores Shapton, who is past president of London Area W.I. Dolores has a special speech she gave as president of London Area, she was asked to use it at this meetâ€" ing and she did. It is a wonderful idea as she compared the Women‘s Institute members to a basket of apples, all different in looks and taste, but all wonderful, when the skin is removed they are all the same underneath. Dolores was thanked by Sheila Greason. The Memorial Service was COnâ€" ducted by Susan Towle, as departed At right, at Browns WI‘s 60th anniversary, @ wallhanging featuring farm scenes was hanging in Brown‘s School. It piqued the interest of this lifetime farmer so Carol Miller agreed to pose with it for a photo. Dandy wallhanging members from over the years were remembered and celebrated. Over at the school were many dis~ plays of activities undertaken by the branch, through short courses, paSS it on and other work shops that the branch participated in. Also were quilts, wall hangings that had been displayed at the AS~ ricultural Museum, wedding dresses of many of the members, including wedding pictures and ofâ€" ten a write up, these were very IDâ€" teresting. Pictures of these pictures and often a writeâ€"up, these were very interesting. Pictures of these dresses have been put together for the Tweedsmuir History, which was also on display. It was a great day of celâ€" ebration.