PAWS January – The Storyteller

Forty-one members and two guests enjoyed the speaker at our meeting in January.  John Lilley is a writer and narrator of stories, and entertained us with tales of his early years training to be a doctor.  On one occasion, while observing an older doctor, he was amazed at the treatment given to a patient.  He was obviously a little tired of the same lady coming in week after week with ‘complaints’.  He got his largest syringe and took a little blood out of the lady’s left arm and put it back into her right arm, then told her that her blood had been circulating the wrong way round, but that now it would circulate in the correct direction.  She went away very happy at the solution to all her problems!

Another story involved an old spinster who lived in Wallflower Cottage in a little village.  He was curious about the name of the cottage, and after several visits discovered the reason.  The lady had been engaged to a man in her early years until she discovered that he had several ‘girl friends’ and was very annoyed; unfortunately he died very suddenly before they could get married, but not before he had willed everything he had to his fiancé.  After his death she bought the cottage and had lived there happily for many years.  She then slipped into the conversation with John Lilley that the oil of wallflowers was a deadly poison in the correct amount.  He put two and two together and made a swift visit to the police to tell all!

The stories and poems that John read were very amusing and told with great expression and feeling.  We all agreed that we should invite this charming gentleman another time to tell us more stories.

Our next get together is on 25^th February when D. Chignall will talk to us about Beatrix Potter & The Lake District. Currently membership is closed but visitors are very welcome at the cost of £3.50 which includes refreshments.

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of the Winstread 100 website.  If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.