At their February meeting PAWS were entertained by John Wrigley and his slide show of Carnival Time in Venice. John bought along his extensive collection of slides showing the many sites of the city together with various people in costumes and masks. The origins of Carnival go back to 1162 and the word itself means “Farewell, Meat.” As lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday) obliged people to fast, it was an excuse for a party that echoed pagan festivities prior to fasting. After a Republican uprising, a tradition of slaughtering a bull and pigs in the Piazza San Marco, to commemorate the victory, begun around Shrove Tuesday. The celebration gradually grew and the introduction of masks began in 1268.
PAWS’ next get together is on the 26th March and as it’s their AGM it is a closed meeting. As well as the routine business they will have a “Flapper Theme” and a light supper.
Our January meeting on the 8th saw a large turn out when 41 members and 4 visitors came along to hear Simon Gallup tell us about the Histories of Lavenham and Dedham. Simon is one of 8 guides for Lavenham and he explained with the use of slides that due to the cloth trade the Stour Valley had been one of the wealthiest places in the United Kingdom 500 years ago. During 1480-1530 there was a large building spree of houses, churches and coaching inns but also there was a rapid decline in its wealth due to trade decreases, the 100 year war, huge taxes on the cloth trade etc. Today there are approximately 300 listed buildings in Lavenham which have lasted through the centuries. Simon finished the evening with a question and answer session.
Well October certainly saw one of our largest turn outs this year when 41 members and 4 visitors came along to see Oggie Weldon demonstrating her Millinery skills. Oggie explained that she changed her career rather late in life, at the tender age of 57, having worked as a secretary previously. Oggie attended an 18 month course and decided to pursue this new career and she certainly demonstrated that she has a talent for this. She explained about the methods involved, the materials used etc. and she had a large display of hats and fascinators which she allowed us to try or buy at the end of the evening. Another most enjoyable night demonstrating the diversity of our speakers.
36 members and 3 visitors attended our June meeting on the 26th, when Mrs Paula Short came along and told us all about “Golden Temple – Amritsar India”. Paula has developed a passion for India and its temples, culture and history since her first visit in 2000 and was able to give us quite an insight into it. She had a fantastic array of slides which she used to highlight her very interesting talk.
At our May meeting on the 22nd, we welcomed back 
