Former Police Officer Delights St Issell’s WI with Humorous Stories

Members of St Issell’s Women’s Institute (WI) gathered for their December meeting, where they were treated to an evening of humor and storytelling by former police officer John Donohue. Having dedicated twenty years to the police force, Donohue shared amusing anecdotes from his career, which resonated with the audience and sparked laughter throughout the room.

Diane Rigden, the president of St Issell’s WI, opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all attendees, particularly highlighting the presence of Donohue as the evening’s special speaker. His engaging tales provided a lighthearted atmosphere, and Jeanette John expressed gratitude for the entertaining talk, which prompted several members to purchase his published works.

Following Donohue’s presentation, members enjoyed a selection of delicious snacks and fruit punch, generously provided by the outgoing committee. The informal gathering fostered a lively environment filled with chatter and camaraderie among attendees.

After a brief intermission, a short business meeting convened. During this session, Rigden acknowledged Anne Leech for the beautiful flowers adorning the top table and extended birthday wishes to fellow members Shirley Cunningham, Pat Poole, and Sandra John. The president also discussed upcoming events, including the Wales Conference in Aberystwyth scheduled for March 26, 2026, which piqued the interest of several members. Additionally, she noted that there were still available seats for the Cardiff shopping trip on January 8, 2026.

Bev handed out the programme for the upcoming year, and Rigden expressed her appreciation for the hard work put in by both Bev and Anne Slade. Rigden also thanked the members for their donations of Christmas cards, which she planned to deliver to local residential homes.

The December competition winner was Rachel Jones, while the first prize in the bumper raffle was awarded to Shirley Cunningham. The members had contributed £2 each instead of sending Christmas cards, and the total amount raised was put into a draw, won by Joy Nixon. The funds will be donated to a charity of Nixon’s choice.

As the meeting concluded, Rigden wished all members a Merry Christmas and a healthy, peaceful 2026. She reminded everyone that the January meeting will take place at 2 PM in the Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, encouraging continued participation and engagement in the community activities ahead.