Gloucester Road WI

Name: Flora McArthur

Age: 44

Occupation: Full time Mum and Garden Designer again when 4 year old son starts school Sept 2015.

Favourite meeting you’ve been to: Quite a few. Stand out evenings for me have been the inspiring woman who rowed around Britain, Bollywood dancing, arm knitting (helpless with laughter at one point). Self-portrait drawing (rekindling my love of drawing), the fascinating talk by a criminal forensics, complete with non-gory slideshow! And cheese and wine tasting by Chandos Deli /Grape & Grind (happy sighs). Experiences which are hard to come by once you have small children – or actually just because you don’t anyway as life is busy and it’s easy stop trying things.

What do you like about Glos Rd WI: The diversity of women, variation of speakers/topics of discussion. The fact that the WI are raising money for key local causes as well as being nationally involved in big issues. And the fact I’ve met quite a few new people not related to my baby circle, difficult to do when you’ve been a full time mum for a few years.

What’s the best thing you’ve been involved in or the most memorable moment: Arm knitting amongst WI friends. I haven’t been reduced to tears through laughing like that for years. The Gloucester Road cookbook has to be mentioned. Not personally involved in its production, but what an amazingly professional and beautiful hardback book it is and raised a tonne of money for a range of local charities. Really impressive.

What advice would you give to new members: We now try to ‘buddy’ up newbies, so that you don’t feel too daunted and immediately have someone to chat to…but get a glass of something from the bar and dive in, it’s a really friendly bunch and we’re always interested to chat to new people and welcome them.