TWENTY-FOUR members and visitors attended the April meeting of Dinton WI held in Dinton Village Hall. The president, Sue Taylor, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

She then introduced the speaker, Maureen Rose, who gave a talk about her work as dressmaker to the Queen. Maureen told members that she wanted to be a dressmaker from the age of eight and had the ambition to make dresses for the Queen.

She informed listeners that she initially went to a technical college to take a dressmaking course and eventually gained an apprenticeship in a shop in London’s Bond Street, already making clothes for celebrities.

She then worked as a freelance dressmaker for Norman Hartnell, then for Ian Thomas in Knightsbridge. It was from this position that she was invited to provide fittings of his designs for the Queen, visiting Buckingham Palace on many occasions.

Maureen told members that she loved her work as dressmaker to the Queen, visiting the other royal residences of Sandringham, Windsor and Balmoral in the course of her work.

Maureen made many of the Queen’s outfits for her tours around the world. She held this position of dressmaker to the Queen for more than 25 years, the last dress being made in 1999 for the State Opening of Parliament. Maureen was warmly thanked by Paddy Archer for her most interesting and often amusing talk.

After coffee the usual business session took place. Discussions of a variety of events taking place in the near future followed and Jan Moore asked members to consider whether they would be willing to make cakes to be sold by Dinton Community Shop, when it opens soon.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 14 when the resolution meeting will be held and organ donation will be discussed.

In addition, Mike Strong will talk on the subject of digital champions.