Cornwall’s WI county chairman Helen Kestle came all the way from St Ives to appear as the special guest at Mowesi Marshgate’s Christmas party, in one of her very first visits in her new role.

Helen, a long-standing board member on CFWI, was elected just after the Federation’s annual meeting in October, and faces a busy year with visits to WIs across the Duchy every week.

She was there to receive the June Smyth Memorial Trophy, donated for the Royal Cornwall Show in memory of the group’s late member and former president June, who passed away in 2019. June’s husband John was also there to see the award handed over.

The party at Otterham and St Juliot Hall then kicked off with an hour of relaxed folk-style music from Mike Silver, a singer/songwriter based in Camelford, who has toured with Dory Previn and whose music made it onto a Moody Blues album.

Then members and guests tucked into a delicious Christmas tea and a Christmas raffle was drawn, before members and guests were given Secret Santa gifts to take home.