WI: THE March meeting opened with a warm welcome to another new member. Thanks were expressed to those members who had helped organise the successful pancake races for West Buckland School last month and the Annual Dinner at Oake Manor Golf Club. Details were then given of the many and varied forthcoming events. Dates for the diary include the Entertainment Evening in the village hall on March 29 and the visit to Highgrove on April 20. Golf Croquet sessions will commence at the beginning of May. A programme of friendly skittles matches have been arranged and walkers were reminded to book for the County Exmoor Ramble on April 26. Final details of Group and County events were discussed.

Dr Robert Dunning then gave an intriguing insight into life in the West Buckland area hundreds of years ago. He took us back in time to learn about the Manor Courts in Somerset, the origins of today's local government. The Manor Courts were held every three weeks and dealt with the everyday business of the manor. Local matters were brought before the court and decisions made by a jury of twelve elected tenants. With translations from legal documents dating back into the mid 1600s, Dr Dunning produced fascinating facts from records about West Buckland. There were reports mentioning farms still in existence today and recognisable family names. Tenants of the parish were fined for not attending meetings and not keeping the road clear. Flooding on the road below the church was reported and in the early 1700s there was a report that the stocks needed repair, hopefully not from overuse!

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday in the month and next month's speaker, Eddie Upton, will bring "Songs of Somerset Folk". A warm welcome is extended to visitors.