NEW BARKBY W.I.

President Shirley Franklin welcomed members and visitors to New Barkby W.I’s February meeting.
‘Jerusalem’ was sung then followed a small amount of business which required attention. A
The speaker for the evening was Wendy Coley, who gave an insight into the charity Medical Detection Dogs, which will celebrate 15 years of being formed the year.
When Dr Claire Guest found that her pet Labrador dog kept sniffing around her and becoming unsettled, she visited her own G.P. and after several types of tests, discovered that she had developed breast cancer. So from that diagnosis, although she was still working in a hospital Dr Claire funded the charity for Medical Detection Dogs.
Several breeds of dogs can be trained to sniff odours from people and diseases such as several cancers, Parkinson’s, malaria, epilepsy – all these can be diagnosed from a dogs trained twitchy nose,It can take between 18 months and two years to train a dog and, always, there is a waiting list. These clever dogs can even pick up a scent from someone using a mobile phone or protect anyone who as had a fall and is in a state of collapse.
A very informative talk and Wendy put out a display of information, with posters and leaflets, plus a chance to purchase Christmas cards in aid of the charity.
The vote of thanks was given by Carol Hough and the competition for a favourite pet photograph was won by Louisa Chapman. The raffle was won by Dawn Haynes and refreshments were served by Jean Brutnall, Valerie Cobb and Joy Goulden.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 1st March at Syston Community Centre at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Sam Dobson with ‘Edward Elgar,the man and his music’.
Visitors are always welcome.