"The Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland was formed in 1934 with 79 clubs; today there are 916. In April the Association Conference was held in Bournemouth when over 3,000 members attended. The Association President Mrs Phyl Fennelly's chosen charity is Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a cheque for £21,000 was presented to Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive.

International Inner Wheel was formed in 1967 and holds a Convention every three years in a major city throughout the world. At each Convention an international project is chosen and supported by Inner Wheel clubs over a three year period. Following the Convention in New Zealand May 2006 UNICEF Global Education for Girls, was chosen.

The theme for 2007/8 was "Show that You Care through Friendship and Service." Objects shall be, to promote true friendship, to encourage the ideas of personal service, and to foster international understanding.

Inner Wheel Great Britain and Ireland is divided into districts. Newtown is in District 18 which extends from us in Mid Wales to the Wirral and North wales. We are a friendly group of 17 members ranging from 50's to our oldest member who is 95.

We started in 1963 and we meet on the second Monday in the month at a local hotel. The meeting consists of a meal, a speaker or demonstrator followed by the meeting itself where we discuss all aspects of our club, District and Overseas.

We raise money for charities in various ways. We have a local office block which kindly allows us to collect from their car park on a Saturday morning so once a year some of us stand, in whatever the weather, for 4 hours with buckets at the ready.

We have a Charity Meal at one of our members' house where we pay for a full meal but only have soup and a roll. Last year Rotary started up the Across Wales Walk again. This they are doing with Llanidloes Rotary and we helped with the food and manning the control office for which we were given a donation from funds for our charities. We hope to do the same this year.

Our main donation this year was to the volunteer group M.E.D.s (Montgomeryshire Emergency Doctors) this comprises of two local Doctors who have set up a rapid response team for attending severe injuries at accidents. This is the only one in Wales apart from one in South Wales so we feel it was very worthwhile.

We also support our overseas causes. For the last three years we have made money by putting our small change in a purse at each meeting, its amazing how it all mounts up. Our donation will be given to the District Chairman when she visits us for our May meeting.

Other activities we are involved in are Meals on Wheels. For two months in the year we deliver meals to the elderly on Wednesdays and Fridays. One of our members works as a volunteer for the South Montgomeryshire Volunteer Bureau who organise this. As you can see we are a very active group!"

Article written by Pat Hogg