ON March 10, Thorncombe WI members were entertained hilariously by Susan Marshfield, with anecdotes about her ‘Holidays Afloat’.

Susan’s husband could not swim, but fell in love with a life on the ocean wave rather than under it.

After their first holidays on narrow boats cruising from Stratford upon Avon and from Lechlade down the Thames, Mr Marshfield came home one day with a huge inflatable dinghy, which proved very taxing for Susan in that she had to deflate it by rolling on it.

They were then invited to sail from Exmouth to Alderney in a friend’s yacht – the outward journey was very pleasant but the homeward one, in a fierce storm at night, was horrendous, daylight bringing an encounter with a submarine!

Susan is a most entertaining speaker and a natural comedian.

Things improved after the submarine debacle, as her husband came home from work some time later announcing that he had purchased a cabin cruiser, which they named Jasons, a mnemonic of their names and those of their two small sons.

Mr Marshfield then seemed to morph into Captain Bligh, supervising several test launches on their lawn, and a final launch at Tewkesbury, some miles from their home in a location where they could be safe from sight of any neighbours and friends in case it should all go horribly wrong.

The launch was a success and their holidays afloat have since gone from strength to strength.

The annual meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14, at 7.30pm in the village hall, when members will appoint their committee, decide on this year’s Resolution, and enjoy social time.

The May meeting will be held at 7.30pm on May 12, when John Burgess will speak on ‘Passing it on – your memories and life history – how to record’. New members and visitors will be most welcome.

Contact Julia Snellock 01460-30135.