Llangynog WI’s May Open Evening was taken over by a hardy group of pioneering women from the Wild West. (Or rather WI members taking on the role of characters such as Annie Oakley, Big Nose Kate and Calamity Jane).

The audience was entertained with music, dance and the women’s fascinating life histories of excitement, adventure and hardship. Members were transported to a period of time, actually quite short, and often romanticised through popular cowboy movies, but in reality, challenging and requiring great determination, grit and courage, especially on the part of women.

The storyteller for the evening was Anne Hill, who incidentally, also wrote the scripts for everyone.

The ‘women’ were played as follows:
   Big Nose Kate – Mary McKenzie
   Annie Oakley – Sheila Broome
   Laura Bullion – Joanne Hill (Penybontfawr WI)
   Eleanor Dumont – Val Atherton
   Pearl Hart – Wendy Barker
   Stage coach Mary – Janet Burton
   Calamity Jane – Iris Pugh (Penybontfawr WI)

L-R: Storyteller (Anne Hill), Big Nose Kate (Mary McKenzie),
Annie Oakley (Sheila Broome), Laura Bullion (Joanne Hill)

L-R: Eleanor Dumont (Val Atherton), Pearl Hart (Wendy Barker),
Stage coach Mary (Janet Burton), Calamity Jane (Iris Pugh)

Singer, Maggie Parker did a fantastic job, with her musicians Andy, Jon and Pat, in leading the sing-alongs and providing the Wild West music for the evening.

Tea was served in the Saloon Bar and tasty Wild West grub was prepared by the WI chuck wagon cowgirls. In other words, delicious refreshments were provided by all members!