MEMBERS of the Royston and District Local History Society tried their hand at plaiting straw when Sandra Barker was the speaker at their monthly meeting. After showing slides about straw plaiting for the hat industry, Sandra, from Ashwell, who is a Yeoman

MEMBERS of the Royston and District Local History Society tried their hand at plaiting straw when Sandra Barker was the speaker at their monthly meeting. After showing slides about straw plaiting for the hat industry, Sandra, from Ashwell, who is a Yeoman member of the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers, gave a demonstration how to plait five wheat straws into a favour. She then encouraged everyone present to produce their own. Those who had the nimblest fingers appeared to produce the best and neatest results. Members also had a chance to split a straw using a special tool for the purpose. At the society's next meeting in February the subject will be The People of Ancient Baldock.