Hats off to milliner for making top creations

AFTER the initial excitement of having been invited to a family wedding wears off, the dread usually sets in.

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What the heck am I going to wear?

Then there's the next drama. Is it a ‘hat’ do? Well, this one is but the chances of finding a hat that will go with the outfit I've chosen is slim. I spent days trawling the internet for something that was a sort of chartreuse/lime green. I even sent for a couple before it hit me.

Janet Williams, my friend in the village. Janet is a hugely experienced milliner who has spent years teaching people how to make hats in countries as far afield as Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Ethiopia and hasn't had a failure... yet!

Ever since selling the Exeter Sewing Machine Company a few years ago Janet has been much in demand, giving talks and demonstrations to various organisations and taking orders and offering hat-making classes from home. Ladies come from all over the country wanting hats for weddings, christenings and events like Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and the Grand National. She's making two at the moment destined for Royal garden parties.