Eighteen Kirkby Inner Wheel members (pictured) met with around 2,000 others from clubs around Great Britain and Ireland at the organisation’s national conference in Glasgow.

Association president Trish Douglas introduced Sheila North, an Inner Wheel member, who gave an insight into the impact of living with Parkinson’s disease.

Olivia Gills, who lost her limbs because of meningitis, told how the charity 500 Miles helps amputees to achieve independence by providing prosthetics in Malawi, Zanzibar and Zambia.

Luke Simon outlined how, after losing his brother in the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the initiative School In A Bag was set up.

Deaf musician Dr Paul Whittaker played the piano.

Tricia Stewart, of Calendar Girls fame, told of the impact the WI calendar had on her life.

So far this year nearly £1m has been raised by Inner Wheel clubs for UK charities, including £50,000 for Parkinson’s UK, and £300,000 for international charities.

Next year’s conference is to be held in Nottingham.