ONE of television's most popular presenters is to be the guest speaker at an annual meeting of the Suffolk East Federation of Women's Institute.Johnny Ball will be at the Pontin's Holiday Centre at Pakefield, near Lowestoft, next month for the federal council meeting of WI groups from all over east Suffolk.

ONE of television's most popular presenters is to be the guest speaker at an annual meeting of the Suffolk East Federation of Women's Institute.

Johnny Ball will be at the Pontin's Holiday Centre at Pakefield, near Lowestoft, next month for the federal council meeting of WI groups from all over east Suffolk.

Hundreds of WI members representing groups based in towns and villages across the region will meet at the holiday centre on Tuesday, February 24.

The busy day for the delegates begins with a welcome from Waveney District Council chairman Sandy Keller and includes reports and discussions on a wide range of WI activities.

This year's event will include a report from George Mills and the British Aid for Deprived Children appeal and a speech from Barbara Gill, chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes.

However, for many delegates the highlight of the day will be the speech from Johnny Ball.

He has a passion for education and popularises science and mathematics.

He has hosted numerous television shows including Play Away, Playschool, Think of a Number and Think Again.

The 65-year-old presenter has won numerous awards for his work over the years including being an ITV Presenter of the Year, BAFTA success, and a New York International Emmy nomination.

As a late 1960's comedian he featured in Val Doonican and Harry Secombe television shows and also compered an ITV Christmas night spectacular.

Johnny Ball has toured with the Rolling Stones, starred in a Saddlers Wells opera and wrote Playaway and adult television comedy before turning to factual information programmes.

His daughter Zoe has presented BBC-1's Live and Kicking show and Radio One's breakfast show.

They recently visited Mali together for Oxfam and a lecture tour followed.

Johnny Ball should feel at home when he speaks to the east Suffolk WI members at Pakefield as he began his showbusiness career working at a holiday centre.

The television star was not at Pontins, however, and worked as a redcoat at Butlins's holiday centres.

Details of the meeting are currently being sent out to WI groups across the area and anyone wanting information can contact the Suffolk East Federation of Women's Institutes at their headquarters at 22 Orford Street, Ipswich.