LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY: The first meeting of the autumn season consisted of a talk on Hailes Abbey and its Holy Blood by David Aldred, a former teacher at the Campden School, who wrote a guide to the abbey while on secondment to English Heritage. It had been alleged that the blood really came from a goose and was regularly renewed, he said. The speaker was thanked by chairman Guy Stapleton.

The latest history exhibit at the library consists of photos of a pageant in Moreton in 1923, which is also the subject of an article in the society's autumn quarterly bulletin. The event was in aid of the District Nursing Association and attracted 600 people to the recreation ground. It had a cast of more than 50 plus two horses and music was provided by the Moreton Orchestra conducted by George Thomas, of musical theatre fame, who had retired to Moreton.

The society's next meeting takes place in the WI Hall on Wednesday, October 12, with a talk on road travel and transport in Georgian Gloucestershire by Dr Nicholas Herbert, the former editor of the Victoria History volumes on the county.