Vice chairman Brenda Graham welcomed nearly 60 members to the October meeting, particularly welcoming the return of Mabel Rainscourt after her long absence due to two knee replacements and then being very unfortunate in having a heart attack. However, it was nice to see her back in good health again.

Joan English gave final arrangements for the coming trip to Weston-Super-Mare and Clevedon, via the Wye Valley. Another day trip will be held in November to the Notcutt Garden Centre and on to Stratford-upon-Avon, in time to do some Christmas shopping.

Brian Draper had brought along an hour-long entertainment of slides showing the Severn River from the source to Bridgnorth. He was an extremely good presenter, with plenty of humour interspersed with slides of the most beautiful scenery taken from ground level as well as from a helicopter. Brenda Graham gave the vote of thanks. The next meeting will be on Thursday, November 7, the speaker will be Michael Ecob talking about the secret gardens of Worcestershire.