THE AGM was held on October 17, when Harry Hodgson was re-elected chairman; Anne Fox, vice-chairman; Janet Thomas, secretary; and Roy Edwards, treasurer.

The Committee was re-elected en bloc with the addition of Pauline Whitlock. The chairman said he was confident that 2002 would prove to be another stimulating and successful year for the Friends.

Following the AGM, Professor Bob Davis gave an extremely interesting and thought-provoking talk on 'English Antique Furniture - is it Genuine?'

Professor Davis suggested that furniture falls into one of four categories: reproduction where something is made in the style of a previous period; fake, where someone tries to present a piece of furniture as something it is not; married, where two distinct pieces are brought together and passed off as one; and altered, where a chest of drawers for example, is reduced in size and then presented as a piece in its own right.

The golden age of English furniture was between about 1700 and 1830 and this was broadly known as the Georgian period. Early in that period, oak and walnut were used extensively but by 1745 mahogany was both available and in vogue. Both satinwood and rosewood were used to a limited extent. Boxwood, rosewood and satinwood were used for inlay.

Professor Davis had brought some dining chairs along to illustrate what he was saying.

He had also brought some slides and these illustrated many beautiful pieces of furniture made during the Georgian period.

This was the last meeting of the season and the Friends will meet again in March.