THE speaker for our October meeting was Frank Townsend, who immediately announced he was taking us on a holiday.

Although not an adventurous or even exotic holiday, he managed to keep us extremely entertained with his account of his many trips on his narrowboat.

He began his public speaking career by giving talks on tracing his family tree and it was as a direct result of this that he had included his canal visits into his repertoire. Indeed his boat, bought in 1976, was named after his great grandmother.

Travelling at the obligatory four miles an hour, he had travelled extensively in the Midlands and surprised us with many details.

His talk was illustrated with some interesting slides including several of the unique Anderton Lift in Cheshire. The vote of thanks for what had been a fascinating talk was given by Marion Cargill.

Before the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting the president asked members to remember Pat Hoare, our ex-group organiser who had recently died, and also the victims of the recent Asian earthquake.

The competition for a handmade greetings card was won by Olive Cull, with Margaret Watson the runner up. Our November meeting is the AGM, so a visitor from county will be present and there will be the customary harvest supper. Visitors and new members are always welcome.