"THE Normans had an aim

This sceptred isle to claim,

But we're here just the same,

Because from thence we all came."

These lines introduced Alcester U3A's talk about the Bayeux Tapestry at its November meeting. Ian Willox gave a fascinating slide talk about this 70m long embroidered cartoon which glorifies the Normans and vilifies the Anglo Saxons.

Ian added greatly to our schooldays' knowledge of "1066 and all that".

We now realise the tapestry was more propaganda than truth; as always it was written by the victor not by the vanquished.

The enthusiasm of our speaker, a Scot and a pipe major who worked at GCHQ Cheltenham, was infectious.

This cloth record started in 1064 with Edward the Confessor apparently offering the Crown of England to William of Normandy; then being usurped by Harold.

The tapestry ends with a depiction of William's coronation at Westminster.

Members were informed of the U3A Summer Schools, the newly refurbished Alcester library with enhanced IT facilities, a proposed Yoga Group, the many ongoing group activities and the annual lunch planned for February 2006.