THE guild met on Tuesday, June 12, at the Civic Centre.

The speaker was Ed Shore whose talk was National Service – Should we Bring it Back? Mr Shore spoke about his own experience of National Service. He gave a short history on how the idea started with pressgangs.

He described the entrance medicals, vaccinations and basic training. Life was difficult for many young men who had never been away from home before.

He was fortunate to be chosen to go to a college where it was found he could run, and so he represented his unit which excused him duties, and also qualified him for extra rations.

Many of the conscripts found their days very repetitive and boring and were happy when the two years were up. But for some ill-disciplined boys, National Service turned them out as disciplined men. Would the young men of today welcome that kind of discipline?

On May 30 of the members enjoyed a river cruise on the Severn. We were served tea and entertained with live music. Several of our members enjoyed the music so much that they joined in the verbal interpretation of the music – yes, they sang along.

The next meeting of the guild will be next Tuesday at 2pm in the Civic Centre when the speaker will be David Harrison talking about The Midlands Air Ambulance. Please come and join us. Marian Coulton