AN excellent talk was given by Margaret Clayton, who had stepped in after the original speaker had fallen down the stairs. Her talk entitled ‘Never say No’ described her very varied career. The posts of responsibility which Margaret had been given were awe-inspiring and as her talk suggested she agreed to any offer whether it was being in charge of building prisons in the 1980’s; being the only woman on the board, serving as a high-ranking civil servant, mostly in the Home Office; helping to draft parliamentary bills, converting taxi cabs during decimalisation etc. She was also Chair of national charities, and became a member of the Farriers Guild and also owned a half share in an International Dressage Horse.

She described how every opportunity had taught her something, particularly while working to improve the prison service. in particular changing the practice of ‘slopping out’ and introducing individual toilets. She spiced up her story with anecdotes of the many famous people she had encountered - Roy Jenkins “shy with women”, Leon Brittain “the sharpest of intellects”, James Callaghan “decent and honest”& Michael Howard in whom she was extremely disappointed when he sold off the prison farms, which had been one of her initiatives.

Two new members were welcomed and the Group Carol Service on Saturday 6 advertised, and many signed up for the Christmas Meal at Salford Hall. The local charity chosen is the Alzheimer Café Alcester.

On the weekend November 22 and 23 events to commemorate WW1 and those locally who lost their lives will include tree planting, plaque and bench dedication on the recreation field and a photographic exhibition ‘Poppies’ and ‘Pebworth Then & Now’ and on the Sunday an illustrated talk ‘Pebworth in the Great War’.