We had a really good turnout for our meeting on Thursday morning, November 13 and everyone was in fine form. President Jim Cox welcomed visitor Bill Birch of Pershore and we were all delighted to have Dennis Hallett back after an absence of some weeks. Instead of a rant of the week, Bill Underwood then read a hilarious description of the national characteristics of the English, Scottish and our European neighbours. Although gross exaggeration is increasingly common, it’s nice to know that we haven’t been “a bit cross” since the Spanish Armada!

Following last week’s talk by John Hincks about 175 years of the P&O shipping line, this week we were entertained by Brigadier Ian Shapter who told us about the role of the archer in the 100 years war. He focussed primarily on the battle of Crecy in August 1346 where the archers and their longbows annihilated the French who relied heavily on crossbows. It didn’t help that the French knights thought it beneath them to kill the lower classes. In the event, the French losses numbered some 8 to 10 thousand, whereas the English lost only 55. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales captured and adopted the King of Bohemia’s coat of arms, the Fleur de Lys, and King Edward ruled that henceforth our national language would be English rather than the previous mix of Latin and French.

Steve Swarbrick thanked Ian on behalf of members, saying that he had loved every moment of this factual and humorous presentation, one of the best he had heard.

Next Thursday morning, we shall hear David Clark telling us about the first female convicts deported to Australia.

CHRIS DONOUGH