Ann Evans opened our April meeting by welcoming members and presenting birthday posies, with a special posy for Gwen Thomas, who is celebrating her 90th birthday this month, which prompted an enthusiastic chorus of 'Happy Birthday'. Joan Parry gave a brief welfare report on absent members and there was a reminder that menu choices were required for lunch at St Ecgwins Club following the skittles on April 30. There had been no further news on the possible screening of the Centenary Annual Meeting at the Regal Cinema.

Our speaker was David Howe, on the subject of Prime Ministers' Partners. He began by pointing out that there had been four Prime Ministers who had never married, the most recent being Edward Heath. This was thought to be a disadvantage and apparently when Edward Heath was elected, a working party was set up to find him a wife. It seems a lady was found who was willing to fill this role and they became friends, but there were no wedding bells.

The role of Prime Ministers' partner is often a difficult one, requiring a show of support in public, even if not being of the same political persuasion, for example. Following the death of her husband, Clementine Churchill, who was not a Tory, took her place in the Lords as a cross bencher. Clement Atlee's wife, Violet, used to drive him on political business, as at that time there were no official cars. When he was elected Prime Minister and went to see the Queen, Violet dropped him off at the Palace gate, intending to look for a parking spot, until a policeman on duty stopped her and confirmed she was actually allowed to drive into the courtyard. David told us that on election tours the Atlees would plan their routes to allow stops for picnics and Violet took along her knitting.

Mary Wilson had married her husband when he was an Oxford don and she hated the life as wife of the Prime Minister. She refused to live at No 10 Downing Street, opting instead for accommodation in nearby North Street, but she continued to support her husband and when Harold Wilson's health deteriorated in later years she became his nurse and carer. Denis Thatcher was known for keeping a very low profile. He refused all interviews and was 'always present, never there', supporting his wife while maintaining his interests in golf and rugby and tolerating portrayals of him, in Private Eye for example, as a bit of a buffoon.

Perhaps surprisingly, the partners of Prime Ministers have no special treatment and when they are not with the Prime Minister, there is no security provided for them or their children. Following an election, if there is a change of government, they must be ready to move out of No.10 in a matter of hours. The role of partner to the Prime Minister is obviously not for the faint hearted.

This month's competition for something beginning with 'A' was won by Jill Robinson with an Autograph book, which included signatures from Norman Wisdom, Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques.

At our Resolutions meeting on May 14, during social time Audrey Shepherd will show us how she recycles old birthday cards, for sale in aid of the Worcester Breast Care Unit.

We are always pleased to see visitors, so do come along to one of our meetings at the Hampton Guide and Scout Community Hall. You will be made very welcome.

CHRISTINE ROBERTSON