Last week, on Thursday, June 11 members thoroughly enjoyed their Summer Lunch at the Boathouse.

Everyone has heard of Lawrence of Arabia, but how many people know anything about him other than the glamorised portrayal by Peter O'Toole in David Lean's epic film? This was the question posed by Dr Richard Long at our meeting on June 18.

Richard, a former diplomat and academic, took us on a journey from Wales by way of Oxford to the Ottoman Empire at the time of its challenge by the Arab Revolt and its eventual disintegration. He called his talk: Lawrence of Arabia, Known and Unknown.

Lawrence was the second of five illegitimate children born to Sir Thomas Chapman, an Irish baronet and his mistress, who styled themselves Mr & Mrs Lawrence, and lived in Tremadog in mid-Wales. They subsequently moved to Oxford. He studied History at Jesus College, obtained First Class Honours and subsequently worked as an archaeologist in the Middle East.

At the outbreak of World War I, Lawrence was recruited into the Army for his knowledge of the Middle East and within four years had become an acting temporary colonel. At the end of the war, his exploits were publicised and popularised by Lowell Thomas, an American film maker and the legend of Lawrence of Arabia was born. Lawrence himself wrote about his exploits before seeking obscurity by joining the RAF as Aircraftsman Ross.

Richard talked about his close studies of Lawrence's writings and his scepticism of some of Lawrence's claims. Some of the journeys Lawrence describes are simply physically impossible - at least in as they are related. Richard disputes other claims by Lawrence because independent corroboration does not exist. Richard leaves the listener wondering just what might be true about the legend of Lawrence; he even adds a touch of conspiracy theory to Lawrence's fatal motorcycling accident.

It would appear that we may actually know little about the real T E Lawrence.

On June 25, it will be Face to Face with Steve Swarbrick followed by The Road to Little Bighorn by Richard Eggington on July 2.

CLIFF BLACKBORROW