WE were shocked this week to hear that George Dawson had died very suddenly and we stood in silence to pay tribute to a well regarded fellow member. There followed updates on David Way, Ron Tarry and Hubert Martin and we were delighted that Grenville Burrows was able to join the meeting from France via his telephone.

We then welcomed old friend, Brigadier Ian Shapter of Cheltenham, who described for us the Battle of Verneuil, a strategically important battle of the Hundred Years War fought in France in 1424.

This was a particularly bloody battle, arguably harder than Agincourt, where despite being heavily outnumbered, the English suffered some 1,600 killed whereas the opposing French and Scottish losses amounted to over 7,000.

We were a little amused to learn that a certain Englishman, a Captain Young, was drawn and quartered as punishment for retreating during the battle. Ian assured us that Captain Young was no relation of our own Bob Young who is of course a Scotsman. In those days the Scots would have gone anywhere to fight the English and the English, armed with their longbows, would have gone anywhere to fight everyone else.

Following questions, Brian Dutton thanked Ian for yet again informing and entertaining us with his detailed knowledge of this formative period in our history.

On 9 June we shall hear about the real Dad’s Army and then on 16 June we shall have our summer lunch at the Beckford Inn.

CHRIS DONOUGH