AT our meeting on 1 December, Cliff Blackborrow was welcomed back to our fold. We also extended best wishes to Derek Bunker whose continuing ill health prevents him from attending.

This week one of our newer members bared his soul and described his exploits and achievements. In Cider Country, the legendary Phil Bawn of Harvington outlined his life with humour, graphic visuals and gifted us some real Somerset cider. He described his early years in Somerset where he worked in a garage and the local Clarks shoe factory. After his National Service he returned to Clarks before leaving to join the Hoover company in Bristol where he began his sales career.

As company rep he travelled widely selling and servicing the huge range of Hoover products. Obviously successful, he won trips to France, Venezuela and Switzerland amongst others although he needed Grenville Burrows’ help to translate a French menu.

Despite having owned a number of exotic and expensive vehicles, his abiding passion is music. Twenty years ago he formed the Jack Daniels Big Band and performs gigs all over the country. However, we failed our audition as his backing singers when he got us to sing along with him to such classics as “I love to go a-wandering” and “Drink up thee cider”.

Mrs Bawn won’t be surprised to learn that his most precious memory is of driving an Aston Martin DB9 and his prized possession is a 1967 Yamaha motorcycle.

Cliff Blackborrow thanked Phil for a most interesting, humorous and well presented talk before we rushed to sampled his cider.

On Thursday 8 December we shall hear about the Father of Hi-Fi followed on 15 December with our last meeting of the year when our committee shall entertain us.

CHRIS DONOUGH