VICE President George Bourne opened this week’s meeting with news of members and alerted us that he would be trialling the use of a roving microphone. On previous occasions, whilst most of us could hear the speaker, fewer could hear members' questions.

Secretary Clive Allen sought volunteers to give presentations at meetings and outlined the arrangements for our annual lunch on 10 November at the Three Ways House Hotel and our Christmas party on 15 December.

Our speaker this week was Gill White, a university lecturer who lives in Ebrington, near Chipping Camden. Her teaching skills were outstanding as she regaled us with a superb description of a most dissolute man. No, it’s alright Christina. She wasn’t describing our President Brian! The object of Gill’s passion was the first Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish. – a charming, hot-tempered, argumentative womaniser who enjoyed innumerable relationships with ‘actresses’ as well as more demure ladies.

Gill explained that he had also gained a fearsome reputation as a defender of civil liberty and opponent of tyrannical monarchy. He was instrumental in William of Orange and his wife Mary being crowned joint monarchs of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1689. (But what about Wales, muttered Jeff Jones.) This ‘Glorious Revolution’ was an important transition towards our Parliamentary Democracy as we know it today.

However, perhaps his most well known legacy is Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. And from Gill’s slides and our own personal experiences of the House, we can see stunning examples of his rather colourful lifestyle emblazoned all over the interior.

Following many questions, George Bourne thanked Gill for her outstanding presentation. He complimented her on her clear diction which we could all hear perfectly.

On 3 November we shall hear from Richard Dorrell about miscellaneous mechanicals followed by our Annual Lunch on 10 November.

CHRIS DONOUGH