BRIAN Draper, a retired river engineer from Martley in the west of the county, entertained with an amusing and informative lecture and slide show entitled The River Severn (Part One) Source to Bridgnorth on October 29.

The Severn is, at 220 miles, Britain's longest river and it rises in North Wales on the uplands of Plynlimon, which is some 2,468ft above sea level.

Close to its source, the river passes through The Cascades, a beautiful section which has, in recent years, been made easily accessible for disabled people.

Mr Draper talked about the first 15 miles of the river down to Llanidloes and explained it fell 1500ft over this distance. Also, the many streams that flow into its course add to its waters.

Just a short distance above Llanidloes is the mighty Clywedog Dam, which was constructed, purposely, to collect the waters off Plynlimon and hold them in reserve so they can be released into the Severn during dry spells.

After Llanidloes, the river flows past - and occasionally through, as one slide of Newtown illustrated - the towns and villages of the Welsh border country.

A particularly interesting fact was that Welshpool was originally called Pool and was only changed to Welshpool with the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century.

The reason for the name change was to aid the rail traveller who might confuse Poole in Dorset with Pool in Wales. There is still an area just beyond Welshpool known as Pool Quay.

There are many interesting features associated with the river in this area; flannel mills, ruined abbeys, Barry docks, pubs, churches and, of course, Admiral Rodney's monument.

Shrewsbury, situated on a bow in the river, is a subject all of its own, as are the many stone bridges.

After Shrewsbury, members were taken into those parts of the river many people are familiar with, Atcham, Roman Wroxeter, Buildwas Abbey, Ironbridge Gorge and Bridgnorth.

The journey took in the flowers, fauna and wildlife that thrives on the banks of the river.

Everyone at the lecture was keen to explore those areas to which they were introduced and all are looking forward with anticipation to Mr Drapers Part Two lecture some time in the near future.

The next meeting will be at the Baptist Hall, Chapel Drive, Wythall, on Friday, November 26, at 7.30 pm when speaker Tony Wherry will explain What the Vicar Wrote, or unusual entries in church registers.