THE first speaker for the fifth season of the Friends was Dermot Rhodes, Master of the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick.

This is not a hospital for the sick. The word has an older meaning of 'shelter'.

The hospital is a retirement home for fit men who have served in the forces.

There has been a building on the site for many hundreds of years.

The earliest part is the chapel over the West Gate of Warwick, which dates from Norman times but was rebuilt in the 14th century.

At this time the craft guilds, which were also religious charities, built the banqueting hall.

The guilds became more powerful. Henry VIII felt threatened by them so he banned them. The town burgesses took over the buildings to keep control within the town.

Dudley, later Earl of Leicester, a favourite of Elizabeth I, asked the queen to help him to found a home for old soldiers.

He came to Warwick where the burgesses allowed him to set up his hospital in 1571. It was to be for "twelve poor and impotent men".

Today, all three services are eligible to apply for residence.

There was to be a master who, in the early days, was usually a priest.

There were rules to be observed. The men were to have no hawks or dogs. They could not stay out all night without the Master's consent. They must not strike the Master. No ladies in three score years were allowed into the men's rooms. Morning prayers were to be said each day in the chapel. This last rule is still observed today.

Nowadays, there is no financial assistance from national or local government so funds must be raised. The hospital is open to the public each day except Monday.

The Brethren officiate on these occasions, wearing their Tudor uniform of a black cloak and hat with a silver badge.

Charities must be approached to fund major schemes.

The buildings are well worth a visit. There is the chapel, the oak-timbered banqueting hall and the galleried courtyard. The hall is rented out for meetings and the courtyard is much in demand for TV period dramas and historical subjects.

The gardens have been restored to their former glory by the Master's wife with help from, among others, the residents.

One feature is an old Norman arch. There is a "Nilometer" too, which was once used to measure the level of the River Nile.

A modern feature is a magnificent bear and ragged staff statue cast as a millennium project.

The next meeting is on April 17 at 7.30pm when Andrew McLaren will talk about the marketing of Coughton Court.

Meetings are held in the restaurant of Coughton Court, usually on the third Wednesday of the month. New members welcome.