OUR August meeting opened with a welcome for three new members. Melody, our President announced we urgently need a Treasurer and asked members to seriously think about this, otherwise we may have to close which would be sad.

Anyone who would be interested in the Bursary to go to Denman College was asked to put their name forward and the draw will take place later. Our October meeting will be a fish and chip supper and names will be taken at the September meeting for members who would like this, together with payment.

We then had a very interesting talk by Michael Hardwicke on the Berkeley family and Spetchley Gardens. Michael took us through the history of the family, who live at Berkeley Castle,Gloucestershire, which started in 1066 up to the present day.A very aristocratic family who have lived at the castle since Henry II and whose name is remembered in Berkeley Square, London, Berkeley Hotel, London and our own Berkeley Almshouses in Foregate Street One ancestor, Sir Rowland Berkeley, was MP for Worcester. Michael also showed us slides of Spetchley Gardens throughout the seasons which are delightful.

The competition was won by Julie Smith with her own painting of a hare (the competition being something with the letter ”H”).

HILDA HUGHES