On March 15, Dick and Lisa Robinson gave us a fascinating talk about Dick's great aunt Edith Appleton who was a professional nurse during WW1. She wrote a voluminous diary of her experiences which provide a unique record as voices of women in that period were not often heard. The diaries, written in exercise books, were kept in a drawer and when given to Dick he did the same, not studying them for many years. They were eventually put on a website, featured on radio and television and published as a book - a Nurse at the Front. The horrors of WW1 are familiar and the scale of the task of dealing with the continuous avalanche of casualties with the most appalling wounds was graphically portrayed. Sister Edith served for the whole of the war, in fact until Christmas 1919. Dick has vivid memories of his aunt who, like many others, never talked about the war.

In giving the vote of thanks, Chris Donough stressed the importance of keeping diaries so that our many varied experiences can be preserved for future generations.

We meet at 10am every Thursday at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club. Our next meeting on March 22 is a Quiz hosted by our President and on March 29, Dr. Richard Long will be speaking about Gordon of Khartoum. You can find out more by visiting the website: http://www.eveshamprobus.co.uk/

ALAN SMITH