At our meeting on March 21, we welcomed Mary Jones, a retired physiotherapist from Cheltenham, who described how the Smiles Foundation is making smiles in Romania.

She explained that the Smiles Foundation relieves poverty and provides food, medical support, education and housing for the most vulnerable Romanian people.

She showed us a variety of pictures of Romania and the dreadful conditions that many people live in. The housing in the main towns and cities appeared to comprise largely old and primitive concrete blocks with very basic facilities. Most seemed to consist of just one room which whole families occupied. However, these were better than the plastic bag shelters and rough living that so many of the poorest had to contend with, especially in the harsh winters when temperatures can drop to minus 30 degrees.

In response to questions, Mary said she understood why many people here feared some of the Romanians. However, considering the harrowing lives they lead, it is no wonder they try to move to another country for a better future. Gary Pugh thanked Mary and said how enlightening her talk had been particularly as many of us know so little of their problems.

After Mary’s talk, I got Gary talking about his childhood in the Rhondda Valley and Ron Tarry about his Evesham rugby experiences. Both are fascinating characters – they should write a book - as indeed should other Probus members!

We meet every Thursday at 10am at the Ecgwins Club in Evesham, for a couple of hours. Do join us.

Chris Donough