ROSEMARY Prosser was our speaker at Guild on March 1 with the title of her talk “From Tights to Trousers”. Well that does stir the imagination and we were not disappointed. Rosemary started by telling us that her father suggested at the age of 16 she may like to join the Police Force as, in his own fatherly way, she was a big strong girl. Of course she did not run with that and instead worked on the family poultry farm, eventually going to Agricultural College in Warwick to study a new secretarial course. Office work lasted a few years before she decided that maybe she could join the Police Force. She was the first married woman to be accepted with West Mercia Police Force. Ladies wore skirts and had a monthly allowance for black tights in later years, with equal opportunities the ladies wore tailored trousers, hence the title of the talk. Her first post after training was in Evesham and she rose to the rank of Inspector. She gave us many amusing tales but the one that sticks out for me was, women were not issued with batons or truncheons but would have no trouble flooring someone with their shoulder bag!!

An excellent talk and insight into her career before she left to have a family.

Our next meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at 2pm, as usual will be held at the Civic Centre. We will welcome Diana Raphael who will take us on a Tour of Pinewood Studios new members will be very welcome.

MARIAN COULTON