THE first meeting of the New Year was held as usual on the first Wednesday of the month in the village hall and with the annual subscriptions due there was a good turnout. There was a queue for the mulled wine and refreshments which had been prepared to finish the festive season off with a warming glow.

Ray Sturdy came to speak to the Group about the ‘Swinging Sixties’ which was highly entertaining with many pictures and facts that made us all gasp and laugh at the memories of yesteryear, which seemed much more recent to most of us, than the 50 years that have elapsed. Mary Quant, the E-type Jag, the Beatles, President J.F. Kennedy, the mini skirt and snooker in black and white on the TV amongst others – so many iconic images that made it a defining decade of the 20th Century. It was pointed out that youth driven Cultural Revolution was fuelled by the ‘baby boom’ in the years following the 2nd World War.

Ray was very impressed by the Groups’ knowledge of the era and the number of previous Mini owners in the audience, which amounted to over half those present. A photograph competition to represent the era was well supported with many members bringing photos of their glamorous younger selves to the delight of us all.

The next meeting is on February 1 at 7.45pm when Yvonne Cocks will be speaking to us about being the First Female Paramedic. For further details about joining the Group, or attending as a visitor, please contact Barbara (Tel. 870791) or Shona (Tel. 871193).

ALISON RUSHWORTH