Our speakers meeting on the 4th December was Anna Beer, who's passion is about Bess, the Wife of the famous Sir Walter Raleigh. Who, I hear you say, and why .... but Anna had become enthusted during her research into the period and shared her enthusiasm with us in a most engaging talk, that took us into the extrordinary world of Elizabeth England, with Sir Walter being imprisoned, in the Tower, for 13 years and eventually beheaded, his head being returned to Bess, now his Widow, who collected it in "a red leather bag".

The talk was detailed, and intriguing ... and followed, of course, by tea, and it being Christmas, mince pies and bon homie.