John Gilbert was able to make an excellent start to his year as Chairman by welcoming not one but two new members. Tony Wood and David Timothy our latest members were presented with their customary "brown envelope" by John and they look forward to making new friends in the months and years ahead.
After our lunch of Poached Smoked Haddock, followed by a Jam Sponge with Custard and Winter Berries we were entertained and educated by Dr Judith Hill with her talk on the life and times of Mary Queen of Scots. The sub-title of the talk was 'Heroine or Villain' and Dr Judy made sure that I was unable to decide which role Mary really played! Our members from north of the border definitely felt that her canny marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley thus ensuring her son James, the Crown of England, made her a Heroine whilst those from south of the border were not so sure! So it was hardly surprising that in the questions after the talk the subject of Scottish independence cropped up a few times. My interesting fact was that Mary was a rather tall women, around six feet, so now wonder Elizabeth wanted to cut her down to size!
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