THE first meeting for the year was held at the Holly Bush Hotel on August 22, some 36 members and guest attending. President Oliver Davison opened the meeting and explained that incoming vice-president Terry Scott was again unable to attend to be inducted into office as he was fully committed with problems at his home due to the recent floods.

After lunch, Maj Chris Parnham - who spoke to us about the St John Ambulance - was to speak about soldiering but, having recently returned from a tour of the Middle East elected to make that his topic.

He spoke about Israel, Palestine and Syria and many familiar places which many members were familiar with from their religious knowledge such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 27 at 12.15 when the speaker will be Philip Wilson, county chairman of the Royal British Legion in Warwickshire, who will be speaking about awards for gallantry.