It was announced that one of the members, Jim Green affectionately known as “Gentleman Jim” had passed away following a short period of illness.
David Slack announced that there had been a very good take-up of tickets for the President’s Lunch to be held in July in lieu of the regular Tuesday Member’s Meeting.
In the absence of Graham Hannen whose current ill health has prevented him from arranging and conducting the various tours and holidays, Barry Roberts kindly offered to take over the arrangements for the trip to the National Arboretum and Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire.
Most members opted to “let the train take the strain” at the Arboretum by boarding the train that travels around the grounds with a guide giving a running commentary as each monument appeared.
After a light lunch in the excellent catering facility, the party boarded the coach for the short journey to Lichfield to take in the wonders of the 14th century Lichfield gothic cathedral.
Just a few yards from the cathedral, the home of Erasmus Darwin, father of Charles Darwin, was visited by some members of the party. The home contained many relics of his inventive life together with references to his very good friends Josiah Wedgwood of pottery fame and writer Samuel Johnson.
