David Cowling , the Chairman, welcomed 48 members and 1 visitor to the meeting held on 3^rd July and after giving apologies wished ‘Happy Birthday’ to those members with birthdays in July.

The Secretary, Tony Brazier, gave details about the trip to RHS Wisley on Thursday 18^th July and reminded RHS members to take their membership cards with them. He also asked for any members attending the lunch after the August meeting to collect a ticket from him. He went on to say that The Civil Service Sports Council have booked a Christmas lunch at BCoT on 12^th December and that any of our members wishing to go should contact him.

The Welfare Officer, Christine Broadbent, said that she is still in contact with members needing her help.

Persona of Henry VIII

Our speaker this month was Tony Harris (suitably dressed for the part) who gave a talk in the persona of Henry VIII. The talk was humorous and informative as he gave his thoughts on his ‘Six Wives’. He started by telling us how his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, was previously married to his elder brother Arthur who died so leaving the way open for him to marry the princess. As no son survived (they only had Mary), he was desperate for an heir so he divorced her and married Anne Boleyn. They only had one daughter, Elizabeth, so he had her beheaded for treason and married Jane Seymour who gave him a son, Edward, but she died a few days afterwards. He then married Anne of Cleves but thought her so ugly he divorced her. Then it was the 17 year old Catherine Howard, who he had beheaded for adultery, then Catherine Parr, acknowledged as the first female author and had the rules of sucession changed, who suvived him after his death in 1547. Tony kept us thoroughly amused throughout and was warmly applauded at the end of his talk.

Upcoming Meetings

Our next meeting is on 7^th August at Brookvale Village Hall from 10.00am to 12 noon with the speaker being Tony Stafford giving a talk on ‘The Sex Lives of Kings’. This will be followed by lunch at the Conservative club.

The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Brookvale Village Hall from 10am to 12 noon and all retired Civil Servants, their relatives and friends are welcome.  Further details about the group and information about our trips can be obtained by contacting – csrfbasingstoke@gmail.com or calling  07715 640171.

— Margaret Atkinson