OUR recent meetings and outings appear to have a historical theme.

On our tour of old Cirencester under the excellent guidance of Cherry Hubbard we enjoyed the architectural beauty of the buildings which she drew to our attention while she explained their significance in the history of this fascinating town.

Our knowledge of the Arts and Craft Movement was increased on our visit to Rodmarton Manor.

Again we had an excellent guide who explained that the house was built in the true spirit of the Movement with craftsmen and women from the village employed in the building, decorating and furnishing of this lovely house wherever possible.

Two of us joined Gloucestershire Federation’s trip to the National Memorial Arboretum on September 3.

It is a most remarkable place with trees making living memorials and creating a peaceful place to remember.

A profoundly moving part to me was the central memorial to the servicemen and women who have fallen since the end of World War Two.

It is in the form of two concentric walls, each divided into semi-circles.

Three of the semi-circles are filled with names and dates; the fourth is blank except for a few names under the date 2013.

At our September meeting which was shared with the Local History Research Group of the Nailsworth Society Fiona Warin spoke about the Women’s Land Army and the part the Land Girls played in keeping the home fires burning during World War Two.

This was a delightfully entertaining talk.

On October13 Duncan Coombs is to talk about “Gardens of China- Ancient and Modern”.