Weekly Meeting at SCCC - Dr Barbara Bond

41 club members, one former member (Simon Milsted) and prospective member Richard Dyke managed, without a map or compass, to find the location of the meeting on the opposite side of the County Ground from our traditional venue.

Our speaker Dr Barbara Bond talked about the WW2 escape and evasion mapping programme that encouraged and supported the escape of allied POWs between 1939 – 45. During nearly six years, 1.7 million maps, mainly printed on silk or rayon, and other escape aids were smuggled into camps hidden in games, books and even gramophone records. To avoid compromising the Red Cross a number of bogus prisoner support organisations were set up. 36 thousand servicemen were successfully helped to escape (that’s almost as many as currently serve in the regular British army). 

Afterwards, John Binns thanked the many well wishers and offers of help after he broke his leg. Derek Bartaby reported that David Watkins is about to undergo radio-therapy treatment.

Bill Tucker’s number was drawn in the Ball Draw but not the joker.

Next week (Jan 21st) our speaker is Justin Roxburgh, CEO of Arc (formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless). He will talk about the work with the homeless in Taunton. It was Justin who linked us with the two people we helped who needed start-up funding to set up their own gardening and nail technician businesses. DR Bill Bain, SF Nigel Birkett. 

Apologies for this and the following 2 meetings to David Janes please.

Jan 28th – Halcon Update (Paul Hughes)