TIM Mowat, a member of Minchinhampton Probus was the guest speaker at the second January meeting when he gave an illustrated talk on the stained glass windows at Fairford parish church.

He was well qualified having at one time been the church warden there.

We were taken back over five hundred years when Fairford came under the control of the Earl of Warwick and when the windows were first installed.

With the aid of slides Tim explained the significance of each window panel and what it represented.

The glass was Flemish in origin and we were told how the windows were constructed and the fact they are so rare it is impossible to put a value on them, but they are protected against any acts of vandalism.

Members asked several questions which were answered, and it transpired that during the last war the windows were removed for safe keeping and stored in the cellar of a large house in the area.

This was an unusual but absolutely absorbing talk and he was thanked on behalf of members by Peter Nairn, the president.

Probus meet at 10.15am on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at the Cotswold Indoor Bowling Centre, Dudbridge, Stroud.

It is open to all retired men and ample free parking is available on site.