SEVERAL Circle members recently competed in The Wales & West Wine Federation annual event held in Torquay.

The competition attracts wine and beer makers from as far afield as Nottingham and Peterborough and to get even a place in a class is quite an achievement considering the number of entries involved.

Stroud did particularly well with Dave Marlow taking five first places with his wife Brenda also taking top spot in three classes and Fred Gilpin, Joyce Meadows and Cyril Young each winning a first place.

When all the lesser placings were taken into account Dave Marlow came third overall and narrowly missed out on becoming Champion Wine Maker.

The photograph shows the successful winners with their trophies.

At the monthly meeting in June our guest speaker was Marion Beagley talking about the Pearly Kings and Queens which was extremely interesting.

She told us of her own connections, her mother having been born within the sound of Bow Bells, London, which entitled her to be known as a genuine Cockney.

Her talk was both informative and humorous.

However by way of introduction she told members her reason for giving talks was to raise money so that each year the particular group to which she belongs could give ten children from Chernobyl, which was the site of a nuclear disaster twenty nine years ago, a months' holiday in this country.

Her account of the health problems still being suffered by people living in that area of Russia, was most harrowing, but she was able to give a vivid description of the joy these children experienced when in this country.

The group rely entirely on donations to fund this event and the children stay with the families involved in fund raising.

In addition to the speakers' fee, members also made individual contributions to the cause.

She was thanked by Valerie Fussell, chairwoman for a most interesting and thought provoking presentation.

There was one competition for red after dinner wine judged by brian and Pat Elkins from Gloucester who awarded first place to Dave Marlow with Fred Gilpin and Joyce Meadows taking the lesser placing.

The judges were most complimentary regarding the wines presented.