Leonard Stanley Wine Circle with a talk on Cider with Rosie

AFTER our summer break, we were welcomed back by Eric and although there were some apologies, there was still a good crowd.

A warm welcome was extended to Alan and Jenny Mills – two visitors who are going to join us as members.

Owing to the refurbishment of the toilets at the village hall, our meeting on October 31 only, will be held in the Scout Hut at Leonard Stanley, so please wrap up.

Members were reminded that the October meeting will be the AGM and that the annual subscription of £25 per person will be due.

Also not to forget that our Christmas Dinner will again be held at The George, Frocester on December 19, at a cost of £20 per head for the meal – drinks extra.

This is sure to get booked early, so please bring your cheque books.

Without further ado, George Yiend our speaker quickly commenced into his talk on ‘Cider with Rosie’.

This was divided into four parts – when Laurie Lee arrived to live as a small boy in the Slad Valley, then his school days, followed by the Parochial Tea and lastly as a Choir boy carol singing at the big houses in that area.

Talk is not the right word to describe how George quickly launched into the life of Laurie Lee.

We were left spellbound and although most had either read books or knew something about Laurie, he and the surroundings became alive in front of our eyes.

George is a complete natural performer, with the Gloucestershire accent to the fore that it came as no surprise to us that he had been an actor and a good one at that.

We thoroughly enjoyed his talk and looking around the room, there was a smile of enjoyment on everyone’s face of being taken back into the days of Laurie Lee himself.

An excellent speaker.

Chris Phillips

Secretary