The talk reviewed a number of festivals, revealing that prehistorically they were based on survival, farming and nature. Later they were based on religion and Christianity and more recently focused on community, human life and family, of which Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day were given as examples.     While the origin of ‘Valentine’ is not known, Chaucer recorded that 14th February was the day birds chose their mate. Initially, recipients were loved ones but also could be by pulling a name or even the first person they met on that morning! By the 18th century the favoured token was a letter or card.  In the 1840s, commercial cards became available. By 1914, after cards had become increasingly rude, the practice nearly faded out. In the 1950s, the sending of cards to a loved one on Valentine’s Day was reintroduced by the USA.  Interestingly 15th

On 10th January 2022, we commenced the year with a talk by John Hurst, the current President of the Rotary Club of Bristol. He gave an overview of his work in Bristol and goals for Rotary. John arrived in Bristol in 1997 with the remit “not to let Broadmead die due to Cribbs Shopping Mall opening in 1998”. He was instrumental in securing £65 million to develop Cabot Circus and was involved in ‘Destination Bristol’, which developed into ‘Visit West’. Along with other public figures, John’s house and cars were vandalised. The Rotary Club of Bristol currently has 51 members with an average age of 71 years. Like many other organisations, Rotary is finding it hard to recruit new members and to motivate existing members to take office and work enthusiastically. They are considering a Club for younger people with a different format – maybe

Sir Peter first described the definition of funny “Funny Medical and Nursing staff and what people get up to”.  He asked “does medicine need to be funny”?  He showed photographs of St Bartholomew’s Hospital London where he trained and photographs of the Professors who taught him.  He told us how they used rhymes to remember things such as parts of the anatomy and described how different from now it was then on the wards at Christmas and the fun they had carving the turkey.  He also described the fun they had with eminent people. He said it was important to have something to keep up the morale of staff when disasters happened such as the bombings of Old Bailey and Tower of London.  There were lots of anecdotes about how things were done and the fun they had too.  He also showed letters sent to

  Lori started by telling us that the Bristol Blue Plaque scheme was originally run by Bristol City Council but is now organised by the Bristol Civic Society.          The request for a plaque is put forward and the Society then researches the person to ensure that they are connected to the building and that their achievements warrant a plaque.  Sometimes they are people who have a low profile but have done amazing things.  The plaque is funded by the nominee and has to be approved through planning applications. There are plaques to individual women and sometimes more than one on the same plaque, Lori spoke of some women that we are familiar with and many more.  She showed us the plaque dedicated in July 2021, as part of our Centenary celebrations, to our very own Addison-Phillips.  She said “a plaque to

Annabel has been a bee keeper for 10 years and is Chair of North Somerset Bee Keepers.  Annabel started by describing the privilege of being a bee keeper. Relationship between the honeybee and the flower: She described the relationship between the honeybee and the flower which has evolved over many years. With wind pollination you need a lot of wind and so nature has devised its own way to pollinate.  Flowers communicate with the bees and bees communicate with the flowers.  She showed us the flowers in ultra-violate light.  The entries to the flowers showed as dark with nectar guides guiding the bees to their centre.  They also communicate electrostatically and the honeybee is drawn to the plant because of this.  The pollen lands on the honeybee and it carries the pollen on its back legs.  As it moves to the next flower it deposits

Nikki started by telling us about her career in the police force having joined in 1987 and became Assistant Chief Constable, Avon Somerset Police Force in 2015.  She is Head of Investigations and Operations – Support Directorate leading the Avon and Somerset Police response to the Covid 19 Pandemic.   She described her career highlights and responsibilities some of which are: Giving evidence on stop and search to the McPhearson enquiry as part of the report on the death of Stephen Lawrence in 1999. She is responsible for a drugs intervention programme. She works with the Criminal Justice and Crown Prosecution Service helping to make the criminal justice process more efficient. She described how policing demands have changed due to: The arrival of the internet in 1991 Stephen Lawrence murder in 1993 Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman murders 2002 Suicide terrorist attacks (in the UK

The Two Presidents spanned the last two years!  Immediate Past President Denise 2019-2020 and President Marion2020-2021.  We were joined by a prospective new member and also members from SI Weston-super-Mare.   Denise and Marion entertained us describing their careers and the exciting things they have done during their lives.  We often hear about our members careers and it never ceases to amaze us what these women who we know so well have done.  Thank you both for sharing your lives with us.

Chris started by telling us a bit about the history of the Tyntesfield Estate.  The house was built for William Gibbs and completed in 1884.  The estate was purchased by the National Trust in 2002.  There are 37 labels from the original trees planted in the late 1800s.  There is a huge selection of trees with beautiful foliage and flowers and look stunning when they are at their best.  Some parts of the estate are the same as they were originally including some of the tree walks.   A few of the trees in the laurel walk have been replaced by taking cuttings from the original trees.  The holly walk is 140 years old and some of the hollies have also been replaced. He told us about ancient, veteran and champion trees.  They have an oak which is an ancient tree. Ancient trees are very old