On 7th November Barbara Hopper regaled us with her poems about a variety of subjects, some of which were in song form, needing vocal support from some brave members. Barbara explained that writing poetry ran in the family and she read one of her father’s poems. Her interest in history was apparent, particularly of Stannington, near Sheffield, her former home. In 1760 a fragment of a tablet was unearthed from a field there which recorded the service rendered by a Belgian soldier in the Roman army, known only as “son of Albanus”. This is now in the British Museum. She also told the story of William Gill, born 1804, the vicar of Stannington who started as a ploughboy. Another story related to the Wheelbarrow Race at the Yorkshire village of Braithwell to the neighbouring village of Micklebring, a tradition dating back to 1953 to mark the Coronation. While working at Sheffield University in an admin job, she replied in verse to a staff member unable to secure a parking place. I wonder if he was mollified. Members found “Pondering Poetically” and Barbara’s endearing style delightfully entertaining. We meet at 10:00 every Thursday at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club, but on 14th November we shall be holding our annual lunch at the Three Ways House Hotel, Mickleton. On 21st November Jim Cooper will speak about “The Art of Persuasion”. Full details can be found on our website www.eveshamprobus.co.uk Alan Smith Photo caption and credit: Arnold Pawson, pictured pushing Dennis Dunstan to victory in 1953. Picture: NDFP-04-07-19-BraithwellWheelbarrow-10. Doncaster Free Press