September saw the Lentune Ladies benefit from the opportunity to attend two meetings ( and lunches) : their own regular monthly meeting and also an invitation to join the Men's meeting .
Lentune Ladies Club
Lentune Ladies Club met on 7th September when Sandra Simmonds returned to present her final talk on life about her return to UK after living in Iran. Her previous fascinating talks, covered her marriage to an Iranian Naval Officer and her life under the veil in Iran as part of a Muslim family. This was followed by her escape back to UK during the Iranian uprising.This final talk covered the difficulties she had to contend with back in UK, setbacks she incurred as an Iranian wife and subsequent problems she had to overcome to rebuild her life. She had to contend with her inability to find work because of her Iranian surname. Her husband controlled all the money and expected her family to support her. He brought his second wife over from Iran and set her up close by. This was a thought provoking presentation.
Lentune Probus Men
Lentune Probus Men met on 12 September.The meeting commenced with an appropriate moment of silence and reflection, to offer our thoughts and prayers following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Re-establishing a tradition in inviting the Ladies to a joint meeting, the Gentlemen welcomed some 17 guests. We all were intrigued by the talk given by Derek Fones on The Origins of Words and Sayings. Derek and his wife acquired an historical interest (eventually becoming a hobby) after touring around the country and visiting National Trust properties and historic houses. Sayings of note varied from "Costing an Arm and a Leg" (alluding to portrait painting; "Big Wig"; "Left on the shelf" ( referring to spinsters); "Upper crust" ( freshness of bread eaten by higher class"; "Pushing the boat out" (passing wine around the table); "Nose to the grindstone" (in milling terms); and finally "getting plastered" after "being carried over the threshold". Derek Fones then concluded his talk and handed the meeting back under the control of our "Chairman of the board ".
During the subsequent lunch, the Chairman raised the Loyal Toast to HM King Charles III.
Visit to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
The Club's visit this month was to the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection at Old Sarum.
Contained in the Grade II listed hangers, members were able to enjoy planes ranging from the WWI Royal Flying Corps through WWII and up to recent fast jets. Over 30 aircraft and cockpits were on view, some open to sit in. Hawks, Jaguars, Hawker Hunters, and the Gloster MeteorTarget aircraft were just a few of the fascinating exhibits on display, together with helicopters and drones All members who managed to sit in cockpits also managed to clamber out again !
The RFC Exhibition represented a collection of memorabilia and personal records and displayed a variety of possessions, uniforms, flying clothing , weapons, photographs and meadals.
Blessed with glorious early autumn weather, a snack lunch was spent watching skydivers gently floating to earth.