After the summer break, we welcomed back Rosemary Prosser on Tuesday, September 15 for a talk entitled “The Final Furlong”.

Rosemary has been involved with horses from childhood, and although she and her husband had their own farm until retirement this year, she has also enjoyed a part-time job as tour guide at Cheltenham Racecourse.

After its beginnings on Cleeve hill above the town, the racecourse moved to the Prestbury area and became a favourite with Royalty (especially The Queen Mother) and of course Irish trainers and punters who throng the town in July for Gold Cup Week. Rosemary’s enthusiasm and recordings of the sounds of the crowds enabled us to experience something of the excitement of horse racing.

She told of three different tracks, for flat racing, hurdles and an all-weather one.

She also told stories of the great characters amongst owners, trainers and jockeys, and let us into some of the secrets of the jockeys’ weighing room and winner’s enclosure.

The speaker on October 20 will be Gordon Forrest of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust on “The Wildlife of Chaddesley Woods”.

Visitors are welcome at Trinity Methodist Church Centre, Kidderminster at 2pm.

Further information from Katharine on 01299 877989 or Diana on 01562 753355.