THE February meeting saw newly elected president David Young welcoming two new members, and advising that the thriving club was now aiming to up its membership to 50 by the end of the year.

In a former life, Mr Young had twice been to Buckingham Palace as reward for services to industry, and it would therefore have been disappointing to her majesty that he should forget on this day to name her as the recipient of the loyal toast!

Following the lunch, Tim Booth delivered a hugely impressive talk on local water mills.

He has been interested in the subject for 45 years, and some of the slides were of mills long since demolished.

He needed no notes as he took the group from the early single-geared types with one-to-one ratio in Roman and Saxon times through to the medieval structures which lasted through, broadly unchanged, to the early 18th century.

The Industrial Revolution led to the gradual demise of the water mill, as the new power sources meant milling could be conducted on a much larger and more economic scale, and in the centres of population.

Today there are many restored water mills operating mainly for educational purposes, and indeed, the club will be visiting one in the summer. Thanks were given by Phil Wright.

New members are always welcome from the retired gentlemen of the area. Ring David Giddings on 01384 873646.