Chris Smith spoke of his journey ‘From Bewdley to Beijing by bike’ at the latest meeting.

In 2000, after many months of planning, he started on the challenge which took 13 months to complete, and which, by air, would take only 13 hours.

He described the challenges he had to overcome: from the extreme change of temperatures with summer highs in Turkey and the winter cold in India, to the lack of communication in non-English speaking remote villages.

His colourful slides confirmed the uninhabitable expanses of mountains, plains, and deserts but only Mr Smith could explain the silence and loneliness he experienced and eventually enjoyed.

He returned by air to Frankfurt, but completed the journey back home by bike.

A theatre visit to the Swan Theatre to see ‘Half a Sixpence’ in July has been booked. The Spring Group meeting will be hosted by St Michaels on March 17 and interest was shown in a visit to Hartlebury Castle.

A jumble sale will be held at Mamble Village Hall on Saturday April 16, starting at 2 pm.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, at Mamble Village Hall with the business meeting starting at 2pm. Visitors are welcome to attend at 2.30pm to hear the speaker, Dorothy Norman, talk about ‘Fun in Finland’.