MEMBERS enjoyed a fascinating talk with slides, and a couple of videos, which was more of a show than a talk.

The presenter Mr. Michael Bolton, had an enormous amount of detail regarding the beautiful parts of "Hidden Somerset".

Starting with a quiz for members to tell him where various places were, he continued on to.... Signs, People of note, and history of the Taunton hundred.

Starting with cave dwellers, who progressed to "islands”, built by themselves with track ways joining the remote places, then onto hill dwellers who became farmers rather than hunters.

Shots of places like Ham hill, which had a Roman garrison, an aerial view of Nether Stowey castle, clearly showing the keep, and Dillington House, which had many chimneys, which denoted great wealth.

On to Kilver Court at Shepton Mallet where a video showed the beautiful "secret garden", which was made for the factory workers of Showings and has as a backcloth the Charlton viaduct.

At members’ request they also saw Vobster, an old industrial hamlet whose quarries were flooded and where there is Vobster quay at which sub aqua is practised. Finally pictures of the many walls used for playing 'fives, and a tram post in Bishops Lydeard - though Mr. Bolton didn't know why it should be there!!

The vote of thanks was given by Mrs. Sue Adams.

The President, Mrs. Mary Read, made two announcements on behalf of the Monument club regarding an autumn break and a joint lunch. The prospect of a bring and buy table will be considered with Mrs. Jenny Taylor volunteering to run it, and also a skittle evening.

After much discussion the possibility of raising the club fee to cover increasing cost of speakers was adjourned until the AGM in March.

The next meeting will be on February 19 when the speaker will be from the chosen charity.