A MOST thrilling afternoon was experienced by members.

First the Treasurer was able to present a cheque for £800 to the vicar of Holy Trinity Church Link Top.

It was the result from the 'Open' lunch, which had been given in order to raise funds for the repair of the church roof.

The Reverend David Nichol in accepting the cheque was grateful and said, "We are having a push this month to get towards the target, this will greatly help."

The speaker was Gill Suttle whose talk, illustrated with her own slides, was entitled "Celestial Horses of Turkestan."

In 1995 Ms Suttle had travelled in central Asia. Her wonderful slides and interesting talk took members to a strange land.

They were the ancient silk routes of Persia and cities of romance like Samarkand.

The heat can be as much as 73 degrees centigrade and although strange to say, "in the deserts rivers move." On the other hand the silent graves are moulds in the sand, with sticks above at angles, but respectful and aspiring.

In the barren rocks tulips and roses grow.

Bed can be a wooden shelf raised about two feet from the ground, to avoid scorpions and snakes.

In the town, on market day, brilliant carpets were for sale, woven by women sitting on the floor.

In this mostly dry and arid land were built beautiful mosques, some still standing and in use, others ruins a thousands years old.

The people are rugged but kind and hospitable. When so ill with dysentery she nearly died. Ms Suttle was rescued by one family.

We saw slides of camels but the pride of all are the horses.

All our thoroughbreds are derived from the Arab horse. They are exceptionally fast and strong.

Ms Shuttle purchased one such horse and continued her journey riding him. They became attached. However, on her return home she had to leave him behind, but she did not forget him. For two years she made plans to rescue him, for he was neglected. She succeeded, but he was "skin and bones."

Such is the wonder and stamina of the breed that in three weeks of cosseting, he recovered. In due course she rode him all round England and raised thousands of pounds for charity.

At Aintree he was stabled under the magic name of "Red Rum." A worthy successor.

So ended an afternoon to remember and an insight into another country.

SHEILA WELLS.