IT was story-time at the latest meeting, with widely differing tales from each of the three main speakers. Senior member Roger Granville gave an animated performance in describing the improbable adventures of two mice and two humans in search of a piece of cheese.

It turned out that this was a serious parable on the importance of recognising the inevitability of change, and the need to accept and adapt to it!

More believable was Adrian Lane’s joyful recollection of his childhood ambition to be a fireman, with a vivid evocation (with copious actions!) of life in his primary school playground, separated only by a chain link fence from the local fire station. Equally credible, if more serious, was Byron Chan’s moving and affectionate tribute to his own childhood nanny.

The session had begun in somewhat surreal fashion, with Table Topics Master Dave Bradley asking each impromptu speaker to explain why some extremely unusual photograph might feature in their family album. Pictures included, for example, a woman taking a photo while lying on her back on a vertiginous bridge parapet, and another showing a person wearing a cow’s head and carrying a milk churn. Quick thinking by all seven contestants produced suitably daft and imaginative explanations to produce a really lively twenty minutes.

The night’s awards went to Roger Granville as best speaker, Caroline Bellhouse best evaluator and Chris Little for his witty table topic.

Next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday August 9 – guests welcome as always.

COLIN JACKSON