I WAS disappointed that only a select few of our members attended last Friday's talk and those who stayed away missed a treat.

Jane Thomson-Webb is an entomologist based at the Birmingham Museums and her presentation on the minute organisms that infest our treasured possessions was fascinating. Did you know, for instance, that the little dears have superior taste and only attack the best, such as cashmere for clothes-moths and old oak for woodworm? Incidentally, don't apply Rentokil to woodworm holes: these are their exits and they have already moved on elsewhere!

One of the best ways to deter pest-attacks is to store important items in vacuum-bags, but, of course, this method can't be used for furniture. We must learn to be diligent and look for the tell-tale signs of frasse, which is the pale, powdery substance left by little vandals.

Incidentally, little is the key word, for household and museum raiders are minute, as we discovered when we used a magnifying glass to view the specimens that Jane had brought to her talk.

Jane has worked with the members responsible for the care of our Butcher Row Museum collection and has given invaluable advice on their storage and protection. It was an amusing, as well as enlightening evening, even if we did go home scratching!

Next month's meeting is on Friday, April 25. The AGM will be at 7pm and the talk by Duncan James on THe Herefordshire School of Sculpture will follow at 7.45pm. Visitors are, as always, welcome to attend.

MARY WINFIELD