LEDBURY and District U3A kicked off 2018's Monthly General Meeting talks with a visit from John and Annette Christophers, otherwise known as Albrighton Pottery.

Their talk 'Six thousand years with clay' was enthralling, giving members the history of pot making over the centuries, starting with children playing in the mud (clay). Annette and John have been making pots for over 50 years.

Both were trained to 'throw' on the potter's wheel which even today, would take a five to seven year apprenticeship. Annette came from Kenya to study at Hornsey College of Art in London. They still make pots but spend more time travelling and talking to interested groups.

Their talk included a hands-on element which called for the audience to each have a piece of clay which they formed into discs and put their initial on plus a small pattern.

Whilst John continued with his talk, Annette formed these discs into a terracotta bowl, as illustrated, which they took back to their pottery to fire. Members will be organising a visit to Albrighton near Wolverhampton to collect the bowl in a couple of months' time.

The next monthly meeting will be on February 15 at St Katherine's Hall, instead of the usual venue.

The talk will be 'Between Stairs. The Life of a Ladies Maid'. Jo Golby will look at the life and expectations of the personal maid to her Ladyship.

Jo, who has been a guide at a number of historic venues, including Warwick Castle, will be in costume for her talk and will even tell us about the wearing of stays and the language of the fan.

The meeting begins at 2.20pm to include a very brief explanation of a necessary small change to the wording of our constitution.

For further information about Ledbury and District U3A please ring membership secretary on 01531 633637 or visit our website ledburyu3a.org.uk