For the December meeting members went back to a time when Power Point presentations were not even a gleam in an inventor’s eye.

The Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society has a large collection of black and white magic lantern slides taken in the county from the late 19th century to the early 1950s. Chris Chanter showed a selection of these slides from all dates and covering a wide range of subjects - churches (including Nynehead in the 1920s), towns and villages, local crafts and landscapes. It was fascinating to see Quantock village without the paraphernalia of the 21st century – no aerials or overhead wires and few cars – and a landscape characterised by hedgerows of elm trees. What also struck the audience was the high quality and detail of the photographs, and the huge projector, dating from the 1920s, was a thing of interest in its own right.

Members are reminded that the next meeting is our New Year party on Friday January 9 starting at 7.30 p.m. The speaker will be Colin Spackman from the Wellington Museum. For more information contact David Rabson (01823 666609).