Jean introduced our guest speaker Mel Dyke - known as 'Mrs Barnsley' and we then really enjoyed her highly informative and engaging talk about the talented 'folk' of her home town of Barnsley.
Mel is an ex-teacher and author of several books who kept us spell-bound with her entertaining anecdotes of famous people she'd met from Arthur Scargill to Geoff Boycott, Mick McCarthy to Katherine Kenny, Dickie Bird to Philip Mosley (Barnsley's real Billy Elliott who inspired the film and stage production). Her books "All for Barnsley" and "Bus to Barnsley Market" really help to dispel the myth of Barnsley as a downtrodden town - it really has produced a wide variety of incredibly talented people. Her passion for her home town was obvious to all and her books are well worth a read.
Members enjoying a chat with Mel after her talk
Barnsley High School 'girls' enjoying a catch-up! Where have the years gone!!
After Sue Delany's vote of thanks we then had the business part of the meeting. It was lovely to see Secretary Jean back on the 'top' table after a few months absence - she'd been missed. Our February birthday girls received their cards before we enjoyed refreshments and a chat.
Happy 90th birthday to Elsie from us all.
