THE January meeting of the Corinium Ladies Luncheon Club celebrated 50 years of the club’s inception.

Hazel Kolb, one of the founder members, cut a celebration cake and advised the current members that a group of eight ladies started the club by each inviting six of their friends to meet at the Crown in West Market Place.

The club grew in strength with a peak of 130 ladies meeting at the larger premises of Stratton House Hotel with a variety of speakers from Cyril Fletcher to Alan Titchmarsh.

It was then decided to move to the Agricultural University in 1994 where they are to date, a golden club with a future.

Speaker was Jeremy Mainwaring- Burton, former equerry to the Queen Mother.

After the King's death the Queen Mother bought the Castle of Mey, as a project, to be near friends and for the princely sum of £100 in 1952.

The castle was built in the late 16th century by George Sinclair the 4th Earl of Caithness and held by his family for 300 years and since the Queen Mother’s death now open to the public.

The Queen Mother enjoyed rolling house parties, with a series of guests staying for four or five days before the next party arrived.

Lunch was a picnic held outdoors whatever the weather, afternoon tea in the drawing room, early evening drinks and a formal three course dinner.

Her favourite drink gin and dubonnet with ice and a slice of lemon and champagne with her dinner, a fascinating insight in to the Royal Life of the Queen Mother.

The next meeting is on February,12 a talk by Tina Gray on a Glimpse Backstage.

For club details contact Mrs Lucille Terry (Membership Secretary) 01285 654873 or email: lucille.terry@gmail.com