Published on: Sunday 1 July 2012

In June a dozen members met at the Bank of England Museum in London, learning about the history of currency, interest rates and other financial matters. This was followed by a walk to the Monument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, where three of the party climbed the 311 steps to the top for an aerial view of the city. The visit ended with a visit to Tower Bridge, with a walk over the upper section and a look at the engine room.

In July we were treated to an ‘after closure’ tour of Petworth House. Our guide took us round the house showing us some of the great paintings by Turner, Van Dyck and others that are the treasures of Petworth.

The September event was a talk by Barry Shears on ‘The Business of Art in Renaissance Venice’ and in October a group of about twenty visited the D-Day Museum and Southsea Castle, before lunching at the Royal Naval Club in Portsmouth.

All these activities helped to raise funds to enable us to give £600 to the last International Relations Conference and £300 for the International Public Speaking Competition.