Marlow Common WI (From Bucks Free Press)

Marlow Common WI

11:36am Tuesday 30th September 2008 in Your Bucks - Marlow

THIS month 30 members were fascinated by Mrs Deakin's talk entitled "Shackleton's Antarctica" describing her cruise from Tierra del Fuego to all points south.

Unfortunately we were unable to see her slides, which were no doubt very beautiful, due to a computer malfunction. She was such an excellent speaker, however, that the verbal pictures she painted of the weather, the ice and snow and wildlife transfixed us for an hour or more.

After a brief history of the early expeditions to the South Pole we heard about Shackleton's amazing journey to South Georgia via Elephant Island after his ship Endurance sank. Leaving 22 members of the expedition on an island he set out to raise the alarm and eventually all were saved. On the return leg of her cruise, Mrs Deakin visited the Falkland islands and revived our memories of the conflict there.

After a break for refreshments and a quick trip through the business, Tricia Smith reported on our visit to the Swan Theatre to see My Fair Lady in August which we all enjoyed. Gill Cooper thanked Pam Weeden, in her absence, for hosting a lovely barbecue in August when even the weather obliged.

We are now looking forward to our autumn and winter programme of events and our next meeting will be on October 16 at Bovingdon Green Village Hall at 7.45pm.