TVGS held its first (and planned to be annual) Christmas Dinner with lecture at The Talbot Knightwick on 8th December 2014. Twenty Six attended and listened attentively to not only a fascinating and engaging talk by Tom Sharpe but also at intervals the challenging strains of a group of itinerant Morris Men rehearsing just the other side of a porous dividing wall. Tom’s stentorian voice was however a match for the bells, whistles, drums and jiggy things that Morris people get up to in tucked away rooms in the countryside. In good and amused heart he turned up his volume as necessary and told his tale of William Smith and the map—the first geological map of a country. 2015 is its two hundredth anniversary and Tom is among those leading numerous celebrations and commemorations planned for the year. The Talbot hosted us most comfortably and reasonably, we enjoyed the meal and suspect Tom actually enjoyed the Morris Men’s challenge, certainly his email in response to Janet’s thanks indicated that he had enjoyed the whole experience:
Thank you for your email. It was a pleasure. I really enjoyed the evening and my tour the next morning. I’ve been lecturing for many years now, to lots of different groups, and I can say without doubt, that my visit to the Teme Valley was by far the most enjoyable lecture visit I’ve ever made. Your friendliness, hospitality, and especially the enthusiasm of your members (and of course the Morrismen) made it a visit to remember .
Thank you Tom for your very gracious reply. We certainly feel we have made a new friend in the higher geological atmosphere and look forward to your returning to deliver another topic and perhaps update us on the celebrations.