Chairman Mary Jones welcomed back 36 members and 3 visitors following the summer break.

Great changes had taken place at the Kingfisher Hotel, Wall Heath during our absence and lunch was served in the newly refurbished white front room.

Speaker Sue Clegg was excellent with her talk entitled “The World of Finger Printing”. Sue, a retired police officer, was the first woman finger print expert in the country and had studied for five years in order to give expert evidence in court.

Everyone has a different finger print, the lines of which go through the flesh and last a lifetime. DNA can be the same in identical twins but not their fingerprints.

She mentioned the notorious Black Panther whose print was left in a small exercise book near the body of Lesley Whittle.

He was eventually caught committing a robbery in Derbyshire and his prints matched.

The case of estate agent Stephanie Slater who was captured and tortured by Michael Sams, who managed to escape with the ransom money.

He was eventually traced through his prints and the sound of his distinctive walk, caused by the fact he had an artificial leg. Sue donates her fees to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Meetings are held the second Friday each month 12pm to 12.30pm departing at 3pm. comprising a three-course lunch, speaker and a raffle.

In October the Rev Stephen Buckley will talk about his life from Stage to Pulpit, on December 5 an outing has been arranged to Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton to see their Christmas decorations and the acclaimed Bel Canto Singers will entertain following the December lunch.

Visitors are most welcome – for more information ring the Secretary on 01902 372984.