Our speaker on 28th November was John Dixon, President of Tewkesbury Historical Society, who gave us a tour of the town’s pubs, several of which were familiar to members. Many of the pubs and all the breweries and maltings have shut and several have been converted to alternative uses. Many are of great historical interest but there is a debate as to whether the Bell Hotel, which was used by pilgrims to the abbey, or the currently closed Black Bear is the oldest. Wetherspoons won plaudits for the way they had spent money on the Royal Hop Pole Hotel, preserving its medieval heritage. John had many stories to tell about the various pubs, their landlords and customers. The arrival of the railways had a major effect on the coaching trade on which the numerous coaching inns depended. One photograph showed a re-enactment of coaching days taken in 1928 with a coach and four in the High Street. Having expressed their thanks to John for this most interesting talk, members adjourned to the bar, no doubt to reflect upon Dr. Johnson’s words that “there is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” Our speaker on 5th December is Peter Willerton on British freshwater fish and on December 12th Doug Eyre will be having fun with caricatures. We meet at 10:00 every Thursday at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club. Full details can be found on our website www.eveshamprobus.co.uk Alan Smith Photo caption: Ye Olde Black Bear Inn, Tewkesbury Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Photographs_by_Philafrenzy Wikimedia Commons