RUPERT Willoughby came to introduce us to Basingstoke’s Contribution to World Culture; cue some curiosity and quizzical eyebrow-raising.

As he talked and produced his visual images, it became clear that a monstrous con-trick had been played by post-war town planners.

The architect of “new” Basingstoke was Colin Shankland, a fervent communist and devotee of the god “concrete”, with a mission statement appearing to state that new is good, and old is bourgeois bunkum.

Some of old Basingstoke remains; there is just enough to underscore the mistake of confusing vandalism with progress.

A worldwide icon in the fashion industry is Burberry.

At the beginning of the 20th century a pious, modest and quiet-living Mr Burberry of Basingstoke began making good gabardine.

His army greatcoats kept the worst of trench mud off First World War army officers; today Burberry trench coats are “must-have” garments whose wearers would probably be seriously worried about such rough treatment.

And once upon a time, Basingstoke had a cabinet maker.

A vicar commissioned a portable writing desk for his daughter.

It is now in The British Library, having had penned on its slope the novels of Jane Austen - worldwide culture indeed.

We next meet on September 9 at 2pm at St Francis Church, Beatrice Road, to learn about Mary Seacole and her eclectic circle, and hope that you will join us, to find out more, and to enjoy meeting our members.