A FASCINATING talk entitled Castles to Country Houses and the changing function of country houses was held at the Rose and Crown in Harnham.

The speaker was Chris Beharrell, an expert on historic buildings. During his career he spent 11 years working for the National Trust having previously been a research assistant for Nikolaus Pevsners’ Buildings of Ireland.

Chairman Gill Prior gave news about the forthcoming local rounds of the ESU Churchill National Public Speaking Competition for Schools 2014-2015.

These will be held on November 26 at the South Wilts Grammar School for Girls at 6.30pm and on December 2 at King Edward 1V School in Southampton, also at 6.30pm.

The next meeting of the ESU will be on November 19, the speaker will be the author Peter Sutton, who will give a talk entitled Edward Elgar – the Man (and the Woman) behind the Music. New members are welcome and anyone interested in joining should email nigelestlick@gmail.com.