CHERITON Fitzpaine Ladies' Evening Organisation were challenged at their October Meeting, to consider whether "Mining" had any bearing on their daily lives.

A few brave souls thought not, but, by the end of the evening they had to agree with the Speaker that it had everything to do with us - even in Cheriton Fitzpaine!

Robin Kear, a retired Mining Engineer 's talk was about: Rocks; Riches and Reality. He believed that the general public know very little about metals, both base and precious.

Gem stones, both base and precious, industrial minerals, oil and gas, all depend on mining.

Using photographs, Robin told us how mining started in 2000 BC in Arabia, when turquoise was found. Obsidian, a semi-precious metal is still used in some surgical instruments where it has a cleaner cut.

Mining always had a bad name because of the risk of falls, diseases caused by dust, and entrapment. Thankfully, this is mostly a thing of the past and metals are a great boon to civilisation.

Several questions were asked over tea, and we all went home better informed about metals in our everyday life.

Mary Nunn