A TOTAL of 29 members were present when our new president, Richard Adams, declared the August meeting of Crediton Probus Club open. He began by giving us the sad news of the death of a popular member, John Clifton, then invited John Clarke, his friend since schooldays, to say a few words about him.

This he did and went on to tell us that John’s cremation was to be a private one on Thursday, August 18, but that there was going to be a memorial service for him in Crediton Parish Church at 3.30pm the following day (August 19).

Christopher Maycock said grace before we settled down to our meal, after which Burford Cupper was presented with a badge as our immediate past president. Russ Ballard then gave an account of a very successful summer outing to Sandford Orchard’s Crediton cider factory, where members learnt about the cider-making process, sampled a variety of ciders and finished by tucking in to an excellent meal.

Burford Cupper then gave a series of amusing (but true) legal quotes, which was followed by Barry Shears winning the draw.

In giving his report on sick members, Brian Shillingford mentioned that Hubert Fernbank, our oldest member, was unwell.

Our speaker, Dr Peter Alsopp, whose subject was “Living in China” was introduced by Russ Ballard.

Formerly on the staff of Exeter University’s Music Department, when this closed in 2005, Peter was invited to take up a teaching post in Beijing. He described going to a reception in the British Embassy on his first day and being told about the simple sort of clothing he would be expected to wear.

He said that almost all Western preconceptions about China are wrong. Peter became a member of a church that had been in Beijing for more than 500 years (Beijing’s mosque is more than 1,000 years old).

Chinese attitudes to the elderly seem strange to western eyes, the young always listen to what they say and show them respect.

Attitudes to the past are also very different. The Chinese know very little about their Imperial history – the present and the immediate past dominate.

Chinese grammar is probably the easiest of the world’s great languages, but it is one of the most difficult to use.

Peter told us that his college conservatory (he doesn’t work in the University of Beijing) was constructed near the birthplace of China’s last emperor. It is the Alma Mater of the world’s greatest pianist, Lang Lang. Peter dwelt at some length on the Chinese higher educational system, where first and second degrees can take eight years, so PhD students are for the most part in their 30’s.

There are now more Chinese MA students in Britain than there are in China, because a master’s degree takes two years less here!

Chinese learning was and is, mostly done by rote, so whilst students reach very high standards, they are lacking in originality. Chinese and Western systems of learning are entirely different. Chinese systems are teacher-based, Western systems are student-based (which makes for much freer use of the imagination).

Peter said that the air quality of Beijing is dire – air pollution is an all-pervading problem. It is caused by the level of industrial production which has grown at unprecedented rates over the past 20 years to feed Western demand.

Corruption is everywhere in modern China (as it has been down the centuries). Cheating in exams is likewise universal. There is cradle-to-grave care for the family, but family life is strongly paternalistic, however the One Child Policy has made the mother the lead person.

Peter has the greatest admiration for the beauty of Chinese girls (he has six times as many girls in his college as boys!).

There is no such thing as casual dating in China, marriages are usually arranged; couples don’t live together before marriage.

Raymond King thanked Peter for his very wide-ranging talk which, he said, had altered our conception of life in China.

Richard closed the meeting by proposing the toast ‘til the next time.

Keith Barker