MEMBERS of the Crediton and Area branch of Devon Senior Voice welcomed two speakers to their June meeting, who both spoke about the benefits of walking.

Louis Bartlett, a local osteopath working at the Crediton Complementary Health Centre, gave a presentation about Nordic Walking Poles. He first started to recommend them after training as a Nordic Walking teacher.

With a background in osteopathy, he knew the poles could take pressure off knees and hips and also give the body a more overall toning by involving the arms and shoulders in the walking process.

Louis hopes to resume his Nordic Walking Pole trainings at Shobrooke Park on Saturday mornings.

His talk was followed by Wendy Eames, a member of the local Senior Voice group, who has been a volunteer Walk and Talk guide for many years.

Her presentation outlined the benefits - both social and physical - of walking in small groups on a regular basis.

Walk and Talk offer three levels of walks from the less able and those unused to walking (who walk for maybe 20 minutes) up to the advanced walkers who can walk for up to two hours.

Chair, Carol Towler, thanked both speakers warmly for their presentations.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 13 at 2pm at the Meadow Suite, Lords Meadow Leisure Centre.

The speaker will be local jazz musician and craftsperson, Andrew Vaccari, who will be talking about the papier mache coffins he makes.

All are welcome, entry is free and donations are invited towards refreshments etc.

For more information please telephone 01363 775502.