The summer may have given way to Autumn but we have enjoyed some bright sunshine.

This time last year we were having some colder weather and it is always difficult to arrange a trip only to find that on the day heavy rain falls accompanied by strong winds.

This was the case on the 7 October when we went to Littlehampton for a lunch at the River Arun View - another of our favourite places for a meal.

The weather was very wet and there was a strong wind. The lunch was excellent with very good service. It had been our intention to spend the afternoon in Worthing, but the rain forced a change in our plans. We went instead to Goring-by-the-Sea to view a church where one of its members - a sign-writer by profession - has painted the ceiling of the church as a reproduction of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome.

It is an amazingly accurate and beautifully executed work which faithfully reproduces some of the features of Michael Angelo’s masterpiece.

At the eastern end of the church are some stained glass windows executed by another member of the church and her son.

It is very impressive and it is known that it is the only reproduction of the original anywhere in the world.

From there we made our way home to Swanley via the Polehill Garden Centre for a cup of tea.

On the 20 October our guest speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Martin who spoke on the History of the Victoria Cross.

A very popular and informative speaker who maintains a level of interest in this subject. The afternoon was greatly enjoyed.

On the 31 October another visit was made to Crayford Greyhound Stadium for the morning meeting.As usual brunch was included and for some it was a successful morning, but for one or two of our members luck was not with them.