Our speaker, Gerry Acher is Chairman of the Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust; Chairman of the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts); Deputy Chairman of Camelot Group; chairmanship of the London Climate Change Partnership and Vice chairmanship of Motability; Chairmanship of the Heart of the City Organisation and is one of the most respected business people in London. So we were delighted that he could spare time to talk to us about the people he has met and the changes he has noticed during two old car rallies across Asia in l997 and 2007. Gerry admits to having a great passion about old cars.
The first long distance rally from Peking to Paris took place in 1907 when there were no roads in China. Six cars turned up in Peking, one got lost in the Gobi desert, fortunately discovered by tribesmen after two days, the rest made it to Paris. In 1997 Gerry drove his one and a half litre 1932 Aston Martin where there were still no roads and again in 2007 where great improvements had been made. Also Gerry and his wife journeyed through the Gobi Desert, Mongolia and Siberia in a 1931 Ford. Gerry was struck by the friendliness and the resourcefulness of the people in every country he visited, including Iran. He finds children the same the world over and some humans only change when they grow up. Government officials are another matter. Communications and the dramatic impact of the change in the climate are the two most noticeable changes. In China, millions of trees are being planted to stop the desert coming into the towns. In ten years, the use of mobile phones has transformed life for those living in even the smallest villages, and are now used throughout the developing countries. A big change is the satellite dishes and solar panels just outside each village. This can only be a short summary of Gerry’s talk, which was so interesting and informative and of course there were many questions from our members, not only after his talk but outside the theatre where Gerry had parked his Aston Martin.
Alan Baker has been a member of Prompt Corner since its inception and was at our last meeting in February, five days before his death. He enjoyed the talk so much. We shall miss him.
Our speaker in March will be Angela Ashton; a part-time adult education tutor teaching first aid for schools and colleges. Her talk is entitled House Of Treason – a whistle stop illustrated trip through history and a few of the Howard family, Dukes of Norfolk since 1483.
Our speaker in April will be Bob Spackman. His talk will be entitled Grace and Flavour. This project is a communal vegetable garden in an old walled garden in Dene Place, on National Trust Property, which has been derelict for years.
Members will now have received notification of our annual trip to Chichester either by letter or email. Could you please fill in the form and make the cheque out to the Nomads.
This can be brought to Prompt Corner to save postage. If any member, due to attend the next meeting, is unable to do so, please telephone 01483-283507 by Sunday, 14th March, 2010.
Mary Brooks
