Winchester Horticultural Society devoted the interval in their December meeting to conversation and the consumption of seasonal fare.

Paula Harris-Allen had prepared the fruit- filled, delicately decorated cake and other members brought tasty mince pies, all washed down with seasonal cheer.

Gerald Ponting gave an illustrated talk on the flowers and gardens of France and then members presented items with a seasonal theme.

Edmund Hodgkinson read humorously of the problems caused by the greenfly, followed by Stanley Holloway's poem, Old Sam's Christmas Pudding.

Wendy Hodgkinson read the delightful Tiger, by New Zealand writer, Janet Freyn. Max Francis presented Talking Turkeys on the endless culinary possibilities of leftover turkey, and Pam Ayres' Oxfordshire, a down-to-earth countdown to Christmas. Ted Ashley concluded with John Betjeman's Christmas.