SPG Meeting 15th March 2017
 
A meeting of the SPG was held on 15th March 2017 at the Gosforth Hotel, convening as usual at 8pm. Those present, in round the table order, were David Robinson, Maureen Angus, Phil Sloan, Kath Wright, Chris Wright, Brian Angus, Mary Clare Robinson and James Henry. Apologies were received from Adrian Morley, who had previous engagements and from Tom Ashcroft who was still recovering from a back problem, but, according to Cath, his daughter, was progressing well at home. Members wished him a continuing recovery. David Appleton also presented his apologies having cricked his back playing a violent game of croquet that same day.
 As usual the conversation was wide ranging including frogs (Mary Clare’s garden multitude), and the annual migration of large numbers across Fox Covet Lane near Kath and Chris’s house), Brexit and Nicola Sturgeon’s strategic move for a further Scottish Referendum, the proposed date carefully timed to attempt to impede the Brexit negotiations, the history of the RVI, its personalities and strange tunnels uncovered by excavations on the ever changing RVI site, smoking habits past and present, and the trouble with knees (most people had a tale to tell). Phil related an interesting experience of his early academic life in Newcastle (probably about 1983) when he was invited on the interview panel to appoint a new Professor of Pathology. This was a new initiative, presumably to encourage young lecturers to get involved in all aspects of Academic life. At the interview senior Academics instructed him that he did not have to say anything (or was that not to say anything, I may have misheard!). The outstanding candidate, Professor Wilson Horne was duly appointed.
 Brian has taken a unilateral democratic decision (respect for democratic decisions is in short supply these days) that the next meeting for April be held on Thursday 20th of the month. A small number of members agreed that the Spring Dinner could be discussed at this meeting, and there was support for this being some time in May.
 As usual a wide variety of beverages was consumed including “Workie Ticket” and “Drakehead”, orange juice etc, and whilst most members opted for the excellent Bacon Rolls, one chose a full English Breakfast. Lent was upon us and  David R announced proudly that he would refrain from smoking for the month; it had to be dragged out of him that he was a lifelong non- smoker. By contrast two members said that they would go hungry in the true Lent tradition.