THE illustrated talk entitled Hancox Family: Millers of Great Alne and Evesham was presented by John Bunting and Terry Carter.

An audience of more than 120 people were enthralled by the social background to the local dynasty. The two Alcester speakers supported their original archival research with fascinating photographs and an exhibition display. The evening was enriched by several in the audience sharing their personal associations with the Hancox family.

The next talk, Local Ghosts, Murders and Scandals is presented by Anne Bradford.

The author and lecturer brings an evening of local folklore, spooky eyewitness accounts of unexplained phenomena together with an excellent slideshow.

This talk starts at 8pm on Wednesday, October 10 at The Greig Hall, Alcester.

In a change to the published programme, the November talk, The Defence of Worcestershire Project is presented by Mick Wilks.

The county of Worcestershire, away from the east coast, might at first glance appear to have been in a quiet backwater of the Second World War.

Yet the Defence of Worcestershire Project reveals just how far the county was mobilised for total war and how seriously the threat of invasion, from up the Bristol Channel, was taken.

Mick Wilks, project researcher, presents his findings at 8pm on Wednesday, November 14 at The Greig Hall, Alcester.

New members and visitors are welcome to the talks.

The society's 2007 programme can be viewed on the Alcester town website at www.alcester.co.uk