AFTER welcoming members to the club’s meeting on May 23, the club’s president Jeff Martin presented a senior member badge to Eddie Webb who had recently celebrated his 85th birthday.

The speaker at this meeting was Lorraine Parsloe, who gave a talk entitled ‘Only Fools and Corsets – Experiences of a TV Extra’.

She explained that, during 15 years as a TV extra (or ‘supporting artiste’), she had appeared in many BBC programmes, most often cast as a policewoman, a nurse, a parlour-maid or a peasant.

As an extra, she did not normally have any lines to say, but had either to remain still or to move as directed.

She found period dramas set in the late 19th century particularly challenging because they often involved her having to wear a corset for up to 14 hours a day.

Lorraine said that most of the famous actors that she met were very kind and approachable, and that she had enjoyed gaining an insight into the way scenery was created.

She treated members to a number of interesting anecdotes about her experiences, and finally persuaded members to join her in singing ‘What a Wonderful World’.

After Lorraine had answered a number of questions from members, Roger Harmer proposed a vote of thanks for a beautifully presented and most enjoyable talk.

The club’s next meeting will be held at Dursley Community Centre on Tuesday, July 11 when Cherry Ann Knott will give a talk entitled ‘Within Garden Walls’.

The club will have a stall at Dursley Carnival on Saturday, July 15, David Hiley will be leading a walk around Cirencester in July 18, and there will be a ladies’ lunch after the club meeting on July 25.