Professor Coe, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at Southampton University, explained that he saw his work as “a cultural activity” - to understand the universe in the same way that archaeologists try to explain history.  There are various disciplines involved in searching for life elsewhere, but the only example anyone has found so far is on this planet.

The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) is a project that has been going for some 40 years, listening for signals from nearby systems.  We are constantly transmitting signals such as radio, TV and even mobile phones, that go out into the universe and could be detected by anyone out there (picking up Eastenders broadcasts for instance).  Despite surveying about 1000 of the nearest stars, they have yet to ‘hear’ anything.  However, a recently built array of telescopes will allow us to ‘listen’ to many stars at once, rather than singly.

When asked about the biggest leap forward in Astronomy, Professor Coe cited the development in 1995 of a method to find planets, by looking for the ‘wobble’ they cause in their star.  We have now found about 300 planets, and he is confident that we will soon discover one with very similar conditions to Earth, which might foster life.  There is a doughnut shaped ‘Goldilocks zone’ around each star, where a planet is not too hot (close up), and not too cold (far away), but just right.  In our own solar system Mars is an exciting possibility for finding life, that sits in the zone with Earth.  It has ice/snow in some places, but no liquid water on the surface as it would just evaporate - but who knows what might be underground!

Probability tells us that even if the chances are very slim that there are the right conditions for life as we know it on another planet, there are so many out there (associated with each of 100,000 million stars in our galaxy, or the 100,000 million other galaxies in the universe) it is still possible; we must keep searching.

Everyone was amazed at the transformation, but would not have known it was a wig if they hadn’t known Tracy beforehand.

My New Hair is a non-profit organisation, and hopes to gain charity status soon.  Hilary Blackburn provided more background to what they are doing to promote their services in the NHS and get the message to the women that need them.  There were emotional stories about particular cases that Trevor had helped, and a wealth of information to take away.  The region gave a donation to support their work.

Past President Pat Hanns welcomed Mr Julian Marczak, Chief Executive of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and presented him with a cheque for £2003, raised by the club during her Presidential year 2008/2009.

Mr Marczak said, “We’re always grateful of donations - large or small.”

He thanked all the members present at the meeting and added that it costs £90,000 per month to keep the helicopter operational.  They also hope to buy a new helicopter, which will cost approx. £1.2million per year, so all donations are greatly appreciated.

Club president Pam Grosvenor, centre, with Maggie Cross, left, and Claudine Arbitre, a member of SI Royan, France, visiting as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the twinning of Gosport and Royan.

Club members, several of whom are talented artists, are now much wiser about the intricacies of Chinese brush painting.
Maggie Cross, brought up in Hong Kong and a Mandarin speaker, enthralled her audience at the May speaker meeting as she talked about the origins of the art while producing a beautiful example of the style of painting.  While she worked she talked about the history of the art and she also recalled childhood memories of riding water buffalo!
She explained that Chinese brush painting was unlike other painting styles as it involved rituals and symbolism.
She chose to paint a peony tree, the national symbol of China.
Painting is normally done on the flat above an absorbent blotting type of material but Mrs Cross, a former schoolteacher, worked upright on a flip chart, rather more difficult as the paints are quite watery.
She explained that preparation was an important feature of Chinese brush painting.  “You have what are termed your four treasures; these are your brush, your ink stick made from soot, glue and water, an ink stone and the paper.”
The ink is ground on a stone with the stick and water is added. “This part of the preparation helps you to meditate and calm yourself so as to be focused on the task ahead,” she said.
When she had finished her painting Mrs Cross signed it in Chinese characters in the name, Golden Phoenix, that she was given as a child in Hong Kong, and added what could loosely be described as a seal, known as a chop.
Members were able to examine her array of brushes, paints, chops and other artefacts used in the art.

There’s a new woman at the helm of SI Gosport and Fareham – she’s Miss Pam Grosvenor, a former Portsmouth Director of Nursing who lives at Swan Quay, Fareham.  She is pictured receiving the President’s regalia from Mrs Pat Hanns, Immediate Past President.
The new President said she had been a member of three branches of Soroptimist International so was well qualified to appreciate the tremendous range of ability, talent and knowledge in the club.
“Everybody has something to offer and I want everyone to feel that they can make a contribution.”
Miss Grosvenor outlined some of her plans for her year of office, including a visit to the South Downs Planetarium at Chichester as 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy.
Other officers elected at the meeting were: Mrs Sharon Philip, President Elect; Mrs Pat Caulton, Secretary; Miss Ann Pibworth, Treasurer; Programme Action representative, Mrs Christine White; and regional representatives, Mrs Rosemary Bell and Mrs Stella Astbury.  Mrs Astbury was also elected on to the executive committee along with Miss Sue Douthwaite.

Glenn and Jo Gilbertson of Winchester shared the prize for the highest score across the three rounds.  The wooden spoon for the lowest score (including the only zero for one round!) was ‘won’ by Doreen Davies of Southampton.

President Pat Hanns with guest speaker Mr Paul Hargreaves from the charity Action for Children.

Young offenders, even those with long criminal histories, should never be locked up.  Children under 17 years of age needed the right environment if they were to be helped to turn around their lives, Paul Hargreaves from the charity Action for Children told the club.
“Locking up children doesn’t work,” he said. Eighty per cent of young offenders placed in custody re-offended, whereas just 28% of those taking part in the charity’s intensive fostering programme had re-offended since the pilot scheme started in 2004.
The scheme, one of three in the UK operated in conjunction with the Youth Justice Board, works by using a points system to reinforce positive behaviour by incentives such as being allowed time to play computer games. At the end of each day the young offender is awarded points or has them taken away.
Mr Hargreaves is a programme supervisor for Action for Children’s intensive fostering programme, designed as an alternative to custody for troubled young people aged between ten and 17.  He heads a team of professionals who support the child, the family and the foster carer on a daily basis.
Young offenders suitable for the scheme receive nine months intensive fostering followed by three months of after care.
“Although it’s expensive, it’s cheaper than keeping them in custody which is not effective in reducing re-offending rates,” said Mr Hargreaves.
When dealing with their charges foster parents were told to look for positives where possible and were encouraged to aim for a praise/correction ratio of eight to one.
“Reinforcing good behaviour through incentives works better than punishment,” he said.
The team could be creative when finding ways to correct offending behaviour.
“By week three of his programme one youngster was absconding four times a week for no reason so the team came up with the idea of taking away his shoes and replacing them with a pair of pink slippers.
“He stopped absconding,” said Mr Hargreaves.
A vote of thanks was given by Gillian Harris.

Last weekend, at the Annual dinner of the Channel Swimming and Pilotage Federation, Ros Hardiman received the Frank Richards Endurance Award - an engraved clock.  She is pictured with Frank Richards, after the presentation at the ceremony.

Ros says she only got it because she didn’t know when to get out!

Seriously though, it is an honour, and Ros was very pleased to receive it from Frank himself, a skilled pilot and former swimmer.  He has now retired, but endowed this award to recognise that whilst not everyone can make a successful crossing, there are those whose efforts should be recognised.

Ros plans another attempt to swim the Channel this summer.

Ian MacDonald, of the Wine-Cru, explained about the ways to look, smell and taste wines.  He ran the evening as a quiz, with the challenge to identify the flavours of the wine and guess the grape frmo which it was made.  Each table of 6 was a team, with the winners getting the opportunity to select a bottle from those sampled.  There were 2 white wines, a rose and 3 reds to be tasted, and obviously available for sale from the wine cru afterwards.

The club also held a small raffle to boost funds from the evening - all proceeds are in aid of the Hampshire Air Ambulance, President Pat’s chosen charity for her year.  The event raised just under £250 for the charity.

President Pat thanked Ian and Sandy for running the evening and acknowledged Federation Vice President Liz Morgan-Lewis and Regional President Sue Dyer for travelling to attend.  She hoped everyone had enjoyed the event and wished them all a safe journey home.