LEE Brockhurst WI has been delving into the past with stories of life at the Royal Court at its latest virtual meeting.

Forget all those images of 'buttoned up' ladies and chivalrous gentlemen from times past, as Lee Brockhurst WI heard from Sarah Slater, Hampton Court Palace guide lecturer, life at the Royal Court, from 1660 to 1830 was anything but.

The gentlemen were writing salacious poems and the ladies, far from being buttoned up, were proudly displaying not only their neck and shoulders but, shockingly, their décolletage.

And royalty was no different with George III being the only one not to take many lovers or mistresses.

For the presentation Sarah dressed in one of her 'stunning' authentic home-made costumes with her hair styled and wearing the typical pearls of the era.

Pam Clarke, press secretary for Lee Brockhurst WI says Sarah's presentation was 'breathtaking'.

"Her grasp of the period and the personalities involved was breathtaking," said Pam. "She answered all of the questions thrown at her entertainingly and in detail.

"We are now hoping to have another Zoom meeting with her, perhaps about the ghosts at Hampton Court Palace, and, fingers crossed, plan to travel to the palace next year to meet Sarah in person and find out more.

"Variety being the spice of life, it is perhaps not surprising that our March speaker is talking to us about a history of grave robbing and dissection – apparently not as gruesome as it sounds.

"Loppington WI will be joining our Zoom meeting to hear historian Eric Jackson share his knowledge of a subject presumably unknown to most, if not all, of us beyond our hazy recollections of Burke and Hare.

"In March our book club members will be reviewing 'Lonely Londoners' by Samuel Selvon, and then tackling 'Dubliners' by James Joyce. Good luck ladies!

"Our 'crafty' members are busy knitting scarves for the homeless as part of 'The Shropshire Way Challenge' and making twiddlemuffs and comfort blankets for dementia patients.

"We are making very tentative plans to meet in person over the summer, if the situation allows.

"We have been lucky to have such interesting speakers via Zoom but we are missing meeting up with our friends."

If you would like to know more about Lee Brockhurst WI please contact secretary Julie Woolfenden on 01939 200237 or jjwoolfenden@gmail.com