AT the Welsh Society's March meeting, member Pat Sinnott from Weaverham gave a most informative presentation on her visit to Syria and Lebanon last year. The slides were taken by Jean Ross.

Pat, who studied at Bangor University, is a keen local historian and an ardent church worker, so her holiday to the Middle East with a Bible study group was fascinating.

The group visited ancient towns such as Tyre, Palmyra, Damascus, Aleppo and others on the ancient silk trade route. Influences from the Roman Empire and old Egypt were obvious.

Syria consists of a desert plateau drained by the upper Euphrates and its tributaries. There was very little greenery.

Pat smiled when she saw a Bedouin, with his camel and spartan life, pull out a mobile phone.

Pat and Jean were thanked by Joan Lewis.

On April 23, members celebrate the society's 75th anniversary with a concert at and for Hartford High School with the internationally famous Rhos Orpheus Male Choir from near Wrexham. The Orpheus toured China after the Cultural Revolution and has enjoyed concert tours in the USA and Canada, as well as singing in Norway, Holland, Belgium and Germany. The school choirs will also take part in this concert. Tickets at £6 each are available from the school.