THERE was a good turnout for the Droitwich Spa branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A) at the monthly meeting for September.

Howard Robinson gave a talk about Oliver Cromwell and the Battle of Worcester.

He dispelled many myths surrounding the character of Cromwell and we came away with a better understanding of his personality.

One of these myths was that Oliver Cromwell had banned Christmas. Not true.

This had been passed as a bill in 1642 by the Independent Party in Parliament years before Cromwell came to fame and was because it was felt that Christmas had become too commercial.

We also found out that Oliver Cromwell was one of his ancestors.

Cromwell was born in 1599 and died in 1658.

He was Lord Protector from 1653 to 1658. The only gap in the monarchy since Alfred the Great.

As a consequence Cromwell came sixth in one poll and tenth in another as one of our all-time Great Britons.

The next monthly meeting of the Droitwich Spa branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A) will be on October 21 when Andrew Gagg will talk about the tribes and textiles of India.

New members are always welcome.

For more information, please contact membership secretary Steve Hawley at shawley316@btinternet.com.