On Tuesday, October 29, the Inner Wheel Club of Pembroke held its monthly meeting at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel.

All the usual business was carried out and then the club was entertained to a most inspiring speaker, namely Julie Cooper MBE. She earned that particular medal for her extensive services to the military and local population under harrowing circumstances in Bosnia as a chef, with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Julie joined the army in 1979 starting as a raw recruit at Guildford at the age of 18 and retiring as a Warrant Officer in 2002 heading up teams of chefs in many different countries. She literally travelled the world and recounted many interesting experiences in far flung places, including the famous people she had met like Prince Charles.

Her first posting after Guildford was in Northern Ireland, when it was a pretty terrifying place to be. She went there several times. The Falklands Islands was another interesting experience.

She talked with great feeling - not using any computer presentation, but backing up her talk with impressive memorabilia - many photographs, newspaper cuttings, letters and other medals besides the MBE. You felt that you didn't want her to stop telling about her career in the army.

For your interest, some information about the background to the Inner Wheel Club - it is a social and friendship club for women from all backgrounds who share the ethos of Inner Wheel. In the past, the main way to join was as a wife or partner of a Rotarian, but that has now altered. There are monthly meetings, usually at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, and social outings during the year. Also, the club does raise money for local charities. If you would like to know more, do please telephone the president, Evelyn MacCallum, on 01646 622385.