A dramatic entrance by the speaker

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Martin Horler, speaker at Clutton WI's September meeting, made a dramatic entrance in red ceremonial jacket, breeches, boots and top hat and came in blowing a horn.

He was to speak about the role of the Royal Mail Guard circa 1820 and entered in that uniform. Originally letters had been sent on foot or on a horse which took 38 hours to get from Bristol to London. So when the first coaches began to transport letters the time reduced considerably. The Royal Mail coaches had room for some passengers and these places were much sought after, as the mail coaches although more expensive to use were much faster than the ordinary road coaches and also carried an armed guard.

Ralph Allen of Bath and later John Palmer were instrumental in improving the service, by which time the coach took only sixteen hours from Bristol to Bath. The roads were arterial routes which were in very bad condition, until toll roads were introduced, as the tolls paid for road maintenance. In 1784 the first mail coach service started from major cities with all the coaches leaving at exactly 8pm and being monitored all the way.

Ostlers at inns all along the route would have a team of four horses ready and were expected to make the change over in three minutes, with the coach ready to leave immediately.


The guard had a horn and Mr Horler demonstrated the different calls made with the horn and described his uniform and the firearms which would have been carried – loaded pistols, flintlocks, blunderbuss and cutlasses. At the start of the business meeting congratulations were expressed to Pearl Ashman on her 90th birthday. Many members had provided knitted and other items for the Christmas shoebox appeal. The craft club would resume in October, and everyone was welcome to attend. The lunch club continues to meet monthly in different venues. The president was thanked for hosting a tea party which made £114; the flower show stall had made £96, both were for WI funds.

The WI tapestry is to be framed professionally and hung in Clutton Village Hall.

The WI triathlon, organised by the Federation to stimulate fitness had been completed by 23 members as a joint effort, covering a five-mile swim, 20-mile cycle ride and 50-mile walk or run.