THE sights and sounds of Peter H. Breckin, one of our regular members, took the form of an audio visual presentation given by Peter at the meeting of Ramsbottom and Tottington Probus Club on March 3.

Peter was well-suited to the task as he was a founder member of Prestwich Camera Club and has a vast collection of recorded music to boot.

The first item comprised a visit to Cyprus, accompanied by lilting Greek music. It was a truly wonderful sunny land through which we travelled to Nicosia, Paphos, the Trudos mountains and several holy places. The mosaics and wall paintings are wonderful to see and evoke a strange reverence for things past.

A complete change then as we saw a series of humourous graffiti pictures, photographed on a blank brick wall. There were too many to mention here but included Get the Abbey habit, chat up a nun, and Emmanuel Kant but Kublai Khan, all accompanied with the song Dont mean a thing if it aint got that swing.

As a change from the sun of Cyprus, we saw the Settle Viaduct, the Flying Scotsman, and the Sir Nigel Gresley visiting Summerseat. The weather changed again for river boats and barges on the canal to the strains of Up the Lazy River, and bird song around the reservoirs.

Vintage cars and aircraft crept in next. Another humourous recorded item came with table-top photography where a builder tips a load of concrete in his rivals sports car, only to realise that his wifes lover rides a bicycle.

Adams Wine was the story of how we get our water from moorland run off to our taps through all the filtration procedures. Seeing all the things put in, and all the things taken out, it seems cheap at the price.

Now onto Malta and the Knights of St John. A wealth of historical facts and recent heroism about how the island held out against the Italian Air Force with three old aeroplanes: Faith, Hope, and Charity. The island was awarded the George Cross for its defiance.

A few minutes now wrestling with a Rubic Cube I could never do it either!

To complete this varied programme, some shots of the construction of the M62 at Whitefield. Can we forget it? What mighty works it entailed, and now we just take it for granted.

Speaking of which, what work and skill must have been used to produce such a varied and entertaining show. Thank-you Peter and friend.

The president thanked Peter and closed the meeting to general applause.

On March 17, Peter Watson will speak on The Origins of Surnames.