Dressed in historical costume and surrounded by pestles, pots and potions, Glo Pringle gave us an insight into the art of the apothecary in Tudor times. Building on the centuries-old treatises of Hippocrates and Galen, Tudor apothecaries had amassed a wealth of treatments largely based on herbs and spices, with the occasional addition of a poisonous substance. Culpeper was the first to write a book in English on the subject, and Glo has experimented with several of his recipes, including face-cream and tooth-whitener. Unfortunately she was not able to try out the recipes containing dragon’s blood or unicorn-horn. New members to U3A are welcome on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 2pm in the Spadesbourne suite.