The 15th May meeting discussed progress of plans for this year’s charity coastal path walk, which will take place on Sunday 3rd September. More information can be found on this website in the ‘Coastal Walk’ section. Plans were also discussed for a beach clean on the 24th June and intending to cover beaches from Elie to Crail.

Following business, speaker was club member and retired dentist John O’Neil, who took as his topic ‘spiders’ This was a surprise - but did at least answer the question as to what dentists do when they retire! We were led to believe that John has a pet spider called Bob and also keeps a special ‘spider bush’ outside his back door!

We learned much about these creatures including their two main body parts, 8 eyes, 8 legs, 2 stomachs, a brain, a heart and blue blood. It was very interesting to learn something of the huge number of different species - from tiny to terrifyingly large. Interesting too to learn that spiders are often the first to inhabit newly emerged islands - able apparently to travel perhaps 200 miles on the wind and below a length of their silk.

Altogether a lighthearted excursion - although when we heard that spiders inject their victims and paralyse them, there were uncomfortable memories of time spent in dentist’s chairs! Following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by arachnophobe Findlay McLaren.