At the July meeting of the Salisbury U3A Christine Dickson asked for all applications for courses in next season’s syllabus to be sent to her before 12 July.

John Ewington said outings sheets were available each month, unless it was a Newsletter month. The 19 July trip to Waddesdon Manor is full. The mystery tour on 20 September and the trip to Exeter on 18 October have vacancies. He will start taking applications for the visit to the Fred Olson ship “Black Watch” at the October meeting. He gave advance notice of two trips to the opera at the Mayflower, Southampton, on 29 November for La Boheme, and 7 March for Carmen. Please pay by cheque, made payable to Salisbury U3A.

Neville Jennings announced he is taking orders for U3A diaries for 2007. James Mogford needs copy for the newsletter by 17 July. Longstock water gardens are open to the public on 16 July.

William Bache, defence lawyer for Angela Cannings, gave a searing account of the events leading up to her trial, and the subsequent appeal. Angela’s first child was born in August 1989 and died in the November. No cause of death was found. Her second, born in April 1991, was monitored from birth. In June he was sick and very pale and was taken to hospital for two days. A week later, he suddenly died. Professor Emery stated this was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The third child born in April 1996 also nearly died at 3 months, but survived. Her fourth baby born in July 1999 died in November.

While Angela and her husband were at the hospital police took note of everything she said and did. She was questioned by police, who suspected her of smothering her three babies, on the very day that she had just lost her last child. No cause of death was found at post-mortem. Professor Meadow stated that if one child suddenly died, it was a tragedy, if two died it was very tragic, but if three died it was murder.

Bill Bache searched for other reasons why an infant should die suddenly, and listed cardiac problems, infection, genetic malfunction. He discovered that at three months a baby has used up the natural immunity gained from the mother and has to begin to develop new antibodies. Angela’s cousin in Ireland had also had two cot deaths and one nearly died. When the case came to trial, all these points were made in addition to the main one, which was that Angela had no motive for killing her babies. The judge presided impartially, but after a day the verdict was guilty.

Immediately an appeal was launched, and a BBC research crew did excellent work, finding genetic evidence, genealogical records, allergy to milk, blood tests. In December 2003 the appeal was heard and granted and Angela was freed.