Bath has the only true HOT spa in the country (others are merely warm or tepid, claimed our enthusiastic lecturer Jane Tapley as she gave us a fascinating talk on its history and re-development). Fed by rain which falls on the Mendips before passing through natures own 2 mile long water heater and emerging at a constant 46 degrees Celsius. Baths spring was a centre for worshiping Celtic gods before being discovered by the invading Romans, who built the baths as Britains first R & R or leisure centre in AD 80. They discovered curative qualities as well as pleasure in the waters and as Bath's fame spread wealthy visitors were attracted from as far as Rome itself. After 400 years the Romans left and the baths languished until the 17th century. Famous visitors then included Samuel Pepys and Beau Nash. In the 18th century Queen Anne found relief in the waters (from the considerable effects of her 17 pregnancies!). Bath became a fashionable place for the Georgians (who were said to wallow rather than swim in such hot water) before it declined in the 19th century. The Victorians revived Bath and reconstructed the buildings, and all was well until our own time when a case of meningitis led to the baths being closed. But now after several years of blood sweat and disastrous mistakes followed by more sweat and tears and expenditure of £45 million- plus a celebratory concert by the Three tenors- a magnificent new centre is welcoming crowds of visitors to indulge in the revived hot bath, open air pool on the roof (cooled down to 33 degrees and with its own jacuzzi) a mud bath and many other features. Perhaps best of all the water is not only purified but has had the smell of sulphur removed!

The Kedfas AGM will be held on:

Members and Guests are invited to a New Years Lunch