At their October meeting, Pickmere Photographic and Heritage Society enjoyed a return visit from traveller extraordinaire Jackie Keasley of Helsby. Jackie has been travelling far and wide and, despite claiming to be an 'amateur' photographer, dazzled the group with her slide shows.

Each was preceded by a short introduction and accompanied by music. Movement was suggested by subtly zooming in on selected areas, and the rapidly changing slides created an exciting collage-like impression of Jackie's experiences.

The first set of slides, on the island of Jura in Scotland, showed a 2013 fell race, followed by a week of back-packing. Stunning scenery and excellent light produced breath-taking results.

Jackie also visited Montenegro, a country the size of Yorkshire and bordering on Albania. Her shots illustrated challenging mountain bike journeys of 20 to 50 miles each day. They reflected her experiences with the friendly local people, who were stunned to see a group of cyclists in a country where mountain bikes are a rarity. Jackie frequently found herself invited into homes and offered local cheese and yoghurt.

Astounding scenery of ski-touring in Zinal, Switzerland and portrait shots of companions were well received and stimulated discussion afterwards.

Hot off the press were Jackie's slides of her visit the previous week to Lake Garda. Shots of experiences on Via Ferrata, mountain routes equipped with fixed ladders, cables, rungs and bridges, left her audience spellbound.

The next meeting is at 7.45pm on Thursday, November 20, at Pickmere Village Hall, Pickmere Lane, opposite the chapel. Keith Birkett will be giving an illustrated talk on the history of Roberts Bakery. Further information available from Roy Kirkpatrick 01565 733200.