THE general secretary of the Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies, Jean Turner, was the guest speaker at a public meeting arranged by the Cumbria Friends of Russia held in the YWCA hall, Kendal.

Her talk, entitled A Brave Venture, described the society's struggle for existence after it was set up in 1924 by people such as H.G Wells, Bernard Shaw and many other notable writers and scientists.

During the meeting it was unanimously agreed to send a message of condolence to the Russian Embassy on the loss of the 118 sailors on the Kursk submarine.