Self-styled battleaxe Christine Hamilton was the guest speaker at annual Soroptimist International of Bath group lunch.

The group's Charter Lunch in Midsomer Norton saw the Wiltshire personality and writer entertain an audience of more than 40 people.

Guests included former chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council Councillor Bryan Chalker, Bath Mayor Councillor Shaun McGall, regional Soroptimist president Mary McNaughton and Soroptimists and their guests from across the South West.

The movement is an international organisation for professional women.

The lunch raised money for the Huntingdon's Disease Association, which is the current Bath president Gillian Horigan's charity for her year in office.

Mrs Hamilton, who is married to former Tory minister Neil Hamilton, recounted some of her experiences as a Parliamentary researcher, a panto actress, and TV show contestant.

The author of

The Book of British Battleaxes

also talked animatedly about other strong women such as Lady Thatcher, Edwina Currie, Barbara Cartland and Fanny Craddock.

The group has recently donated £670 to hospice charity Dorothy House as a result of fundraising during past president Gill Hurd's presidential year.

To find out more, go to

www.bathsoroptimists.org.uk

.