In these troubled times it is more importatnt than ever to find out about the places so much featured in the news media. Join us for an interesting evening to find out more about Iran and Bam in particular. The old city of Bam was one of the most important stops along the ancient Silk Road. Although some of the surviving structures must have been built before the 12th century, most of what remains dates from the Safavid period. Up to 13,000 people once lived in this 6 sq km city until it was abandoned following an Afghan invasion in 1722. The city was abandoned again and then was used as an army barracks until the 1930s.

Numerous steep and narrow stairways lead to the pinnacles of the outer clay wall which almost circles the entire city. From the wall you can see the curved ice house, which housed enormous chunks of ice in winter, melting to become drinking water in summer.

Last week's devastating earthquake has made Bam now a painful memory, however all those poor souls who survived need our help now and in the future, when we have all forgotten about them as the next natural or human disaster strikes.

The show will showcase “Impressions of Iran” - a beautiful musical and visual journey produced by Peter Langer, followed by a chat and slide presentation on the city of Bam

Iran is a fascinating and very hospitable country, a land where turbaned clerics and carpet-weaving nomads coexist. Persepolis provides a 2500 year-old reminder of the might of the Persian Empire.