A CLASSICAL violinist and an archeologist were among the guests at an International Women’s Day celebration at the Gurkha Durbar restaurant in Grayshott, hosted by owner, Sudha Rai, which raised £400 for Crossways Counselling Haslemere.

Classical violinist Ishani Bhoola, who presents and arranges Waverley Ensemble’s ‘Curry and Concert’ events played Bach on her precious 1764 Italian violin.

Dr Sally Grainger, who is both an archeologist and food historian, gave a presentation describing the Roman’s taste for rich spices, boar roasts, bread, pulses, lentils, peas, beans and cabbage as well as fermented fish sauce.

Dr Grainger, who has published several cookery books with original Roman recipes, said Roman bread was always scored into eight sections, free to the poor and available through state bakeries. As an archeologist, she also discovered evidence of the power women had in Roman society and how slave women could become empowered by becoming educated and free.

Middle class women in Rome could function on their own, stay single and powerful, running the finances of their households and businesses, she said.

Guests included members of the Grayshott Women’s Institute, village groups and young mothers.