In reply to:

along with meeting with (yuk) - why not just meet someone?

For once I must side with the USn's on this one. If I have understood it correctly meet with implies some prior arrangement or having a meeting, while meet plus a direct object would imply a chance meeting. e.g.
I met with Angela before the play. versus

I met Irma and her husband while I was browsing in QB.

A useful distinction, I feel.

Bingley


Bingley