THE PROBUS CLUB OF KIDSGOVE
The TWELFTH Year – July 2007 – June 2008
The Officers, Council Members and Organisers for the year were:-
| President | Peter Davenport |
| Vice President | John Crutchley |
| Honorary Secretary | Michael Painter |
| Assistant Secretary | Michael Nield |
| Honorary Treasurer | Michael Johnson |
| Social Committee Rep | Peter Lowe |
| Archivist | Peter Groom |
| Speaker Secretary | Alan Henshall |
| Council Ordinary Member | Len Dale, Derek Morris, John Vardon |
| Walks Organiser | Graham Tunnicliff |
| Bowls Organisers | Frank Timmis, Len Dale |
| Newsletter Sponsor | Woolliscrofts Solicitors |
| Club Photographer | Peter Lowe |
| Internal Auditors | Derek Morris, Norman Hankey |
Thanks to Derek Morris for organising the Birthday list. Derek again, together with Ken Barnett, for collecting monies. Maurice Colclough for making the Past President’s Board. Also Rifleman and Staff.
TALKS
Alan continues to amaze us with the variety of Speakers he provides. The subjects included: – North and South Poles, Diamonds, The Eden Project, Clarice Cliff, ST John’s Bible, Jodrell Bank, Football, Liverpool.
Members do appreciate the work he does to keep them interested.
OUTINGS AND HOLIDAYS
The new Social Committee of Peter Lowe, Fred Cotton, Mike Painter and Frank Timmis produced an excellent range of holidays and outings during the year.
On Wednesday the 10th October, 45 members, ladies and friends travelled to Liverpool. The weather was perfect and a very enjoyable day was experienced.
Monday 5th November saw 50 members, wives, partners and friends journey to the Arosfa Hotel at Weston-super-Mare for a holiday. Excursions to wells, Bath, Cheddar Gorge and Bristol were enjoyed. The food and evening entertainment was excellent.
On Wednesday 5th December, a coach load of members and friends took an evening trip to Shugborough to enjoy the Christmas theme.
On 1st April, members and guests visited Burgess Dorling and Leigh’s Pottery in Middleport. It was a most interesting visit.
On Sunday 27th April, 59 members and friends took the Highland Heritage tour. The Ben Doran Hotel at Tyndrum was the base for a very enjoyable holiday. Excursions were made to Loch Lomond, Stirling, Fort William and Oban.
A crowded coach left Kidsgrove on Wednesday 11 June for a hectic day visit to Skipton. All enjoyed the historical Yorkshire town.
The Social Committee have proved their worth and the members have certainly enjoyed the fruits of their labour.
WALKS
Rambling expert Graham Tunnicliff led his intrepid walkers on various walks around the area. Members enjoyed these excursions, also the numerous watering holes which they always visited. Graham not only reported on the walks but explained some of the history and happenings of the area visited.
BOWLS
Six bi-monthly meetings were held during the year and were attended by an average of twenty four players. The standard of play is improving rapidly, particularly on the indoor mat. May, July and September meetings were held at Clough Hall Bowling Club with tea and biscuits provided. There were many wayward woods on the crown green. There was a better level of bowling on the long indoor mat at Crewe. Lunch was taken at the Fifth on Fourth restaurant during the summer months with numbers swelling to 32. In the winter, The Angel was the venue where the members again increased in numbers.
Thanks to bowls Olympian Frank Timmis for this report.
OTHER EVENTS AND SUNDRIES
A microphone was purchased with the cost shared by the Community Chest and Kidsgrove Rotary Club.
The Remembrance service was well attended by Probus members. Chris Brough won our Photograph competition.
Various members assisted with the Rotary collection at Christmas. The Christmas lunch at the Rifleman Inn was again popular and the President’s Dinner was very enjoyable with a talk on gemstones given by Dr Peter Floyd.
MEMBERSHIP
Two of our founder members, Bill Leeson and Graham Skellern, were experiencing health problems and were invited to become honorary members, which they were pleased to accept. Sadly, later in the year, Bill passed away. We shall miss him.
Two new members were inducted onto the club during the year, – Mr Ken Williamson and Mr Steven Rhodes
PRESIDENTS REMARKS
I have very much enjoyed my year as President and I would like to thank all the Probus members for their generous support during my year in office. In particular, I would like to thank all of the club officers for their hard work which has ensured the continued success and smooth running of the club.
Sadly, we lost founder member Bill Leeson who passed away on October 20th 2007.
The award of Honorary Life Membership did however, bring some comfort and pleasure both to Bill and his family in the weeks preceding Bill’s death. Effectively, we lost two members because Graham Skellern was no longer able to attend our meetings due to ill health. Graham was the second member to be awarded Honorary Life Membership. Both these vacancies were quickly filled by inducting two new members from the waiting list
The formation of a social committee to organise the holidays and social events has proved to be a valuable asset to the club and I hope we will continue to adopt this format in future years.
Finally, I would like to wish John Crutchley a happy and successful year in office.
KIDSGROVE PROBUS WEBSITE
http://www.kidsgrove-info.co.uk/forum
Administrator: Michael Nield