President’s Remarks
It’s an old adage, I know, but time really does fly when you have the honour of being President of the Probus Club of Kidsgrove. I cannot believe that a year has gone so quickly.
First I would like to pay tribute to members who have sadly left us during my tenure as President over the last 12 months.
Maurice Colclough, Ernie Langford, Bill Careless, Fred Cotton, Aubrey Lowndes and Arthur Cumberbatch.
On a brighter note we welcomed new members, Dennis Fletcher, Fred Maxfield, Roy Bailey, Eric Owen, Geoff Couch, Dave Tipper, Garry Bell, Andrew Dimelow and John Hughes.
Club activities have continued to flourish with all holidays and day trips fully booked, thanks to all those who make these events so enjoyable. Looking back over the last year it is amazing how much we have managed to pack in.
That brings me nicely to The Presidents Evening, it was a pleasure to see so many members and wives/partners enjoying the proceedings, the music and singing provided by Connor Bacon was first class and especially appreciated by the Ladies.
Finally that almost brings to an end my last Presidents Remarks, so before I get accused of too much “Kabala” I would just like to record my thanks to all the officials and council members who have not only supported me, but made my period of office such a memorable one and I would like to pay a special tribute to Peter Davenport, who has supported Michael Nield as assistant Secretary for the last 5 years and has decided to pass the baton on to Ken Williamson.
I wish our new President, Steven Rhodes a successful and enjoyable year, the 20th anniversary of our Club. I know that he can continue to rely on the support not only of the officials but all the membership.
There is no speaker today
Shrewsbury Flower Show – Friday 14 August 2015
Cost £29.00 pp. for coach and show. £10.00pp for Town only. Please pay at the meeting on 24 June 2015.
Bognor Regis Holiday 23-29 August 2015
The balance of £349.00 to be paid at the meeting on 24 June 2015
Birthdays during July 2015
Geoff Couch, Bill Booth, Terry Dale, Peter Lloyd.
Did You Know?
There is an old hotel/pub in Marble Arch (“Tyburn”), London, which used to have a gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows (after a fair trial of course) to be hanged.
The horse-drawn dray, carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prisoner if he would like “ONE LAST DRINK”.
If he said YES, it was referred to as ONE FOR THE ROAD, if he declined, that prisoner was ON THE WAGON.
Some facts about the 1500’s:-
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies, by then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.
Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!”
Houses had thatched roofs thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.
Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance- way.
Hence: a thresh hold.
(Getting quite an education, aren’t you?) – More next month.
Walk Report -June 2015
June’s walk was visiting an old favorite, Hanchurch Hills. Ten of us left Kidsgrove at 0930 on Wednesday 3rd arriving at The Water Tower Car Park just after 10:00 where we met up with Norman and Anne Hart.
Dry weather with occasional sunny intervals and a slight breeze, perfect walking weather accompanied us all morning. In fact a little too warm at times as it wasn’t long before layers were being removed.
This is a walk that varies every time you walk it, trees are being constantly harvested and new ones planted. The latest planting being oak trees in place of the conifers that were there previously.
The broad pathways have been destroyed in places by heavy machinery, leaving wide expances of mud to negotiate, I suppose the areas of Oak will remain undisturbed for a lot longer and the walks will become totally different yet again.
Back at the cars for 12:20 we headed to the Toby Inn in Trentham where we all had an excellent meal some even having puddings. (No names)
Suitably refreshed we went on our separate ways.
Some fascinating facts about the area can be found on the web site: http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/
Graham Tunnicliff
Dates for your Diary
Wednesday | 24 Jun | Probus Annual General Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am for 10.00am start. |
Wednesday | 24 June | Come along and be part of the new Friendship Club at Kidsgrove Town Hall. A monthly get together providing various speakers, tea and chat, tea dances and more. Time 2.00pm -3.30pm. £1 includes tea/coffee and biscuits. |
Thursday | 25 June | Community Computer Course (1.30/3.30pm) at Clough Hall School now renamed The King’s CE (VA) School. |
Tuesday | 30 June | Probus Bowls at C.H.B.C at 10.15am. |
Wednesday | 1 July | The walk today is up to the Cloud, Congleton. Meet at Heathcote Street car park at 9.30am. Lunch will be taken at the Church House, Buglawton. The leader is Garry Bell. |
Thursday | 2 July | Community Computer Course (1.30/3.30pm) at Clough Hall School now renamed The King’s CE (VA) School. |
Tuesday | 7 July | Probus Bowls at C.H.B.C at 10.15am. |
Wednesday | 8 July | Probus trip to the Severn Valley Railway. Hollinshead’s coach leaving Kidsgrove Town Hall at 8.00am, Clough Hall Road at 8.05am, Butt Lane at 8.10am, Talke at 8.15am, Church Lawton at 8.20am. Train dep. Bridgnorth at 11.00am. Arr. Kidderminster 12.10pm.Train dep. Kidderminster 1.05pm. Arr Highley 1.49pm.Free time at Highley to visit Museum, Restaurant, and shops. Picnic tables available.Train dep. Highley at 4.21pm arr Bridgnorth at 4.47pm where we pick up the coach to return home. |
Thursday | 9 July | Community Computer Course (1.30/3.30pm) at Clough Hall School now renamed The King’s CE (VA) School. |
Tuesday | 14 July | Probus Bowls at C.H.B.C at 10.15am. |
Tuesday | 21 July 2 | Probus Bowls at C.H.B.C at 10.15am. Lunch at the Clough Hall Hotel afterwards? |
Wednesday | 22 July | Probus Council Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am. |
Tuesday | 28 July | Probus Bowls at C.H.B.C at 10.15am. |
Wednesday | 29 July | Probus Ordinary Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am for 10.00am start. |
Any articles or information to be included in the Probus Newsletter needs to be in the hands of the editor, Michael Nield, ten days prior to the monthly meeting. E-Mail to michael.nield@btinternet.com |