President’s Remarks 28th July 2017
Like my predecessors I feel it a great honour and privilege to be invited to serve as your President for the coming year. I would like to thank Adrian for the time and effort he put into his Presidential year despite the difficulties in the latter months because of health issues and we are pleased to see he is making a good recovery.
It is some 20 years since a founder member of Kidsgrove Probus, John Podmore (who served as President in 1998) rang my doorbell to say that he and a few others had started a new club and would I like to join? So started my long association with Probus which has given me so many happy memories and also introduced me to a whole lot of new friends and associates.
We welcome onto the council 3 new members, Barry Rogerson, David Tipper and John Dunn and I’m sure their contribution will be invaluable. Our thanks to Graham Brown for agreeing to taking on the role of Club Treasurer. I would also like to thank all other members who have volunteered to fill their various roles again for another year, which is essential to ensure the club runs smoothly and efficiently.
We also thank those members who organise our bi-monthly lunches and in this respect thanks to Ken Williamson for organising our next lunch at the Masonic Hall on the 30th July. I’m sure that as many of you as possible will come along to support this event.
Now I’m certain many of us will have summer holiday planned at home or abroad and we are all hoping that there is some summer weather left for us to enjoy. Well whatever our destination, I hope that we all manage to enjoy a relaxing and refreshing holiday.
As I am preparing this letter Federer is about to play Cilic at Wimbledon. I’m not sure who will win, but of one thing I am sure, it will be salad again for tea! Terry Dale
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Birthdays in August:-
Dennis Fletcher, Jeff Parker and Cliff Triner.
Social Report
After some disappointing cancellations due to lack of support it is hoped that the following social events will prove more favourable.
Sunday Lunch at the Masonic Hall Kidsgrove 30th July 2017, 12.30 for 1.00pm. Names and menu selections to be returned by Wednesday 26th July 2017. Payment £15.00 per person will be collected on the day.
Outing to Southport Flower Show Friday 18th August 2017. Price £30.00. Names and money to be collected at the July meeting.
Outing to the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas Thursday 7thSeptember 2017. Names to be taken at the July meeting.
A Tinsel and Turkey 5 day holiday has been arranged with Alfa Travel to Criccieth departing Monday 20th November 2017. Cost £204.00 per person. Names to be taken at the July meeting.
The Christmas Luncheon has again been booked at the Manor House Hotel, Alsager on Friday 1st December 2017. Further details will follow but please put the date in your diary
Ken Williamson
Walk Report July
This month’s walk took place on Wednesday 5th July. Nine of us left the heights of Kidsgrove at 9:30 to travel to the village of Oakamoor.
We arrived somewhat later than estimated, due to one of our navigators taking a rather circuitous route through the potteries (he shall be nameless), still, despite the diversion we were booted up and on our way by 10:30.
In spite of the car park being almost full, the walk, which follows the old Churnet Valley railway track, was very quiet with only the odd dog walker met along the way. That is until we were ambushed by 20 or so child cyclists, who in fairness split into smaller groups before passing us. Soon we arrived at the old Alton Station where we had a stop for coffee and medical attention to Joan’s legs, which were suffering from numerous insect bites. It was at the station where we encountered a horse and rider galloping through the valley closely followed by a panting dog. This turned out to be the first of such encounters as it transpired he was exercising 12 horses!
Leaving the track to cross adjacent fields and the River Churnet we encountered yet another group of children, fortunately they soon took another path and we were back to our solitude again.
Arriving back in Alton Village we were pleasantly surprised to find that the Alton Bridge Hotel had been refurbished since the last walk here and it was open, despite a sign saying closed.
Yet another surprise, the group unanimously chose to stop for lunch. The food was excellent to which nine clean plates testified.
Suitably replete we continued along Red Road passing the Ramblers Retreat and heading off into the woods to retrace our steps back towards Oakamoor.
Graham Tunnicliff
Comprehensive Information on Government Grants and Benefits
A lady researching benefit entitlements for older people came across our ‘interesting’ web site and has supplied us with a link to a website, that, along with a house and garden DIY guide and offering a facility to contact the services of a local tradesmen, also has a comprehensive leading page on grants and benefits available to older people, from the government. If nothing else this information should make us aware of our entitlements and benefits from the welfare system. Using Copy and Paste on the link below will take you to a comprehensive listing of benefits and grants on this website.
Mike Nield
http://householdquotes.co.uk/benefits-and-grants-for-oaps/
New Picture Gallery on Kidsgrove Probus Web Site
New photo’s added.
Have you checked out the new picture gallery on our website that has been created by Mike Nield and Peter Lloyd? The Gallery is accessed from the Members Section, at the bottom of the Navigation List on the web site, for which you will need a password to gain access. You can send images to Mike or Peter for inclusion of Probus outings and events if you wish. As well as the many images from 1996 to the present, there is other useful information for members.
Please note:- Recently some web browser service providers have added caveats to their web sites, where you are required to provide a login password. This is to remind us, (this covers the provider for Health and Safety requirements) that when logging into a website or part of a website requiring a password, there is no encryption of password or data on their network.
The Amateur Philosopher
The grand essentials of happiness are:-
Something to do, someone to love and something to hope for.
Newsletter Editor
Chris Brough compiles and publishes the Probus Newsletter.
Articles of interest to members should be sent by Email to Chris at :- chrisjbrough@talktalk.net or phone 01782 784075 in the first instance. For any inclusion in the next newsletter, articles should be delivered to the editor at least 10 days before the monthly meeting.
Our next Probus meeting is on
Wednesday 30th August at
Kidsgrove Cricket Club, 9.30 for 10am.