President’s Remarks
Club activities started well in November with a good turnout on the 5th for the monthly walk
This was followed on the 9th by Remembrance Sunday with almost half of our members in attendance and a significant presence joining the march from Kidsgrove Town Hall to the Memorial Gardens where our wreath was laid on the cenotaph by Eddie Bates.
November 25th sees the start of the indoor bowling season at “The Oakley Center” in Crewe and the 27th sees us enjoying another musical evening here at the Cricket Club.
At the Council meeting on the 12th council approved three new members, Eric Owen, Dennis Fletcher and Geoff Couch each will receive his joining presentation pack at the meeting on the 26th November.
Whilst talking about new members, as always at this time of year, we have received a request from Rotary to help with their Christmas collection on the 20th December. It is customary for volunteers to spend an hour outside “Home-bargains” with a collecting tin; we normally do this in pairs starting at 9.00am until 2.00pm or longer. Please consider volunteering for this, you will be amazed at the goodwill and generosity displayed by the people of Kidsgrove.
I am sure we all felt deep sadness at the news of the death of Bill Careless. Bill who was an original member of the club and was awarded Honorary Membership two years ago. He was a regular participant in club activities and his cheerful disposition will be sadly missed, especially on the holidays on which he was almost a permanent fixture.
His demise came as a particular shock as he had attended the last October meeting, driving himself, as usual.
Despite his 92 years and failing health Bill always had a smile and rarely complained. Bill passed away on 12 November.
I’m sure we will do our best to show our respects at his funeral at 11.00am on Thursday 27 November, at Butt Lane Baptist Church.
Christmas is approaching rapidly and as I write this most of you are well into your Turkey and Tinsel Holiday in Bournemouth and you will soon be enjoying your Christmas Lunch on December 4th.
So spare a thought for January, on the 29th we have a Musical Evening with a Pie and Pea Supper with free admission and a raffle for a quality bottle of wine, please indicate on the circulation list if you are likely to attend, numbers will be finalised at the 28th January meeting.
As this is the last newsletter of 2014, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy and Prosperous new year.
Graham Tunnicliff
The speaker today is Mr Shaun Farrelly who will talk to us about The Atlantic Telegraph.
Birthdays during December 2014
Frank Eardley, Peter Groom, Stephen Rhodes, Graham Bew, Derek Cross.
Birthdays during January 2015
David Birchall, Barry Knapper, Aubrey Lowndes, Geoffrey Mould, John Manley, Graham Tunnicliff.
Walk Report – November 2014
November walk was centered on The Church House Inn on the outskirts of Congleton at Buglawton. It was rewarding to have with us two of our newest members (Eric Owen and Dennis Fletcher) and a prospective new member (Dave Tipper) hopefully they will all join us again on future walks helping to ensure the continuation of the walking group.
Clear blue skies and warm autumn sunshine accompanied our band of fourteen walkers throughout the morning.
After we had pre-ordered our lunches we set off towards Congleton turning right down a track known as Tommy’s Lane and a meandering path leading to a steep climb up onto the disused railway track now called The Biddulph Valley Way.
This path now runs all the way to Fegg Hayes, but out walk was only to the Mossley Road and the footpath that follows a River Dane tributary until it rises from the muddy riverside to where it crosses under the Biddulph Valley way and joins the Gritstone trail. After crossing three stiles we went through a gate leading down to the Macclesfield Canal, which we followed until we met the Congleton to Buxton Road, heading back towards The Church House for Lunch.
Lunch was an experience and far too complicated to write in detail suffice to say that, through no fault of ours, the order was mixed up, with one of the group not being served until everyone else had finished, thankfully the deserts were all served correctly and the late meal was not charged for. Despite the problems everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day.
The next walk will be on Wednesday 3rd December and will be from Oakamoor towards Alton, again predominately along a disused railway track. Lunch will be at The Admiral Nelson in Oakamoor. This is the day before the Probus Lunch, just in time to walk up an appetite, leave Kidsgrove Car Park 09:30 hrs.
Probus Tinsel & Turkey Holiday to the Mayfair Hotel, Bournemouth.
Thirty members and partners together with a further eleven guests left Kidsgrove on a drab November day. Michael our coach driver did a great job in difficult driving conditions. Heavy mist and drizzle all of the way down 4 motorways and part of the A34. Most of us rested until dinner, Christmas Eve already. Party hats were on display. A long game of bingo was the excitement; some winning hands received £1 prize money. To cool down we all gathered for a pleasant get together.
Tuesday was Christmas Day. A day spent in Bournemouth with a complete change in the weather. A walk along the promenade and the pier seemed to be everyone’s favourite. Shops were visited with strolls through the gardens in the very pleasant sunshine. Back to the Hotel for coffee and mince pies. Xmas dinner was excellent. The staff joined in the charade – balloons, crackers and all the usual bits and bobs made it a silly time. A young Santa with a dodgy beard presented gifts to the ladies and Mrs Santa without a beard to the men. The evening was rounded off by music and entertainment by Brian Slade. Most of the men watched England V Scotland whilst the ladies enjoyed knees up and sing along.
Wednesday saw a trip to the New Forest viewing ponies and woodlands. With the sunshine out the many different coloured leaves was quite a sight. A short stop in Lymington and Lyndhurst for coffee and sightseeing was very pleasant. Excellent dinner. The entertainer concentrated on 60’s, 70’s music.
Thursday. New Year’s Eve. Trips to Swansea and Poole. Nice weather, two pleasant towns. Lots of seaside interests. We did a short detour to admire the posh houses at Sandbanks. The hotel again did us proud with dinner and extras to follow the holiday theme. Haggis was tried by a few. The entertainer Alan Mann had obviously done many a New Year’s Eve party and brought everyone in to enjoy the occasion. Auld Lang Sine was performed very heartily by all.
The trip home was rather deflated when we had to leave Peter Lowe behind in hospital. He will no doubt be aware of the success of the holiday which he helped to put together. The coach, the hotel, the food and the company were all excellent. A most enjoyable few days.
Frank Timmis
Dates for Your Diary
| Wednesday | 26 Nov 2014 | Probus Ordinary Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am for 10.00am start. |
| Thursday | 27 Nov 2014 | Probus Music Night at the Cricket club. Meet 7.30pm. Bring along a music C.D to play a track of your choice. |
| Wednesday | 3 Dec 2014 | Probus Walk from Oakamoor towards Alton. Lunch at The Admiral Nelson in Oakamoor. Meet at Kidsgrove Heathcote Street car park at 9.30am. |
| Thursday | 4 Dec 2014 | Probus Christmas Lunch at Lawton Memorial Hall. Meet 11.45am for 12.30pm start. |
| Saturday | 6 Dec 2014 | Christmas Concert by Kidsgrove Community Choir at St. Thomas’s Church, Kidsgrove. |
| Saturday | 20 Dec 2014 | Probus assisting the Rotary Club of Kidsgrove with the Annual Reindeer Collection at Home Bargains in Kidsgrove. Volunteers required. Names to Peter Groom who is co-ordinating the collection for this major charity fund raising project. |
| Wednesday | 7 Jan 2015 | Probus Walk. |
| Tuesday | 20 Jan 2015 | Probus Bowls at the Victoria Centre, Crewe. Start 11.00am until 1.00pm. Lunch afterwards at the Travellers Rest at Scholar Green. Please inform Len Dale if you are attending. |
| Wednesday | 21 Jan 2015 | Probus Council Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am. |
| Thursday to Saturday | 22nd Jan 2015 – 24th January 2015 | Cinderella at the Yoxall village Hall Haslington. See Peter Lloyd for ticketsDoors open 7pm, Curtain up 7.30pm Saturday Matinee Doors open 1.30pm Curtain up 2.00pm. Adults £7.00, Concessions £6.00, Family £20.00 |
| Wednesday | 28 Jan 2015 | Probus Ordinary Meeting at the Cricket Club. Meet 9.30am for 10.00am start. |