Dear Members,
I was pleased to see an excellent turnout for the annual Remembrance Sunday parade on the 11th. Thanks to Eddie Bates who laid the Probus wreath at the cenotaph on our behalf.
At the Council meeting on the 21st, Council approved a new member, Vic. Fayers-Hallin, who will receive his joining presentation pack at the meeting on the 28th of November.
Hopefully there will be a good response to our Christmas lunch at the Manor House Hotel, Alsager, on Friday the 7th of December.
On Saturday the 8th of December, Kidsgrove Community Choir are in concert at St Thomas’ Church at 7.30pm. Cost of admission is £5. Anyone interested, please see Graham Tunnicliff for tickets.
I understand that Adrian Ford is shortly to have an operation to remove stones from his gall bladder and then sometime in January he is to have an operation on his shoulder. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
As there is no newsletter in December, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all my fellow members a peaceful and healthy Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Norman Hankey, President
TODAYS SPEAKER
Ms. Zi Makhiwa — ‘Salt Box’
Birthdays in December & January 2019
December
John Dunn, Peter Groom & Steve Rhodes
January
Dave Birchall, Barry Knapper & Graham Tunnicliff
SOCIAL REPORT – NOVEMBER 2018
A splendid three night week-end break to the Evans Hotel Llandudno on the 2nd November 2018 was enjoyed by 40 members and guests. Many thanks to Frank Timmis for making all the arrangements.
The Christmas Luncheon is booked at the Manor House Hotel Alsager on Friday 7th December 2018 12 noon for 12.30pm at a cost of £22.00 per person. Some menu selections and payments are still to be submitted.
Enquiries have been made for two other week-end breaks to the Evans Hotel in Llandudno on Friday 5th April 2019 and Friday 1st November 2019, and a 7 day holiday to Scarborough departing Sunday 14th July 2019.
A visit to the Gladstone Museum in Longton and a day trip to Llangollen and Bala are proposed subject to sufficient interest.
The President’s Evening will be held at the Manor House Hotel Alsager on Friday 31st May 2019. Further details at a later date
Ken Williamson
PROBUS HOLIDAY TO EVANS HOTEL LLANDUDNO – NOVEMBER 2018
For forty Probus member, partners and friends this was the start of Christmas and included Santa Claus in his new red suit and freshly manicured beard giving presents out. Snow was missing although we had a great variation in the weather.
The great gusts of wind either helped you to climb the Orme or blow you back round the corner to Ross on Sea.
We also had sun and it was always warm. During the day everyone did their own thing. Bus or train rides were popular. Visits to Bodnant Gardens and even the local castles were in demand. Also, there was plenty of coffee and sitting watching the tide coming in and going out. The theatre had three days of Choral singing in competition – “excellent” – three different sections on each day!
The hotel provided entertainment on each evening. The rooms were clean and provided all that we had asked for. The food was good, varied and well presented. A good and happy time was had by all; we danced, sang, laughed and lost money at Bingo.
Like old times!
.
PROBUS WALK REPORT NOVEMBER 2018
This month’s walk started and finished at The Holly Bush in Denford near Leek.
Despite the weather forecast 12 of us assembled together and headed to Denford.
After booking in for lunch at the Holly Bush, we took the Leek branch of the Cauldon canal turning off at the Leek tunnel, eventually climbing Ladderedge and turning down Mollats Wood Lane. The lane subsequently turns into a track passing several impressive houses with the trees in full autumn splendour.
Eventually we rejoined the canal, but this time the Cheddelton branch and back to the pub, a walk of 4.5 miles.
Wednesday is Pie Day at the Holly Bush and most of us chose from the Pie menu which was excellent and very good value at £6.
The next walk will be after the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Graham Tunnicliff
INDOOR BOWLS DATE AT BIDDULPH LEISURE CENTRE 2018 – 2019
Tuesday 11th December, Tuesday January 8th, Tuesday February 12th
and Tuesday March 12th.
Len Dale
The Probus Llandudno Holiday
A holiday to Llandudno was arranged by Frank our Probus member
I’m sure you will all agree it was a great time to remember
The hotel was good and the staff were just fine
And the meals were delicious when we sat down to dine
The shopping centre was close so this never stopped
The ladies from shopping until they dropped
Bingo games started the nights with tickets to mark with a chance
To win a pot and then later celebrate on the floor with a dance
The visit of Father Christmas was a pleasant surprise
Santa was cute enough to make sure we all received a prize
Most of us made a Sunday trip to Conwy in spite of the rain
It was most enjoyable and not much of a pain
With a special thank you to Frank, our dear Probus brother.
John Dunn J
The Bottle Of Wine!
For all of you men who are married, were married, wish they were married, or wish they weren’t married, this is something to smile about the next time you see a bottle of wine!
Wayne was driving home from one of his business trips in Northern Queensland when he saw an elderly Aboriginal man walking on the side of the road.
As the trip was a long and quiet one, he stopped the car and asked the Aboriginal man if he would like a lift. With a silent nod of thanks, the old man got into the car. On resuming the journey, the old man just sat silently, looking intently at everything he saw, studying every little detail in the car, until he noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Wayne. ‘What’s in the bag?’ asked the old man. Wayne, looked down at the brown bag and said … ‘It’s a bottle of wine I got for my wife.’ The Aboriginal man was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, he said: ‘Good trade…’
Submitted by David Tipper
The Amateur Philosopher
Humour is mankind’s greatest blessing
Mark Twain
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 an inclusion in the next newsletter, articles should be delivered to the editor at least
7 days before the monthly meeting.
Our next Probus meeting is on Wednesday 30th January 2019
at Kidsgrove Cricket Club, 9.30 for 10am