KINGSTON UPON THAMES PROBUS CLUB

Luncheon Report – Tuesday, 9^th February 2010 by Past President – John Bird

Not a midwinter luncheon meeting, not a bi-annual Ladies Invitation meeting, nor an Annual General meeting even, just a meeting to enjoy a delightfully cooked salmon luncheon, all added to when one can sit back and relax ,fire the odd remark across the floor when Members Birthdays comes up on the agenda or to discreetly snore if you must after the ten minute break when perhaps the luncheon was a tad filling. All this is what many a member will enjoy after a hard month coping with the exigencies of retirement.

This does however disguise a number of activities that go on in the background particularly with arrangements for outside events. Occasionally certain members with their “Probus Guide” hats on will strike a. lucky patch and attract a sizeable

group of members and their wives to visit an exhibition or museum. Other events might not materialise so happily due to a lack of enthusiasm. Whatever the case members should know that whether a visit is on or off the organiser would have had to have spent time and resources on a “dummy” run to ensure details for meeting, entry to the exhibition, travel arrangements etc are precise enough to ensure a clear run for participants.

So to those members that have given time and resources to make arrangements such as outlined above it should be known that their services are much appreciative.

Our speaker after lunch was John Hargreaves who was to regale us with life on the ocean waves.. There are a number of ways one can enjoy life on the waves and cruising has a special attraction for many. But there are certain individuals who cannot resist facing up to nature in its hardest modes. John was one of these!! As a gentleman of more mature years than those of his younger contemporaries then having to endure the hard life running up to topsails and hauling ropes with the best of them then one had to hand it to him this especially when he was aboard such a sailing ship on the seas between South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

There is an occasion sometime in middle life when perhaps certain individuals feel the urge to face danger. Len Jennings and I and maybe others will remember Ian Stevens a past member of our club who had a penchant for taking to the seas in like manner as John Hargreaves

President John with John Hargreaves

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