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Probus Club News & Events
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March 2011 - Keynsham & Saltford PC
Here's a challenge - can anybody match or beat James Herbert, of Keynsham and Saltford Probus Club, who celebrated his 100th birthday in January?
He was the oldest to join the club - because he carried on in his career as a stockbroker until his 89th birthday ...
London-born James moved home to the West Country in 1974 but stayed in the capital to conduct his business from Monday to Friday each week. Upon his eventual retirement he moved from Bath to Keynsham and became a Probus member in 2001. When age eventually caught up with him and prevented him from attending meetings regularly he was given associate membership.
On his centenary, James received a special card signed by all members who had attended the December meeting and an invitation was extended to him to be a guest at the club's January meeting. He made his entrance to standing applause. He was able to stay for only a short time but he accepted a bottle of whisky from president Edmund Prideaux (seen with him in photo) and ceremoniously cut a cake decorated with the Probus badge, his name and the number 100. Nobody could have expected him to blow out 100 candles so the cake had ten, each representing a decade of his life.
James was born eight months after the start of King George V's realm. He was to see three other monarchs and 19 different prime ministers.
He entered the world of finance as an office boy straight from school but by the time he was 21 he had become an under-manager and nine years later he was a member of London Stock Exchange.
PRESS RELEASE 22nd March, 2011
EAST KILBRIDEPROBUS CLUB.
Scottish Screen Archives.
Yet another trip down memory lane with the help of Mrs. Janet McBain from The Scottish Screen Archives. She was appointed first curator of the archives at their set up in 1976 and indeed her visit to the East Kilbride Probus was very much her swan song as after 35 years and countless presentations she was about to retire. So much so, the club presented her with a cake to commemorate the occasion.
She started by telling us that she had been told that PROBUS stood for Poor Old Bu***rs Unfit For Service which raised a laugh among the audience. She went on to explain that she started at the Archives on what was a Job Creation Scheme for six months and hey ho, 35years later she was leaving the Archives in good heart with a busy film rescue department, a burgeoning library with films that had been collected and rescued to reflect Scotland and its everyday life and events. The library only had a relatively few feature length films which were mainly sponsored by companies or institutions. The subject matters were factual from both professional and amateur film makers showing life in Scotland through the years.
Films began in 1890 and were to be seen in travelling shows and fairs in primitive ‘cinematograph booths’ from about 1896 and one of the earliest which she showed was of the Gordon Highlanders c1899 leaving Aberdeen marching down Union Street to the harbour for the boat to go to the Boer war in South Africa.
Next was some footage of Sir Thomas Lipton (of Tea fame) arriving at William Denny’s shipyard in Dumbarton for the launch of Shamrock III, one of five yachts that Lipton built to compete for the Americas Cup yachting trophy. He never managed to win the cup bit the New Yorkers finally gave him a cup for ‘The World’s Cheeriest Loser’.
Film in cinema was of course an important medium to show the news (No Telly then) which was often locally filmed such as Green’s Scottish Moving Pictures News who lasted until the early twenties when Pathe News and Gaumont News became leaders. One of Greens news item shown in greens cinema chain was the visit of the ‘Julian the Tank Bank’ in 1917 to Aberdeen. This was a First World War tank which visited cities all over the UK to raise money for the war. It had money slots all over the tank in which to make your deposit and in its two week tour of Scotland it raised two million pounds.
Several films of Paisley were shown including ‘Paisley Children’s Happy Hunting Ground’ of 1929. It was commissioned by Walter Hinks, manager of the New Alexander Picture House showing queue for the first talking picture at the cinema. Sadly, in the queue were children who were to perish in the Glen Cinema disaster a few months later in December 1929 –
77 children perished.
On the humorous side, there was snatch of the 1926 ‘Inspection Paisley’s Fire brigade’ featuring Fire master Girdwood demonstrating his skills at the top of an 85 foot extending ladder. Obviously no health and safety in those days by virtue of the stunts he was seen to carry out. It had been sponsored by a local foam manufacturer and was seen in cinemas throughout the town with a piano accompaniment.
Amateur film forms an important part of the Archives using 9.5mm, 8mm and 16mm and an example of such was a 1930 film about Bennie’s Railplane during its trial run at Milngavie. (He was born in Auldhouse in 1891) A prototype ran over a 130-yard (120 m) lineand was meant to straddle the conventional rail line below for goods and his Railplane above for fast passenger transport. It was never developed commercially in the UK but his ideas were taken up in Canada and Germany forming the basis of today’s monorail.
Another example was ‘Da Makkin o’ a Keshie’ (1932) which showed a Shetland crofter making a basket to carry home peats.
Next seen was an example of Sponsored films such as ‘World of Steel’ (Colvilles Ltd.), shown at the 1938 British Empire exhibition in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow during one of the wettest summers on record.
Next was a quick look at a Co-op Training film, typical of its time, called the ‘Silent Salesman’ which talked of Marketing, advertising and the use of posters, newspaper adverts and flyers to aid the sale of goods when the customer had reached the counter. All this was post war, about 1950/60, and these and other buzz words were creeping into marketing speak and it was when marketing was separated from advertising in meaning and action.
Finally The club members were treated to a 1977 film of their own town; ‘East Kilbride – Going To Town.’ In this, East Kilbride was shown in its fresh, best light as being one of the most successful of all the new towns. By 1955 the 3,000th new house was built and by 1974 there were 20,000 houses of which 12,000 were the planned overspill from Glasgow and was now the sixth largest town in the UK. The Town centre was in its infancy in 1959 when the then Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, declared the first phase open.
Mrs McBain concluded this fascinating glimpse into the Archives which house some 32,000 films of which 290 were on the web site, by inviting anybody along to their Hillington. Glasgow HQ.
The vote of thanks was given by Bill Rodger who not only expressed that it had been a tremendous presentation but also wished her well in her retirement.
The next meeting will be on the 6th April 2011 at 2.00 for 2.30pm in The Old Parish Church hall in Glebe Street, East Kilbride, and that this will be the A.G.M., with the new season commencing in October 2011
Members were reminded of the forthcoming visit to Callendar House near Falkirk on the 30th March, 2011
Press Release: September 18th 2010
EAST KILBRIDE PROBUS CLUB.
CLIMBS TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH THEIR NEW SEASON.
Updated Monday 2nd March
2010 BAKEWELL & DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB ENTER THE NEW YEAR IN GOOD HEART
One of several recent excellent speakers at the Bakewell and District Probus Club was Club member Ken Watson. Ken elaborated on one of his pet subjects, “Castles”.
During the past couple of months the Club has been entertained by club member Dr George Yule and current Practice Manager Nick Derbyshire, talking about “fifty years of medicine in Bakewell.
Fellow Club member Roger Truscott spoke about, In a time of austerity”. The Usual Bakewell Probus Christmas Extravaganza was fronted by Robert Cumming, with assistance from Ken Watson, Chairman Keith Johnston, John Davies, Brian Barry and the Multi talented Ron Meads. At the end of the January meeting,
The Speaker was Peter Downey from the Woodland Trust, an excellent expose of a c.jpg)
harity boasting a membership of 200,000 and owning 1,000 woods.
The most recent talk at the end of February was by club member Len Woollen who described his experiences of “Working and Volunteering in the Criminal Justice System”.
Other matters recently raised included the forthcoming eagerly awaited visit to the early warning RAF station at Fylingdales on the North Yorkshire Moors.
Photograph shows: Left to Right, Keith Johnston, Chairman, Speaker Ken Watson and Club secretary John Barkley.
A party of 28 members, wives and friends will be staying overnight at the excellent Saxonville Hotel in Whitby and undertaking a three hour visit to the RAF station during their stay. (One member has already stated that whatever else happens, he is having Fish & Chips at the Magpie!!)
Bakewell & District Probus Club meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month, currently at Calver Village Hall at 10.30am.
Further Information: Derek Harrison on 01629 812247
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Updated 24th February 2010
“Probus Members Set to Work!”
Probus members stopped by at Treetops Hospice to present a cheque for £150.
They might have regretted their visit when they were promptly set to work on the building site by Treetops Hospice Ripple Appeal team, Kate and Alex!
The club, made up of over 50 retired professionals and businessmen, has held various fund raising events and collections in order to raise money for the new day care centre which will double the Hospice’s capacity.
Peter Dawson OBE, Club Secretary, said “We are delighted to continue our support for this wonderful place which makes an enormous difference to so many lives”.
The Ripple Appeal team Kate Shaw and Alex Ward (pictured here), expressed their appreciation by saying “We are so grateful for the ongoing support of The Church Wilne Probus Club. Every pound that they raise for us counts and it’s great to be able to invite them along to see how their generous donations are being spent”.
Anyone wishing to get involved in future fund-raising is asked to call Kate or Alex on 0115 9394551, or email kshaw@treetopshospice.org.uk
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PRESS RELEASE 19th February, 2010.
The EAST KILBRIDE PROBUS CLUB
The life and works of Sir Edward Elgar.
The East Kilbride Probus Club met on Wednesday, 17th February, 2010 and the guest speaker was Mr. Paul Bassett ably assisted by his wife Sharron. Paul is the President of the Scottish Branch of The Elgar Society and President of the Dunfermline Speakers Club.
Elgar tends to be known for such pieces as Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Nimrod and The Enigma Variations. However Mr Basset went on to illustrate the wide variety of music composed by who is arguably the greatest composer England has ever known. He was responsible for Chamber music, Oratorios, Choral, Marches, film, music halls songs and much more. He illustrated and punctuated his talk with musical sound bites of some well known pieces, like pomp and circumstance and also less well knows compositions from his repertoire. As a man Elgar, was very patriotic, which comes out in his music?
Reflecting the mood of his time – very King and Country. Although born in 1857 his music slow to catch on started to come to the fore towards the end of the 19th Century, e.g. The Imperial march in 1897 and the Enigmas variations in 1898. He found it difficult to get an orchestra to play his music and it was really the Austro-German conductor, Hans Richter, who first played his work in Germany and then over in London. That was when Elgar became fixed in people’s minds and was appreciated. In later years Richter became a whole-hearted admirer of Sir Edward Elgar.
He was married to Alice (ne Roberts) and had one daughter, Carrice. Alice’s family who were upper class cut her off financially for marrying a ‘lower middle class piano tuner and musician’, (he was an accomplished bassoonist, violinist organist and pianist). However this as much as her fervent belief in her husband’s talent was the power house behind Elgar both practically and spiritually.
They moved house many times from Worcestershire, Hereford and London but always seeming to orientate back to his beloved Malvern Hills where he found solitude and inspiration for his music. In his later years he received many accolades such as his Knighthood in 1904, the order of Merit 1911 and many more.
His cannon of work is immense and spectacular and fortunately electric recording came along in time to capture many of his pieces. Indeed he was always at the forefront of technology and in November 1931, Elgar was filmed by Pathé for a newsreel depicting a recording session of Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 at the opening of the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, later made famous by the Beatles.
He died from inoperable cancer on 23 February 1934 (Aged 76) and was buried, at St. Wulstan‘s Church in Little Malvern, next to his wife Alice. A great composer who captured the spirit and the feel of England and whose music plays on today to remind us of his genius.
A vote of thanks was given by Mr.W.Mair who said that the club had heard a first class and moving story of such a prolific and well appreciated composer. Indeed as a viola player himself, he had often played the music in an orchestral setting.
The next meeting of The E.K Probus will be held as usual in The Old Parish Church hall in Glebe Street, at 2.00 for 2.30pm on Wednesday 3rd March, 2010, when there will be a talk by Mr. Robin Watson on ‘The Covenanters.’
Ken Lawton.
For more info contact 01355 227 018
PRESS RELEASE 10th February, 2010.
2010 Ladies day lunch.
The tradition of the East Kilbride Probus Club is to treat their ladies to a lunch as near Valentines Day each year as a way of saying thanks for ‘putting up’ with them. The invited speaker at the lunch this year was Mr. Willie McDougall who is a retired police officer –Chief Superintendent of the traffic police. Since his retirement, he was with the National Scottish football team for some 12 years serving under such luminaries as Craig Brown, Bertie Vogt, and Walter Smith. Currently he is Chief Security Adviser to the SFA and in the past also to FIFA. In his talk, he extolled the importance of woman and with tongue in cheek he said that, “there are three types of woman – the beautiful, the intellectual and then the vast majority.” Having got away with that, he redeemed himself by going on to extol the virtues of ‘our ladies’. He concluded by wishing the Probus Club and their ladies continued success.
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