THE PROBUS 87 CLUB OF DROITWICH SPA OLD NEWS  2017

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November 10th 2016: 24 years  - an MG Special: by Peter Briggs

THE CHAIRMAN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY  22nd Dec 2, 2016

January 12th 2017
The first meeting this year:

A LIFE HISTORY BY PETER DANIELS:

“HOW I THINK I GOT HERE”

The 26th January, dawned damp and drizzly, in stark contrast to the ambience of the Granary Hotel's banqueting suite.

'Ladies and gentlemen, your tables are ready!' announced Scott, the head waiter, with white gloves.

Bedecked with flowers arranged by Ann Brown and festooned with balloons, everyone smiled.  Mind you, it might have had something to do with the welcome drinks beforehand!  

We waited.  I looked around.   There was Olive Thompson, the widow of Alan, with her daughter.  Liz, Mike Swan's eldest daughter was here also. As was Alun Davis's  daughter, Jayne.   

 The Chairman performed the preliminaries and called us to order. Sandy said grace. Then we tucked in - to a wonderful meal.  My, was the braised lamb delicious.  Sumptuous.

 Then it was to 'the cuttiing of the cake', with Jim and Joan Russell – they'd come all the way from down south - doing the honours.  It seemed such a pity to vandalise such a beautiful creation!   It tasted beautiful too.

Jan had asked me to reminisce for a few minutes, which I followed with a dire rendition of our Probus anthem, with apologies to the 'Men of Harlech'.  What a masochist I must be. Then it was time for proper entertainment!

With their unique brand of Black Country humour, the husband and wife team of Allan and Glynnis Briscoe, alias Dandy - they have delighted audiences throughout the Midlands for many years - strutted their stuff with aplomb. 'The funniest thing on four legs,' according to Jasper Carrott.   And they were too - after suitable  interpretation  of the lingo.

A big THANK YOU to Brian (and Joan) Boon for organising the culinary side of things. And to the Granary Hotel and staff for providing such wonderful service and support.

Please be upstanding.  May I propose a toast.....

To absent friends!


30th  Anniversary Lunch  at the  Granary 2017 St. Richard’s Hospice: A caring place well illustrated by Alice Spearing on the 16th Februray 2017. February 9th: Sandy Laird  delivered an excellent technical talk on ‘Fracking’ Jan19th:  Paul Harding entertained us  describing the history of the Tank.

St Richard’s Fest: April 29th  - POBUS 87 Organises the Brine Pit Blessing,              click :-

St RICHARD'S FESTIVAL

SALT FEST: 9th Sept 2017  - PROBUS 87 Demonstrates our Brine and Salt Heritage:-

MAKING

SALT

Thur Oct 19th - ‘HEART START’ DEMONSTRATION
Well presented by the HeartStart Team.

We are now, hopefully, more capable of helping some one who is unconscious or worse.

Thursday Oct 12th - ‘Member’s Debate -
The motion was:

 “The UK Needs More Immigrants”.

For details click -

Thursday Oct 5th -

The Joys Of Metal Detecting by John Bromley

Lots of artefacts on display including Roman coins.

This event was well organised by David Morison.

Thursday Sept 28th - John Brown by John Brown.
An interesting life story.

Thursday Sept. 21st -
‘Gold, Ghosts and Graveyards’
A good look at Western Australia by Ron Gallivan.

30th November 2017 - Duncan Coombs entertained us with his visit to Tibet to study high mountain plants

CHRISTMAS LUNCH
AT THE HOLT FLEET INN

7th December 2017

JANUARY  11th 2018 - First Meeting after the holidays.

It is the first time that Lynn Hilditch – at quite short notice – came and spoke to us on 11th January.  Her reminiscences about 22 years in the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller were quite riveting - edge of the seat stuff!  The time flew, too!  Presented with such charm, wit and  alacrity, it was unsurprising that many of the 'chaps' have asked whether she could come again and talk.......about anything!   This she has kindly agreed to do (October 18th) and talk about 'A Family Story' which sounds equally riveting - a date for your diary chaps.

THE CHAIRMAN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY -  END OF 2017 -
 It was great fun - really it was! All these pictures were taken one second before the punch line of the jokes were uttered!!

It just illustrates the high brow sophistication of the jokes..


14th December:  CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Celebrating the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of Peter and Joan Briggs followed by Christmas songs expertly  led by their daughter on the piano.

Excellent and refreshing.

FOLLOWED BY A TALK ABOUT ‘TUNEFUL TUBES’ BY MAESTRO DAVID WARNHAM.
 A wonderful experience of hearing and seeing 52 wind instruments, some homemade, producing ‘music’. Brilliant and entertaining!

Thursday 18th January INVESTITURE OF KENNETH ROBINSON ANNIVERSARY LUNCH

Thursday 25th January 2018 at The Granary

A beautiful meal with great entertainment from Keith Slater and his Sinatra Celebration

Four members of PROBUS 87 are also members of The Droitwich Spa Art Society.

Here is half of the mural of Droitwich views, created at the Christmas party and  constructed in two hours by six people.

Ron Galilivan
Februray 1st 2018

Thursday 15th Feb 2018

The Jaguars of Brazil

A talk by Ian Johnson

Thursday 22nd February  - A brilliant talk by Andrew Gagg on ‘Sugar and spice’

Thursday 8th February - Member, David Keir gave his life story

‘My Life by Proxy’ – inspiring

Thursday 1st March  - A fabulous lunch at the Drew Drop Inn

Has anyone a photograph of this event?

THE PROGRAMME STARTED WITH A ROUSING ‘LIVE’ DUET BY ROY DAVIES (VOICE) AND MALCOLM WAKEMAN (GUITAR) OF “Abdulla Bulbul Ameer”


MEMBERS MUSIC:  March 8th 2018  Organised by Roy Davies with help from Peter Hawkins.

A wide range of music or nearly music, handed in by most of the members

THE LIFE STORY OF PROBUS 87’S VET: STAN KILBY: BEFORE HORSES WITH LONG NOSES

A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE AND WELL PRESENTED

OLD NEWS 2017 - 2018

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