Autumn 2003
The first day of autumn is 22nd September, and we still continue to enjoy the warm sunny days. What a wonderful summer this has been, most certainly as good as 1976. Many of us discarded our jackets and pullovers and have almost lived in shirtsleeve order for the last three months, and still wearing it! Although we had a chilly weekend just over a month ago, and what a shock that was!
And the traffic! Long queues of cars containing weekend leisure seekers, visiting the coastal resorts and the country. And gardens bursting with colour, and everyone looking so well, and pleased with life. Most people in the leisure industry tell me they have had a very good year, certainly the best since the outbreak of the foot and mouth.
The walkers have been very activethis summer, there have been more hikers on the North Yorks Moors, than I have seen for a long time. Walking boots piled high in the lobby of the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, temporally discarded by the thirsty and the hungry was an indication of that. Although the Lion Inn is always busy at lunchtime, even on the wildest of days. But I do hope this wonderful weather continues.
Welcome the Armada Probus Club, of Bookham in Surrey, who have just joined the United Kingdom pages of Probus International, probus.org. Secretary Brian Maurice newly back from holiday, tells me the club was formed in 1988, and the choice of name was to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the victory of the English fleet, commanded by Lord Howard of Effingham, and Sir Francis Drake over the Spanish Armada, well done.
Welcome also to the Probus Club of Oadby and District, Leicester. They have an active walking, and bowls group, Gentlemen I am sure you will all have had a very busy and enjoyable season.
This autumn has seen some of the most spectacular colours we have seen for many a year. Even the larch trees have taken on a much richer golden hue, giving a beautiful backdrop to the reds of the beach trees and chestnuts. The silver birches were not to be left out either, actively seeking to compete in the grand finale of this year's orchestral arrangement.
Certainly many commentators compared our autumn to New England or even better, and the biologists to more concentrated sugars in the leaves.
Whatever to reason I am sure many of us will always remember the autumn of 2003.
GC
Summer 2003
The weather in North Yorkshire has been gorgeous, and we sincerely hope you all are experiencing the same sunny days. Long may they continue. The farming community tell us the harvest should be a good one, and is well on track.
The summer harvest of wild flowers especially wild Orchids, are particularly good this year, and of course the garden flowers are wonderful to behold. This year the garden centres have been selling a special type of loam for hanging baskets which seems to retain the moisture better.
A special welcome to North East Leeds Probus Club, in West Yorkshire, who has just joined the international pages of probus.org Their members meet on the second Monday of each month at the Parochial Hall, Fitzroy Drive, Oakwood. Tea and coffee are on the menu, plus a qualified speaker.
The club has now been established for 20 years, and the members play bowls in summer, and snooker in winter using the facilities of the Parochial Home Guard Club, which they tell us was founded in the dark days of 1942. There must be some very interesting photographs, and pictures on the walls of your clubhouse.
Welcome also to Redruth Probus Club, in Cornwall, who meet at the Crossroads Lodge Hotel in Scorrier, on three out of the four Wednesdays in each month.
Redruth Probus Club send a warm invitation to potential new members to call in for a coffee if you live nearby. And their kind invite also extends to members visiting Cornwall on Holiday.
Probus Clubs are constantly expanding around the world. If you would like to join a club, just ring up your local library, talk to their reference section, and ask for the details of the nearest club to where you are living.
If there is no club situated near you, and you and a few friends would like to start a new Probus Club. Then go along to the nearest Rotary Club, ask to talk to the secretary, and through his good offices, ask the Rotary Club Committee if they would kindly agree to propose one of their members to be the founder member of a new club. Only Rotary Clubs can form Probus Clubs; which I am sure they will be happy to do if you are a jolly nice, well-meaning person which I am sure you are.
Time goes so quickly; all I can suggest is enjoy life to the full. Have a wonderful summer, keep well! Best wishes to you, and to every member around the world, from all of us in probus.org
GC
Spring 2003
A warm welcome to two new clubs who have recently joined the United Kingdom pages, of World Probus, www.probus.org. They are the Meols Probus Club, which is at the end of the Wirral, in Cheshire. They were established in 1974, and meet for lunch in the Kings Gap Court Hotel, Hoylake.
The second club is The Probus Club Of Llandudno who was formed in 1973, and they meet for coffee in the Risboro Hotel in that wonderful town. My wife and I used to stay at the County Hotel in the late 40's, I remember the orchestra playing in the evening at the end of the pier, which people used to attend in evening dress in those days.
This brings the total of our high tech probus clubs on UK pages to thirty. Leaving 1770 clubs still to appear, it will happen one day, probably not this year! I keep telling Arch Roberts, there could, It's just possible! There could, be a sudden rush one day?
But times do change! Members are now beginning to take on an increased interest in their local affairs. We in Filey Club have School Governors, and others seeking election in the borough and town elections. Another member is fighting a County By-Election. Well if you've been busy all your life it's not in the nature things to do less. There are Pluses for the busy life, one is that you get from under the dear wife's feet, and another is that you meet more people. Well I know I wont convince everyone, but we in probus are a various crowd of kind, amusing people, and we've always taken the long way round haven't we! And no doubt will continue to do so.
As these newsletters pass into history, I must say a short prayer, for what is happening on the world international scene this week. My experience, in my lifetime, is that the continuance of good in mankind has always prevailed in the end. I hope that will continue.
Is there a comprehensive list with addresses, for all the Probus Clubs in the United Kingdom, apart from the handbook of the Probus clubs Directory, issued by Ralph Harper of "Probus Supplies" found in our index. No there is not. At various times, I have asked many clubs if they would like their details to be listed, and the answer has always been that the commercial use for junk mail etc would out weigh any benefit. But if the mood is shifting please let me know. Meanwhile I always ask the local library.
Best wishes for a wonderful springtime, to all of you, from everyone in probus.org
GC
Winter 2002
Welcome to a very special new arrival in the United Kingdom pages of International Probus. The Glebe Ladies Probus Club, who meet in the Club Kingswood Leisure Centre, Basildon. We like your website; it is colourful, informative, and easy to read. We also hope your members will enjoy browsing around the many clubs in probus org, and perhaps making new contacts.
We were very interested to read there are over one hundred and seventy ladies probus clubs in the UK. Gosh! The Spring News Letter could be a long one.
Talking of leisure centres, it was suggested last week, that my own probus club members could benefit from a visit to the local leisure centre and gym; I am sorry to tell you there was very little enthusiasm.
This year has passed so quickly, faster than I have ever experienced before. Some say this is a well know fact as we get older, but I do wonder if we could find a brake factor in the equation of Einstein Theory of Relativity which we could apply to and slow time down a little.
Unlike last year, autumn this year happened exactly on cue, and the colours were more beautiful. Some of us had a late walking holiday in Scotland with American visitors on the Islands of Kerrera, Lismore, and Iona, from our base at the Manor House Hotel in Oban, which we can strongly recommend. October is usually a dry-ish month in Scotland. But I was told September had been the best for walking this year.
Probus Clubs around the country are reporting strong new membership returns, especially clubs that have a variety of enjoyable social events, which always attract new members wishing to make new friends, especially when they have just moved into a new location to retire.
This week Filey & District Probus Club were invited to The Filey Junior School to listen to a wonderful mixed choir of pupils aged between nine to eleven singing Christmas carols, conducted by their music teacher Doreen Lawson. It was a beautiful, almost mystical experience studying the faces of those wonderful children, and wondering where in say twenty years time they may be in the world, and what careers they may have. Their headmaster Richard Hirst informed me they had a good chance of winning the Christmas Choir Competition, at The McCarthy Glen Design Centre. We hope they do.
So at the end of another year, to all the Probus Clubs in the United Kingdom, please accept our kindest regards, and our best wishes for a wonderful Christmas, and very Happy New Year. From everyone in probus.org
GC
Autumn 2002
On Sunday 1st September everyone was relaxing and enjoying a beautifully warm day; the children were enjoying the sun, and building their sand castles on the beach. As the afternoon wore on, the incoming tide slowly started to fill the castle moat, and breach it's walls, inspiring a brief moment of sadness, as the day was slowly coming to it's close. But looking west across the bay the day was bright and still warm, and this started to generate an exciting feeling of new things to come, and many new things to do.
For the children it is the excitement of going to school, into a higher form or new college, starting in a few days, or a few weeks time. For the parents it is a time for the final nametags to be sewn in clothing, and bags to pack. For us in Probus it's the beginning of the autumn season, when meetings take on a whole new flavor. Lists of new speakers, and member's starting to lobby other members who may, or may not wish to be nominated at the next AGM.
In a way it's almost like gearing up for the start of a New Year, thinking of relevant changes to make, and resolutions to adopt, learning from the failure of earlier plans that went pear shaped, or computer that crashed. From now on we will only open e-mails that have very identifiable nametags like "probus".
We can also make more personal decision, such as being nicer to other people. Autumn can also be exciting, because of the warm sunny days still to come, and the thought of fly-fishing in October at the Lake Hotel.
A very warm welcome to the Probus Club of Allander, who held their first meeting in January 1982, and also hold their meetings in the famous Lesser Town Hall, in Milngavie a very beautiful part of Scotland.
Welcome also to The Cambridge Probus Club, who made us all green with
envy when we read that members meet in the Girton College bar, and
have steak and kidney pie for lunch, followed by apple crumble.
I have to say now, that Some of us may decide to suggest sweeping
changes to our club at our next committee meeting.
But seriously, this British Isles of ours is a wonderful place to live. Best wishes from all of us in probus.org
GC
Summer 2002
It is a clear indication of how short life is, when you start to remember where you were on the day Princess Elizabeth became Queen fifty years ago. How quickly time passes, can you really believe it? Personally I just cannot believe it's nearly June already.
Everyone will enjoy watching the celebrations of the Queens Golden Jubilee over the first weekend in June. On the Wednesday of that week, members of my club, Filey & District Probus Club, just like yours will stand and toast "God Bless Her majesty".
A special thank you to those Probus Clubs around the world who have sent us e-mails saying that we are in their thoughts this summer on the occasion of our Queens Golden Jubilee, and sending us their best wishes.
Welcome to Antonine Probus Club who meet on Monday's twice a month in Milngavie, Scotland, in the Lesser Town Hall. They also meet twice a month in the West Highland Gate Inn for coffee, and four times a year for lunch, well done. Congratulations for the friendly design of your pages. I was particularly interested in the details of the West Highland Way, which I am planning to walk with two American friends from North Carolina.
Also a special welcome to Salford Probus Club who has also joined our world pages, which now increasing the number of United Kingdom clubs to twenty-four.
Every week we receive a number of e-mails asking, "what is the name of the probus club near to where we live", and as there is no official national list except those clubs having web sites, we always refer them to their local library reference section, listing all local clubs. We are therefore considering publishing a voluntary plain text list of UK Probus Clubs in these pages, for those who wish to be listed.
We could only produce a list that would need the minimum upkeep, not needing updates every AGM. So to keep the workload low, we would only list the name of each probus club under it's county heading, together with a permanent e-mail address containing the word "probus", which with it's password could be passed on to each new club secretary, or web site officer.
Gentlemen, the comments of your committee would be most appreciated, thank you.
This spring the colours in the woodlands and hedgerows are beautiful, many different tints and tones of delicate green. Let us hope we have a wonderful summer. It should be a dry one too, because the oak tree leafed well before the ash tree, so we should only have a splash... not a soak!
Enjoy the summer, best wishes from all of us in probus org.
GC
Spring 2002.
Oh to be in England now that spring is here. Yes your right; that's not the exact quotation, but I do think it expresses the feelings of most Englishmen. It would be tragic to be away from England in April.
It is so exciting, just to watch nature unfold; everywhere is so full of hope and expectation. It makes you want to dash off into the country and watch it all happen.
Having said all that I'm off to Scotland for a short break, to Oban. A very professional, small to medium size port. Where you can just sit, watch it all happen, and enjoy the buzz, and when you need a change you just jump on a boat to one of the Western Isles, wonderful.
Country walking is now back on the agenda for many people, as plant life in the hedgerow becomes abundant. Daffodils, and crocuses, are speeding past their best, to give way eventually to bluebells. There is even the promise of life in my bird-box, after years of vacant possession.
Welcome and congratulations to Fugelmere Fleet Probus Club, and Nene Valley Probus Club, who have just published their sites on the United Kingdom pages of World Probus. We now have twenty-two UK clubs on line; with another three clubs almost ready checking their HTML.
As more clubs publish around the world, instant communication with each other becomes easier. Now we have to decide how we can best benefit our fellow probus members. We certainly would be pleased to welcome visiting members from across world to our club meetings. We are also in a good position to offer advice to visiting members traveling in each of our particular areas, where to stay and how to get their etc. When overseas members visiting this country need help, please contact me.
Hereford Hospital is seeking volunteers to help deliver their radio broadcasting service, and they would be happy to visit a local probus branch to give them a talk. See below for details.
Last year at this time, you may remember planners could see no light, Or end to the Foot and Mouth epidemic. The farming, and tourist industry were sinking deeper into despair. Now after the pain, both industries are leaner, fitter, and highly professional, capable of providing the best service to their prospective markets. So let us all wish them a fair wind, and success in the months ahead, which will benefit us all.
Last year also saw the growth of terrorism, and surprisingly warming relations, with previous cold war antagonists to combat it. But let us not forget that the terrorist can be a cowboy builder, if the victim is an old lady across the street.
So please enjoy the spring it is a wonderful time, and our very best wishes from all of us at probus.org
GC
Winter 2001
Autumn saw the atrocities against mankind, and a call for Jihad against America and the Alliance.
Thankfully now, at the start of our winter season, we are seeing peace overtaking terror, and hearing once again the Christmas message of peace, and goodwill to all mankind.
We are also seeing the growth of our United Kingdom Probus Clubs coming on-line. So a warm welcome to Coulsden in Surrey, and the Kyle's of Bute Probus Clubs, your pages look very smart and colourful. We are sure you will be seeing visitors from other clubs, but be assured we will always e-mail your secretary first.
Talking of Secretary's. We are now in the hunting season for new officers of the clubs. Who will take on what, and perhaps, who wont! It's all nail-biting stuff preparing for AGMs. Then it's the job of the Web Site Officer to post the new names of people and their pictures to the pages, and send them racing round the world. So if some clubs go off-line for a short time in January, we all understand why.
For the walkers amongst us, all the country paths are now open, after almost a year of not being able to walk on many of them. It's wonderful to see the recovery in the growth of vegetation, so much has changed it's not always easy to follow the track. The North Yorkshire Moors are an amazing sight at this time of year; on a clear day you can see thirty miles from Blakey Ridge.
Please don't forget the 'Special Events page', Club Anniversaries, any one-off event that your club would like to share with us all. If you wish to prepare the page I will be more than pleased to add your link.
Best wishes from all of us at probus.org
Autumn 2001
I could not believe my eyes as I watched pictures of unfolding disaster strike New York. Probably like you, I rushed to e-mail friends, to find out if they were safe. They were; with all my heart I hope your friends and love ones are too.
On behalf of all probus clubs in the UK, we send our love and condolence's to the people who have lost friends or family. And our very best wishes to those who may be injured.
Whilst being advocates of worldwide communication, such graphic and spontaneous news, such as we have seen in the last few days, renders us powerless, confused, and deep in shock.
Let us now hope that whilst bringing the perpetrators of these horrific acts to justice, the governments of the world can now start to solve this deep-seated and growing problem of violence and terrorism, where ever, and at whatever level it is perpetrated.
Nearer to home, in fact to our own UK web site, and to the devotee's of "frames", we are at present redesigning our UK index page, to just two frames, it will more friendly, and flow easier, we hope you will like it.
Allow me to apologize to all our grandchildren for any delay they experienced logging on to the Internet this weekend, which I think may be caused by us crumblies "adding to basket" during our Supermarket online shopping. Grandpas are now forsaking the "weekly-trot" for the "online-shop". Of course our smart kids have to be on the act as well, they also have favorite foods, Yuk! Happy shopping
To all potential probus members, if you are looking for a Probus Club near to where you live. Please contact your Local Library who will also be able to furnish you with the Secretaries name and telephone number.
Best wishes from all of us at probus.org GC
Summer 2001
Welcome to Ewell Probus Club in Surrey, who have just joined our United Kingdom pages. Your design and color work are most excellent. Well-done Ewell. It is now easier than ever to have your own club web site. Don't hesitate, for more information please give me a ring on 01723 513398, or e mail Arch Roberts at arch@melbpc.org.au
Worldwide communication between the International Probus Clubs will I am sure ultimately enhance all our lives in the future. Arch and I are always ready to meet for a beer, Captain's bar in the Mandarin, Arch? It's my round.
Well there's plenty of hesitation in the weather; summer seems to be a little late this year. Driving down from Scotland on June 2nd I noticed the Daffodils were still flowering. Three years ago in mid February they were practically in full bloom. Global warming? It's probably just us!
However the good news is that more country paths are being opened for walkers, we have noticed the rural tourist information offices are printing weekly newssheets giving details of paths newly opened. Everyone appreciates it will take time however, and to all our farming friends we are thinking of you.
Fly Fishing is a popular sport; well a few of us have found fishers paradise in Scotland, for walkers too. The Lake Hotel, Port of Menteith in the Trossachs, Perthshire. Its beauty is unbelievable; Loch Katrine and historical Stirling are within easy reach. Telephone 01877 385258.
So on behalf of all of us in probus.org, we hope you and yours have a wonderful summer
GC
Spring 2001
With problems on the railways, floods, and the foot and mouth disease, it has been a difficult winter, and we would like to send our best wishes to all our members and their families, who have suffered these experiences during the last few months. Since changing the format of our United Kingdom web pages, we have almost doubled the number of clubs publishing their pages on the Internet. In total there are approximately 85,000 Probus Members in these British Islands of ours, who are now able to see and read about the activities of Probus Clubs around the world.
Good news for Probus Clubs who have already had their web pages published on the United Kingdom site of probus org. We will soon be inaugurating a new trial site to record your very "Special Occasions", called Club Activities. Which can be viewed around the world by other Probus members, and perhaps your families abroad who will enjoy seeing, and reading all about you.
May we suggest if you are about to hold a special club event, and would like us to publish it? Please e-mail the details to the address below, attaching a group 'jpg.picture' with a short write up. Please only send sufficient material to fit comfortably inside an A4 page. There will be time limits of display etc, but we will learn as we proceed
Hobbies! Well, if you feel the need to study Information Technology, then we can recommend a really fascinating subject to learn is HTML; Or "Hypertext Mark-up Language" which is taught today in most local evening classes. This code, when added to a text file produces most of the web sites you see today.
There is a lot of software available that will convert documents ready for uploading. But students of HTML, and web site designers like to use their own style of coding, and you can always tell the difference. Of course the exciting part is designing your very own web page, and see the whole thing work. As a hobby we definitely recommend it.
Please convey our best wishes from probus.org to your President, Committee, and all your members.
GC
Winter 2000
A warm welcome to everyone visiting these pages. Thanks to the growing participation of members in the World Probus Website at www.probus.org changes are taking place producing a new and exciting international network. Now linking approximately 300,000 members attending 4,000 different Clubs around the world.
Through these pages, Clubs can talk to Clubs, exchange ideas, and hopefully enrich the lives of our entire membership.
Perhaps it would be exciting to be twinned with a Club in Australia or India for exchange visits, or perhaps the "walkers" amongst our international members would like to join our coast-to-coast walk here in North Yorkshire, England? Now with the help of the "Superior Bed and Breakfast" web site on the world page, and airlines which look favourably on Club bookings all things are possible.
Perhaps your Club may wish to appoint a "Web Site Officer" to appraise your Committee of this newsletter, and join us by having a Club page on the Internet.
Finally, please convey our very best wishes from www.probus.org to your President, Committee, and all of your members.
For Probus.org
Geoffrey Cullern.