Club News 2025
Restoration of the P{addle Steamer Medway Queen October 2025
The boat was built in Troon, Scotland in 1924 and spent her time happily ferrying passengers along the river Medway from Southend to Herne Bay and Clacton. Then, when war broke out in 1939 the steamer was, amazingly, converted into a Minesweeper, refitted with protective layers of steel-plating and armed with Naval 12 pounder and Lewis guns. It went immediately into service and, in 1940, became involved in Operation Dynamo rescuing retreating and trapped soldiers at Dunkirk. Realistic live videos of the actual conflict, with voices of the men, were shown to a visibly surprised audience. In the conflict the crew shot down three enemy aircraft and with, many crossings, rescued more than 7,000 desperate soldiers and brought them to safety. After the war the boat was celebrated at the 1953 Coronation and continued working around the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, by 1984 the boat had deteriorated into a very poor state. Then in 1985, the Medway Queen Preservation Society was formed which our speaker is heavily involved and helps to raise money for its upkeep. With funding from the National Lottery and donations from the public the boat was fully restored in Bristol and relaunched in 2013.Today it is moored on the Medway, in Gillingham, alongside its own museum which has many visitors including Dunkirk veterans, famous faces and Royalty. This was a fabulous story with a plethora of photos and live videos which captivated its spellbound audience.
Amdram and All That September 2025
Mike Brooks, from Newbury, visited the Club from Newbury to relive some memories of Amateur Dramatics with his “Amdram and All That “. He was well qualified as an ex-Panto man and with more than 100 productions both acting and writing along with his wife who also directed.” An Actor's job is to tell a story”. Mike had many stories to tell, ranging from Monologues and songs, from Pantomime to Witchcraft and particularly, “Things that go wrong” . A never ending list of stories, encounters and real-life dramas kept his audience thoroughly entertained. A most enjoyable afternoon.....
Bucks Heritage Railway Centre at Quainton August 2025
General Manager Stephen Green came to tell us of the exciting changes at the Bucks Heritage Railway Centre at Quainton which has developed from a railway-enthusiast centre to a high quality family-day-out business. They are using social-media to plan events, renting out their car park showground to local groups such as AUTOFEST and CYCLOCROSS, hiring out their engines to other railway lines and developing their “THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE DAYS” for families, many coming from London on a direct train-link.
In addition, they are developing educational programmes for students at Bucks College and even renting out an engine (painted red) for a HARRY POTTER film. “Big changes and an enhanced visitor experience is the key,” said Stephen.
Winston Churchill's Toyshop July 2025
Gordon Rogers gave an amazing talk on “Winston Churchill’s Toyshop”. This was the name given to the UK’s premier WW2 experimental weapons station “MoD1” based at Whitchurch just north of Aylesbury. It is said that the James Bond films took inspiration from the Toyshop to create Q’s workshop and 007’s gadgets.
Gordon’s interest in explosives started as a rebellious12-year-old schoolboy when he was arrested at gun point for entering the secret MoD1 premises and taking antitank missiles and fuses.
His talk highlighted the creative work of scientists and engineers who, from 1939 to 1945, worked under Churchill’s tutelage, secretly developing weapons. They had to think “outside the box” and Sticky bombs, Kangaroo mines, Hedgehog anti-submarine devices, the PIAT anti-tank gun and limpet mines were just some of 50 inventions. The creative designs and test procedures at Churchill’s Toyshop are credited with helping the allies win the war. Because of secrecy, many of these heroes such as Lord Cherwell, Coln. Stuart Macrae and Nobby Clarke remained in the shadows until very recently.
A well-researched story of unsung WW2 heroes that was much appreciated by Probus members.
Ladies Summer Lunch June 2025
Standing on the Grove Hotel terrace with a dazzling blue sky, little shade but who cares. Aperitifs and canapes in hand while being entertained by the SKEPTICS, a cappella trio. The Ladies Summer Lunch has arrived when it's time to eat and catch up with old friends and their news.
Following an enjoyable lunch the return of the SKEPTICS with a super mix of amusing and memory-jerking songs. The audience miming away to Buddy Holly's 1958 “Rave On” - who'd have thought it!!
Short speeches and a Royal toast from the Chairman, Trevor Jones, are all that is required to round off a most enjoyable afternoon.
Rescuing Ruins May 2025
The Club was delighted to welcome a talk by Alistair Dick-Cleland entitled “Rescuing Ruins – The Work of the Landmark Trust”.
Alister began by explaining why the Trust was set up. Founded in 1965 the Landmark Trust, now one of Britain’s leading conservation charities was set up to restore buildings that were judged too small for the National Trust to restore. These building, mostly listed. had to be architecturally interesting, at the risk of further demise and of interest to rent out to the general public.
He then took us on a terrific photographic tour of its 204 restored castles, towers, forts, folies, gateways around the U.K. showing the amazing transformations that these buildings had undergone.
Amazingly, Alistair confided to his audience that the initial costs of these restorations is entirely found from donations whilst the maintenance costs of each building is covered by the public rentals of which there are approximatley70,000 each year.
What an interesting talk and , possibly, begin to think of a holiday in the future......
World of Magic April 2025
John Field from the Magic Circle delivered a humorous and repartee talk on “The World of Magic”. With a plethora of amusing stories and tricks, John took us on a historical journey of trickery. Going back 3500 years to the Egyptians using the oldest trick in magic namely the “three-cup-trick” - although probably using seashells at that time!
He described the links to witchcraft in the Middle Ages ad the famous “Pillars of Solomon” trick of 1584 which is still available today as a children's trick. Later, he described how, in 1900, the famous ”Catch the Bullet in the Mouth” trick worked and continued his talk by describing the many famous tricks of Harry Houdini.
Then as a finale John came full circle and showed some close-up-magic using ex-Chairman Mike Appleyard as his fall-guy with the infamous “three-cup-trick”.
This was a very relaxing and amusing session delivered by a showman of excellence.
Photographs Records or Art? March 2025
Our current Chairman Trevor Jones gave a fascinating talk on “Photographic restoration and manipulation.” He has been a professional photographer all his life so clearly highly qualified to demonstrate how to restore old black & white photographs provided by club members to their former glory and to go even further and add colour.
He then showed the audience that by the use of sophisticated software and even AI he could correct our personal digital photographs to improve and give the best tonal range and colour separation .
To finish Trevor then amazed his audience by demonstrating how he could join “different” photographs together to create a new photograph – fake or what?
This was an amazing and fascinating glimpse into the photographic world that was greatly appreciated by his audience.
Annual General Meeting February 2025
Annual General Meeting February 2025
On February 19th our Annual AGM attended by 50 members saw current Chairman Mike Appleyard hand over the reins to new Chairman Trevor Jones who outlined the club programme for 2025.
Lady of Mann January 2025
A story of large and small boats..... It was appropriate that on the 85th year anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk that MATT CAIN was invited to tell us the fascinating -and complex story of RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Lady of Mann. The story begins in 1910 when the Isle of Mann Steam Packet Co. Ltd was the oldest continuously operating passenger company (predating Cunard) and operating between the Isle of Man and England and Ireland with 18 ships carrying 500,000 passengers annually. During WW! some ships were converted to warships and many sunk!
On to 1930 and the Lady of Mann was the largest ship built, beautifully appointed with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Classes carrying 2,873 passengers and 81 crew on 4 hour cruises.
Then, in 1939, on the outbreak of WWII, all the fleet boats were requisitioned. Famously, the Lady of Mann became involved in May 1940 in Operation Dynamo, evacuating soldiers from the Dunkirk beaches. Over one week the boat made 5 dangerous visits under heavy enemy fire carrying 5000+ soldiers each time from Dunkirk and, also later, from Le Havre. In 1944 the boat was converted to assist the allied D-Day landings on Juno beach in Normandy and ,later, commended and visited by both Field-Marshall Montgomery and King George VI. Matt's grandfather was the captain on the ship and later awarded an OBE.
Matt later acquired from the ship one of the original lifeboats which he wonderfully converted and can be seen cruising the Thames at Chertsey where he resides. This craft will join the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships at the Dunkirk Anniversary in May 2025.
In 1951 five foot long fully operating model of the boat was built by Roy Sturmey and friends including Cyril Drayson. Recently, when both men died, the boat collection was given to our ex-chairman Peter Roger, married to Lesley Drayson, daughter of Cyril Drayson on preserving this historic replica Peter made contact with Matt Cain, our presenter, and they agreed that Matt should become the registered “keeper” of the Lady of Mann at his Chertsey home. Unfortunately, the model was too fragile to bring to the meeting as planned but Matt was able to show many photos of the original and model.
Both Peter and Lesley attended the meeting and enjoyed the talk and a splendid lunch with us and Matt with whom they remain close friends.
A delightful, personal story to launch our 2025 Probus year.
