All that is best about Probus saw more than 80 members and guests enjoying a five-hour extended lunchtime at Sheffield’s Mercure Kenwood Hall Hotel for our annual get-together with wives and partners on Monday (3rd November).
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Kicking off the proceedings on a light – and humorous – note, pre-lunch speaker Roger Browne was back by popular demand and gave us an hour of musical entertainment reflecting on the history of popular music, with some masterful renditions on his keyboard.
Roger, who combines his talents as a musician, raconteur and humourist, has previously spoken to us at Fulwood Sports Club on the Golden Days of Radio and the History of Jazz. Sadly, he was unable to join us for lunch as planned on this occasion because a car breakdown meant he had to get his hire vehicle back to Stockport, where he is president of the local operatic society, for another function later in the day.
The short walk from conference room to restaurant required a halt at the adjacent bar area, where pre-lunch drinks were served and we had a good chance to catch up with old friends and make a few new ones before we were called to the table.
After grace by John Abel, acting chairman Dick Birks, standing in for Andrew Shorthouse, opened the proceedings and later proposed a toast to the club, as well as thanking retiring speaker finders Richard Worth and Mike Etches. There followed a few more words from our chairman-designate Gerry Meininger, who has agreed to step into the breach while Andrew recovers from his recent illness.
Congratulations must also, once again, go to Peter Curtis, who made another highly efficient job of organising the luncheon.
It’s back to normal on Monday, 17th November, when we resume our programme of Monday morning talks at Fulwood Sports Club. The speaker will be one of our own members, Graham Blincow, a retired company secretary who was a founding member of the staff of Radio Hallam when it went on air as Sheffield’s commercial station on 1st October 1974. Graham’s talk is entitled: “The Radio Explosion.”
Words: Graham Snowdon
Picture: Peter Jackson
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Our speaker programme through to March 2026 is now loaded, click here to view.