Graham Snowdon

Most people will associate volcanoes with Iceland, with memories of grounded aeroplane flights still fresh in their minds, and I for one must confess that I didn’t know that Chile also has several active volcanoes. Dave McGarvie, an honorary research fellow at Lancaster University, is an expert of volcanology (or vulcanology – it can be … Read more

Do you know your Fino from your Manzanilla? Or your Amontillado from your Oloroso? If you were among the 40 Stumperlowe Probus Club members and guests who enjoyed fellow member David Westaway’s comprehensive masterclass – not to mention the delicious Spanish-style tapas that accompanied the tastings – then you will almost certainly now know the … Read more

We were honoured to have Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, one of the world’s leading researchers into Motor Neurone Disease, as our pre-lunch speaker and guest of honour at our annual luncheon at the Mercure Kenwood Hall Hotel. The full title of Dame Pamela’s presentation was “Neuroscience Research at the University of Sheffield: Past, present and … Read more

The last time I absorbed such a huge amount of information in such a short time was around ten years ago when, on a visit to London’s theatreland, I watched The Reduced Shakespeare Company act out the complete works of William Shakespeare in 97 minutes. Peter Stubbs, a regular and popular visitor to Stumperlowe Probus … Read more

In the sphere of first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), a hands-on approach is vital. And we were instructed on that hands-on approach, literally, as our speaker Rebecca Walton, from the Sheffield-based company JWP Training, guided us through the procedure that would be necessary if we were to save somebody’s life in the event of … Read more

Our speaker Ann le Sage must have realised she was preaching to the converted when, at the beginning of her talk, she asked if there was anybody present who had NOT walked through the Porter Valley. Not a single hand went up, out of another healthy attendance of well over 40 members. Ann is chair … Read more