A brief overview of the Higher Education sector and challenges it faces – Prof Gill Valentine – 15th November 2021

Professor Gill Valentine is a leading player in the world of academia, locally and nationally. When she talks about matters of education, especially further education, people listen. And that was certainly the case when Stumperlowe Probus Club members were fortunate enough to be given almost two hours of Prof Valentine’s valuable time for our latest … Read more

The confession book of Mary Wilkinson – Mary Grover – 1st November 2021

Mary Grover is a lady with wide ranging interests.  After retiring from Hallam University in 2011, she has been a leading figure in “Reading Sheffield”.  Reading Sheffield is a linked group of projects connected to the experience of reading books.  Her talk stems from her studies into the period from 1925 to 1955. Whilst interviewing … Read more

Chess – Dr Phil Judkins – 20th Sept 2021

In a reference to the often complicated tactics involved, cycle racing has been described as ‘chess on wheels’.   So it was perhaps appropriate that Dr Phil Judkins’ presentation on  technological developments in air warfare during WWII should include an illustration of a rather Heath Robinson adaptation of an upturned bicycle used to rotate a radar … Read more

 The Sinking of the Empress of Ireland – Barbara Beard – 6th September 2021

  The Empress of Ireland, an ocean going 14,500-ton liner, was launched in 1906 to operate the trans – Atlantic route between Liverpool and Quebec. She was a licensed mail ship and mainly carried immigrants from Great Britain (including Ireland), Scandinavia and Russia looking for a better life in Canada. Her capacity was 1,536 passengers … Read more

“Bananas, Past, Present and Future”    Pat Heslop-Harrison 16 August 2021

Pat Heslop-Harrison is Professor of Genetics at the University of Leicester, an institution famous for its impact on medical and biological science through such world leading research as the Human Geno project and the DNA structures of animal and plant life.  Perhaps less well known is the research going on into the applications of such … Read more