Here is a list of all our all our previous talks – Over 400 in total!! You can use the Search function for key words (magnifying glass in our menu).
Thank you to all the Speakers we have had over the years.
At the outbreak of the first World War Herbert Henry Askwith was not only Prime Minister he was also the Secretary of State for War, which was not acceptable and so the position of Secretary of State for War was taken over by Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener. He inherited a greatly understaffed army … Read more
Think of Sheffield and for most, the next thought is stainless steel. This revolutionary material was to transform the production not just cutlery but everything from aero-engine components to hygienic surgical instruments, razor blades, artificial hips and much more. Our speaker this week was writer, historian and comedian, Andy Messer of Dronfield who, using illustrative … Read more
Stumperlowe Probus has an abundance of gifted people within its ranks and every six months a member is asked to give a talk. Peter Ivey is such a member and his talk is to give a background to the people who invented transistors and the microchips that shape our world today. Whilst people can remember … Read more
Josephine Butler (nee Grey) was born in Northumberland in 1828. Her father, John Grey, a land manager and farm reformer, was an anti-slavery campaigner. Josephine was brought up in an atmosphere committed to campaigning against slavery. In 1852 she married George Butler, who was a head teacher in a school for boys. He believed in … Read more
Many of our members (not all, one should add) associated silk with parachutes, dressing gowns and lingerie, but no more after this fascinating talk by Chris Holland of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Sheffield. Silk is the oldest commercial fibre and has been produced industrially for over four thousand years … Read more
For many members whose formative years were in the 1940s and 1950s when Britain was still at the forefront of technological developments, today’s presentation offered a fascinating cocktail of patriotic nostalgia mixed with anticipation of the future. Our speaker ‘cast off’ by outlining the 100-year old history of speed on water and setting the scene … Read more