News

Stephen Thair

Coming face to face with war painted warriors on a tropical island is not within most people’s experience. But this was just one of a series of adventures that Stephen Thair, a retired Old Basing solicitor, imparted to his fellow members of the Probus Club of Basingstoke at their last speaker meeting of their current year.

Stephen and his teacher wife, Margaret, lived and worked in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea from 1975 – 78 while it loosened its traditional ties with Australia and achieved self governing independence in September 1975. Stephen worked in the Government Legal Department, part of the Department of Law, which became the Department of Justice on independence, specialising in conveyancing as plantations were bought back using Australian government funds to compensate the previous ex-pat owners. He also acted as a barrister in court on land title disputes brought by local people.

It was his descriptions, supported by photographs, of their trips away from the coastal capital that illustrated the topography and diverse culture of the generic peoples. Because of the difficult terrain, many isolated communities had their own language and over 600 were recognised. The way to reach the villages on the coast was mainly by boat, where houses were built on stilts in the lagoons; inland villages were reached by trekking into the hinterland where the extensive mountain range reached up to 14,793 feet (4,509 metres). Today aircraft and mountain airstrips make life a little easier but the traditional pathways do not zig zag across the mountain sides but go straight up and down, which can be very exhausting for those who are not used to it!

Even where 4×4 vehicles can make some progress there are rivers to ford and the usual style was to ask the passengers to wade into the river to check on its depth before attempting the crossing.

WW2 relics abound as the Japanese conquered part of Papua New Guinea but were strongly resisted by the Australian forces. Plane wrecks, tanks and artillery pieces could be seen although nature was gradually taking over and even live mortar shells could be seen lying on the ground.

The funeral service for John Cator was held at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in St Michael’s Road, South Ham, Basingstoke on Wednesday 13 May 2015 officiated by Fr Benjamin Theobald. This was followed by a celebration of John’s life at Basingstoke Crematorium where his son in law gave the eulogy telling of John’s life initially in Thetford, Norfolk, National Service in the Suffolk Regiment only 12 miles away at Bury St Edmunds and his escape to Norwich working for Post Office Telephones. His career stayed with the Post Office advancing to be the manager of the London Foreign Section and latterly as Head of Operations City District (Square Mile). John took early retirement in 1992 and lived at Reigate in Surrey.
For 13 years John was a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Engineers of the Territorial Army rising to the rank of Major. He also worked for 4 years as a volunteer at his local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Having been a widower since 1984 John moved to Basingstoke in April 2012 to be near his eldest daughter, joining the Probus Club soon after. The club was represented at the funeral by President David Tivey and Hon. Secretary Paul Flint.

Tuesday 12 May 2015 saw the first Spring Ladies’ Lunch at the Test Valley Golf Club, the usual venue for our monthly lunch meetings; our previous venue for the last two years, Oakley Hall, having priced itself out of the market since a revamp. The weather was kind although the terrace ceased being used once the clouds came over but the club came up trumps with a good spread of menu options and room layout.

Alan and Liliane May, once again, were the organisers of the day. They produced all the name cards and menus with photographic quizzes about various scenes around the town in additional to the logistical difficulties in co-ordinating the arrangements with the golf club with our members’ lunch selections. Rob Hopkins had obtained fourteen raffle prizes, mainly of the alcoholic variety with the occasional box of chocolates, which were very well received by the lucky winners.

Probus Ladies’ Spring Lunch 2015

Bryan Nagle, although Manchester born and bred has lived in Sherborne St John for many years as he had worked for Wycombe District Council as Chief Officer Environmental Health. His badminton and tennis days are now behind him but golf and being a member of the Jane Austen Society keep him and his wife Sheila busy in their retirement years. Since 1998 Bryan has been a member of the Probus Club of Basingstoke the social organisation for retired professional and business managers to which august body of men he gave an illustrated talk of his war time service in the Royal Navy.

Moving to the south he trained for thirteen months as an Electrical Engineering Rating at the Grand Hotel in Lyndhurst followed by operational service encompassing both the European and the Far East theatres of war. However the specific topic of his presentation was about his research that has uncovered the apparent lack of public recognition in this country, but not in the USA, of the major role played by the LST (Landing Ship, Tank) in both Europe and the Pacific. Bryan was Petty Officer (Electrical) in charge of the generation and distribution on two LST vessels and he has great affection for the unsung heroes that played such an important role during the hostilities of WW2.

“Operation Dynamo” the evacuation from Dunkirk of the British Expeditionary Force between 27 May and 4 June 1940 that involved many privately owned small boats also clearly demonstrated to the Admiralty the need for ocean going ships in any future amphibious operations. Something considerably more substantial was needed than the landing craft so often depicted in war films. It highlighted the need to have ships capable of delivering substantial number of tanks, vehicles and troops direct to the shore and therefore had to have a shallow draught. In recognition of this and as an interim measure, three 4000 to 4800 tons tankers which had been built with shallow draughts to pass over restrictive sand bars in Venezuela were converted with new bow doors and loading ramps. These, then, became the first tank landing ships, the name being later altered into LST (Landing Ship, Tank). They proved their worth in the 1942 invasion of Algeria but their blunt bow made for inadequate speed and a sleeker hull design was sought. Both the Royal and the US Navies jointly designed the Mk 2 version which had to carry from 13 Churchill tanks up to thirty 3 ton tanks below deck, 15 lorries above plus up to 200 troops. Some could carry the landing crafts mentioned earlier. Vessels were also designed to become hospital ships and command centres fitted with radar and wireless. Production started in the USA where inland iron foundries on navigable rivers could quickly be converted into production. At the height of production one could be built in two months.

In total 1150 LSTs were built, some 80 in the UK and Canada for use in future European and Pacific invasions. The British built versions were slightly larger, of hot riveted hull design making them capable of withstanding gale force weather, whereas some of the US welded hull design were known to have failed in heavy conditions. A shared important feature of both types, the brainchild of British designer, Sir Rowland Baker, was the provision of floodable side wall buoyancy tanks. This allowed for effective trimming of the ship with the bow needing a draught only about four feet of water which enabled the beach approach to be made at speed ready to get the bow doors open and ramp down.

The Normandy landings, starting on D Day 6 June 1944, was the largest seaborne invasion in history and involved 311 LSTs with only three being lost. Most then spent the next three months, doing 50 round trips carrying tanks, supplies and troops outbound and wounded troops and German POWs on the return. Both General Eisenhower and Field Marshall Alan Brooke (later Viscount Alanbrooke who lived during and post war in Hartley Wintney and is buried there) agreed that the LST was an essential element in the overall success of “Operation Overlord”, the code name for the Normandy campaign which had to be won to turn the tide of the war in the Allies’ favour. There was no Plan B!

Friday 24 April was the funeral of one of our longest members, Eric Marks, at St Mary’s Parish church in Old Basing.

A crowded church saw Eric’s son Richard give the eulogy that was a history of his life and times at Blacklands farm where in later years Eric, who by now was not permitted to drive on the roads, used an old Land Rover Discovery around the farm and occasionally had to be rescued having got the vehicle into difficulties. Eric’s other son, Stephen, gave the Bible reading from the 1st book of Corinthians that included the lines

“Death has been swallowed up in victory”
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sons, together with their families, lit candles in memory of Eric.

The Probus Club was represented by President David Tivey and past presidents Paul Flint and Tony Atchison with his wife Lesley.

Ron was born and lived in Wiltshire until he was six years old when the family moved to Farleigh Wallop, Basingstoke where his father took up employment on the Portsmouth Estate.

After attending school in Cliddesden until he was 14, he took employment with J.T. Thorneycroft prior to beginning an apprenticeship in engineering and studying at Basingstoke Technical College for the National Certificate of Mechanical Engineering. This was interrupted by two years in the Royal Corps of Signals as a radio and telecommunications technician serving in the Middle East, Egypt and Palestine. After demobilisation he returned to Thorneycroft and completed his apprenticeship.

In 1952 he moved on to work for A.W.R.E., Aldermaston as a Technical Officer and retired from that establishment in 1991 as Senior Professional and Technical Officer. His work there included planning and attending atomic weapons tests on Christmas Island.

Ron was a devoted family man who married twice and had his six children with his first wife, subsequently marrying Doreen. He was a keen Freemason holding several high offices. He tried his hand at golf and lawn bowls and took pleasure in driving particularly to Scotland where he and Doreen enjoyed hill walking. Both were also keen gardeners and he was also involved with the local squadron of the Air Training Corps and the Conservative Club – demonstrating his energy, drive, initiative and determination to make a contribution to the community .

Ron joined Probus in 2001 and found several friends he had known for many years. He was a popular and active member of the club and both he and Doreen regularly enjoyed the outings organised by the club. Unfortunately the illness from which he suffered meant that for many months recently he had been unable to take part in any of the club’s lunches, meetings or activities.

A gentleman whose company one could not help but enjoy, Ron will be greatly missed by those fortunate to have known him.

Twenty-nine members and guests enjoyed a fascinating afternoon at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill on 19th March. We were conducted round by Maurice who seemed to know everything that there is to know about the site and distilling gin. The site had a long history of papermaking for bank note production, having been owned for many years by the Portal family. Following acquisition by Bombay Sapphire, many of the old buildings have been restored sympathetically, and the company has added the splendid new Botanical Glasshouses designed by the Heatherwick Studios, which stand on the river bank, to show the plants from which the botanical additives for the Bombay Sapphire gin are obtained.

We were shown the stills used to make the gin, and the manufacturing process of vapour infusion was explained to us. We were also given the chance to see and sniff the various botanical additives, which include liquorice, lemon, and various herbs and spices, and to indicate our favourites. On the basis of these choices, we were each given a complimentary cocktail at the end of the tour. Those drivers who opted for a non-alcoholic cocktail were provided with a goody-bag with a miniature bottle of the gin and some tonic water to enjoy at their leisure.

Even for members for whom gin may not be a favourite tipple, it was an enjoyable and informative afternoon!

Roy Wood, who from humble beginnings in the East End of London, started his working life with Barclays Bank rising to be a business manager. He was invited to join Jacob Rothschild to form a financial advice partnership. This became known as St James’s Place and in the last twenty five years has seen this partnership rise to be one of the leading wealth management companies in the world. In addition Roy spends five days a month in Dubai advising British ex-pats.

Roy highlighted the benefit of compound interest on any savings plan. As an example he started a pension plan for his two daughters investing the family allowance from their birth and reinvesting all the proceeds. He has calculated that provided the monthly investment keeps up with inflation then by the time they each are 55 they will both have a pot of over £500,000. The average UK retiree has a savings pot of only £30,000. Members of the police service, compulsorily save 14% of their salary, retire after thirty years with a pension of 2/3 salary which is index linked.

He went on to explain the basic rules of money advocated by business magnates Warren Buffet and Jacob Rothschild. Keep money in a bank sufficient for 6 to 9 months of expenditure. Any remaining funds should be invested, with the fear of loss managed by following two rules. Firstly, the investment pot should have 20% in each of Equities, Property, Precious Metals and Commodities, Government Gilts & Corporate Bonds and cash in Building Societies and banks. Secondly, it should be invested for a minimum of 6 years as all groups relate to each other. As one rises another reduces.

Roy outlined four big challenges in life that impact directly on finances. They are divorce, inflation, longer life but poor health and inheritance tax.

Wills should be updated and Powers of Attorney (health and wealth) drawn up. Assets should be in joint names, allowing instant access to the surviving spouse. Assets within an Investment Bond are protected both from Inheritance tax and care home costs if you survive for seven years.

Tuesday 3rd March 2015 saw a packed Basingstoke Crematorium say farewell to Chris Barton, the oldest member of the Probus Club of Basingstoke. Joining his widow Jenny and their extended families amongst the mourners were nine members of the Probus Club of Basingstoke with the President, Vice President and other committee members including several past presidents.

Chris had died in his sleep in the early morning following his 92nd birthday where he had been in good form recovering, albeit slowly, from a chest problem that had hospitalised him in December.

We learned of Chris’s birth in South Kensington, the son of a prep school headmaster, and his education at Dauntsey’s school in Wiltshire where he continued to attend their Old Boys’ reunions until recent years. A minor heart murmur that kept him out of physical activities for some school years failed to stop him playing various sports later in life. Sailing and boating became a great interest and was the reason that the RNLI was the chosen charity for any donations.

Forever a practical man, Chris had a variety of jobs. Being an aircraft fitter, working amongst others on Sunderland Flying Boats, eventually brought him to Hampshire. Moving into an engineering specialist firm in Basingstoke he then transferred within the company becoming a diamond polisher on which subject Chris and Jenny gave a presentation to one of our Speaker evenings. After several years he created a car hire business and during the quieter months he became a driving instructor. Having helped several students source a suitable car he established Five Ways Car Sales. When he sold up he became a wood turner that became a busy hobby in his retirement. (the subject of our Members’ Hobbies section of our web site)

Probably because he joined the Probus Club well into his retirement Chris did not aspire to become a committee member but immersed himself thoroughly in our activities and was a regular attendee at lunches, Speaker meetings and on social outings. He really enjoyed our last trip to the RAF Museum where he was seen keenly viewing a Sunderland Flying Boat, perhaps wondering if it had been one that he had worked on.