News

At last month’s evening meeting of the Probus Club of Basingstoke their guest speaker was Commodore Ian Gibb MBE whose talk was entitled “From Cadet to Commodore and Beyond”

Having spent 43 years at sea with the P&O group, and retiring in 1996, Commodore Gibb covered some of the interesting aspects of his career. He told the audience of retired professional and business men that having graduated from the School of Navigation in Southampton he entered the merchant marine as a cadet officer. Initially he was on cargo vessels but through a stroke of good fortune moved into the passenger ships side of P&O just as the market for passenger liners was changing.

The days of carrying mail and emigrants to Australia came to a close but with an eye on changing market conditions P&O recognised that there was growth potential in the holiday cruise market. A different style of vessel was needed so new ships were built. This expansion gave opportunities for advancement and Commodore Gibb became the captain of several well known cruise liners in the company’s fleet. The last one he captained was the Oriana which he had been closely involved in its build having been seconded to the ship yard during construction.

There were amusing anecdotes about life with cruise passengers, with most eating and drinking too much while on board. There was even an amusing side to death at sea when a deceased passenger was given a burial at sea and things went slightly awry. Fortunately the grieving widow was none the wiser.

The following 15 years were spent with the charity Trinity House, which is the organisation responsible for the buoys and light houses around the coast of England and Wales. He graduated to the position of being one of 32 elder brethren, some being members of the royal family, and sitting in its court of judgement to establish blame for maritime collisions.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke has an interesting programme of speakers and events and prospective members can gain more information about the scheduled activities by looking at their web site http://www.probusbasingstoke.wordpress.com or having a chat with their secretary Bryan Harvey on 01256 321473.

 

The Probus Club of Basingstoke has conferred a Life Membership on Dr Frank I Tovey OBE, ChM, FRCS as he and his wife Winnie will be leaving their Crossborough Hill home early in February for pastures new in Lymington.

Dr Tovey has been a member of the Probus Club in Basingstoke for many years and was President in 1997/98.

Although the announcement was made at the last evening meeting the presentation of a framed certificate was made at their home by Probus Club President Gerry Anslow. A reporter and photographer from the Basingstoke Gazette were there to capture the event and it is hoped that a feature will appear in the edition to be published on Thursday 7 February, the day before Frank and Winnie leave our town.

Frank Tovey is well known in Basingstoke as for 20 years he was a Consultant Surgeon at the North Hants Hospital, retiring in 1986. Previously he was 16 years at the Holdsworth Memorial Hospital in Mysore, South India and prior to that for over a year at the Methodist Hospital in Zhaotong, Yunnan, south west China. He was appointed OBE in 1966 for services to surgery and leprosy in India.

Other appointments include Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, London and Honorary Senior Research Associate, Department of Surgery and Interventional Science at University College, London. For eleven years he has been a member of the Editorial Board of the World Journal of Gastroenterology where he reviewed submissions of medical papers and published many articles of his own.

We all wish Frank and Winnie well in their new home.

At the first speaker evening meeting of the year 2013, the Probus Club of Basingstoke saw and heard Jonathan Jones giving it loud in his guise of the Town Crier of Farnham.

Arrayed in his splendid regalia Jonathan outlined his various roles to the audience of retired professional and business men who were fascinated to learn that the position of Town Crier goes way back to the Norman Conquest. In those days few people could read and the Town Crier had to impart the latest legislation and news to the populace. The well known opening phrase of “Oh yez, oh yez” can be traced back to Norman French.

The position of the Town Crier of Farnham was resurrected a decade ago when the council set up a competition for the post which carries on honorarium of £500. Having been declared the winner, Jonathan Jones has the security of the position for life or until he resigns.

The Town Crier has specific civic duties in supporting the elected council of Farnham including attending the full council meetings fully attired in his uniform. He is also involved in supporting some local commercial activities and charities. He explained that the uniform can be very hot on some occasions especially outside in the summer where he is often mistakenly identified by young children as a pirate. Although he has a tricorn hat he carries a bell rather than a cutlass.

At the conclusion of his talk Jonathan Jones gave an example of a shout which clearly demonstrated why he won the competition.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke has a full diary of events and interested potential members should initially look at their website http://www.probusbasingstoke.wordpress.com or ring their secretary Bryan Harvey for an informal chat on 01256 321473.

Probus visits Parliament

Forty people, consisting of members of the Probus Club of Basingstoke, together with their wives and partners, enjoyed a fascinating guided tour of the Palace of Westminster at the beginning of January.

Alan Porter of Bramley who organises outings for the club, which is now in its 34th year, said

“We had a marvellous time seeing around the mother of Parliaments with its splendid architecture, wonderful statues and paintings. The place has a great sense of history and pageantry which brought back images of famous historical moments and being able to go through all those amazing rooms, including the Lords and Commons chambers, was a great privilege.”

The trip was arranged through Maria Miller MP and her office which meant that two guides were on hand specifically for the Probus Club’s tour.

Alan continued “This outing is typical of the social events we undertake and prospective members can see some of the things we have done and are planned by looking on our website www.probusbasingstoke.wordpress.com ”

At their last evening meeting of 2012 members of the Probus Club of Basingstoke enjoyed the company of retired RAF Squadron Leader Chris Perkins, who lives in Kempshott, who gave an illustrated talk about his civilian role with the Queen’s Helicopter Flight.

With a history of Royal interest in flying, going back to the first World War, it came as a surprise to learn that these days the Queen owns only one aircraft, a Sikorsky helicopter, used solely for principal members of the Royal Household in their official duties. This came about as a result of the withdrawal from RAF service and non-replacement of the Royal Wessex helicopters back in 1998.

Now based within secure VIP helicopter premises at civilian Blackbushe Airport, the Queen’s Helicopter Flight operates with a staffing level of less than a dozen people and is part of the Royal Travel Organisation centred at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen’s helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76C, registered G-XXEB, is upgraded in various ways from the previous version including a more powerful engine.
Chris Perkins is one of four Helicopter Landing Site Officers, responsible for the planning, surveying and recording helicopter landing sites around the country for various Royal Household visits. His job also involves driving to the planned destination to ensure that all the necessary safety and risk assessments are carried out and dealing with local personnel to ensure that there are no hitches when the aircraft arrives and departs.
This was a fascinating insight into what goes on behind the scenes whenever a member of the Royal family travels around the country.
The Probus Club of Basingstoke are always interested to hear from potential members who are initially encouraged to visit their web site, http://www.probusbasingstoke.wordpress.com for more information. Alternatively you can contact their secretary Bryan Harvey by email, bryanharvey@talktalk.net , or phone (01256) 321473 for an informal discussion.

In the picture above, Mrs Valerie Chambers, one of the speakers about army married life, with Probus secretary Bryan Harvey.

Follow the Drum was the title of a talk by Major General Peter and Mrs Valerie Chambers on the occasion of the evening meeting of the Probus Club of Basingstoke held at the end of October.

They told of their experiences as a married couple while Peter served in the army for 33 years and the need to move home 26 times in that time, mostly in married quarters. At one period they moved five times in two years. Since retiring from the Regular Army in 2002, they have lived in Kempshott and say that they are determined to stay put.

Quite the opposite of a chronological history of their moves, the audience of retired professional and business managers enjoyed hearing of the mishaps, some poor conditions of quarters and service humour the couple encountered as they progressed up the promotional ladder, where Peter became Deputy Chief of Staff HQ Land Command.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke meets twice most months; lunch at Sandford Springs golf club near Kingsclere on the second Tuesday and an evening meeting on the fourth Thursday at Christ Church, Reading Road, Chineham, when they have a guest speaker. There is an extensive social programme that includes wives/partners with visits to places of interest, a Ladies’ lunch, summer pub lunch and Christmas dinner. Potential members should contact the Secretary Bryan Harvey by email bryanharvey@talktalk.net or phone (01256) 321473 for an informal discussion.

At their evening meeting on 25 October 2012, the Probus Club of Basingstoke had as their guest speaker Simon Wright who is in his twenty fourth year as a serving officer in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. These days his main role is that of coordinator of Crimestoppers & Most Wanted in Hampshire and across other local authorities in the south including the Channel Isles.

While most have heard of Crimestoppers and have seen their prominent phone number 0800 555 111 not many people know that it is a charity funded in the main by large companies and is operated by a group of volunteers. The main activity of this team is to take confidential phone calls from the public who want to report any matter that they consider will be of interest to the police; all done with complete anonymity.

The Most Wanted section is based in the Crimestoppers web site where photographs or E-fits of people that are of interest to the police are displayed. This information is updated daily and it is encouraging to see the increasing success of this operation where, in our county alone, they will receive six phone calls and make two arrests on an average day.

As well as a lunch on the second Tuesday of most months and the speaker meeting in the evening of the fourth Thursday the Probus Club of Basingstoke have social events and trips that involve members’ wives. If you are a retired professional or business executive and would like to know more then contact the Secretary, Bryan Harvey either by email bryanharvey@talktalk.net or telephone 01256 321473 for an informal discussion.

Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane, Cllr Martin Biermann (left) is welcomed by Probus Club of Basingstoke President Gerry Anslow (right) and committee, at the first lunch of the 34th season of the club.

The Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane, Cllr Martin Biermann, was the guest of honour at the first lunch at the start of the 34th season of the Probus Club of Basingstoke. Newly elected President, Gerry Anslow, welcomed the Mayor on behalf of the committee and members and considered that it was a good thing for the senior citizen of the borough to meet members of the club who had been executives in the locality prior to their retirement.

Mr Anslow, who has lived in Kempshott since 1976 and was a Principal Scientific Officer at AWE Aldermaston, says of his appointment “I am following in the footsteps of some illustrious members of Basingstoke professions, commerce and industry who were the movers and shakers of yesteryear in the local business community.”

He went on “ Cllr Biermann would be welcomed as a member should he decide to apply when he retires from business.”

Probus clubs were originally founded in 1965 to provide fellowship for retired members of Rotary but today the criteria for membership has been considerably widened with the result that there are now over 4000 clubs worldwide and in the UK there are in excess of 180,000 members.

Gerry continued “Despite the high levels of involvement throughout the country, here in Basingstoke we still need to recruit members to bring in new thinking and yet provide continuity with our ethos of providing a social outlet for like minded men. With the present trend for retiring at a higher age than in the past we are keen to find a small number of new entrants who are needed to keep the club making progress.”

The Probus Club meets twice in most months for lunch at Sandford Springs golf club near Kingsclere and an evening meeting which is held at Christ Church Chineham at which there is a guest speaker. They also have a social calendar that involves members’ wives, with outside trips, special lunches and a Christmas dinner.

Potential members can contact their secretary Bryan Harvey on 321473 or bryanharvey@talktalk.net There is a separate Ladies’ Probus club who can be contacted on 780907.

Note to Editor. For any further information please contact Paul Flint on 07770 886521 or email flintpw@sky.com

10.7.12.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke has just had its 33rd Annual General Meeting and appointed a new President. Gerry Anslow has taken on the mantle from retiring President Tony Atchison, to head up this social club for retired business executives. Gerry, who in 1995, took early retirement from AWE Aldermaston, where, prior to privatisation, he was a Principal Scientific Officer, now heads up this all male organisation as it enters its 34th year of operation. He became a member of the Probus Club in 2003 and until a year ago had served as their Honorary Secretary for six years.

Mr Anslow, who has lived in Kempshott since 1976 with his wife Joan, has two adult children and three grandchildren who live in Lychpit, and says of the appointment “I am following in the footsteps of some illustrious members of Basingstoke professions, commerce and industry who were the movers and shakers of yesteryear in the local business community.”

Probus clubs were originally founded in 1965 to provide fellowship for retired members of Rotary but today the criteria for membership has been widened with the result that there are now over 4000 clubs worldwide and in the UK there are in excess of 180,000 members.

Gerry continued “Despite the high levels of involvement throughout the country, here in Basingstoke we still need to recruit members to bring in new thinking and yet provide continuity with our ethos of providing a social outlet for like minded men. With the present trend for retiring at a higher age than in the past we are keen to find a small number of new entrants who are needed to keep the club making progress.”

The club meets twice in most months for lunch and an evening meeting at which there is a guest speaker. They also have a social calendar that involves members’ wives, with outside trips, special lunches and a Christmas dinner.

Potential members can contact their secretary Bryan Harvey on 01256 321473 or bryanharvey@talktalk.net

There is a separate Ladies’ Probus club who can be contacted on 01256 780907.