Lunches & Speakers
From the beginning, the constitution adopted monthly luncheon meetings at its heart. We have always followed lunch with a speaker. We have two special events to which partners and guests are invited, the President’s Annual Dinner and the Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon.
Historically, the Christmas Luncheon has catered for slightly more in attendance than the Annual Dinner. Throughout the 1980’s, for example, attendances were on average 107 for the Annual Dinner and 130 for the Christmas Luncheon versus averages of 90 and 107 respectively in recent years. There have been changing trends. For the first 25 years the events usually made a small profit. For a 15 year period from the mid 1990’s to 2010, events were often significantly subsidised usually resulting in a loss of a few hundred pounds.
Whilst the programme of outings is a very popular feature of our Probus Club, the ‘Dining Experience’ remains at the heart of the club. The focus has always been on friendship and fellowship. Our aim has been to provide an environment where we can meet regularly and socialise, have a good lunch and enjoy an entertaining speaker.
Over the years, the club meeting has been hosted at seven venues, namely the Cambridge Arms in Camberley, Frimley Hall Hotel, Hawley Hotel in Blackwater, Lakeside at Frimley Green, Pine Ridge Golf Club, which hosted us for a quarter century during which time we celebrated our 50th anniversary, moving to Windlesham Golf Club in September 2021 and then to Camberley Heath Golf Club from June 2023.
This is your club and your constructive feedback is always welcome. If we don’t always achieve our goals please tell us how things might be improved. Better still, why not look towards joining the committee and make a difference.
Please check the Noticeboard for upcoming speaker titles together with entertainment and other events.
Previous speaker titles
| Tuesday 16th April 2024 PRESIDENT’S DINNER Tony Strange as Henry VIII An hysterical performance in full costume. The King’s story in all its glory. |
| Tuesday 19th March 2024 History of the Royal Flying Corps Richard Marks |
| Tuesday 20th February 2024 Britain’s V-Bombers: The Ultimate Peacekeepers Andy Richardson |
| Tuesday 16th January 2024 The War of the Roses Steve Bird |
| Tuesday 19th December 2023 Ladies Christmas Lunch |
| Tuesday 28th November 2023 Lest We Forget Fabian Ware & Imperial War Graves Commission David du Croz |
| Tuesday 17th October 2023 The Battles of Newbury Chris Scott |
| Tuesday 19th September 2023 Siege of Basing House Alan Turton |
| Tuesday 15th August 2023 Fusion Power…Within Our Grasp? Robin Allen |
| Tuesday 18th July 2023 COVID 19 – At the Front Line of Keeping the NHS Safe & Impact on Prostate Cancer Alf Turner |
| Tuesday 20th June 2023 — |
| Wednesday 4th May 2023 AGM |
| Wednesday 5th April 2023 President’s Dinner After Dinner Speaker Eliza McClelland |
| Wednesday 1st March 2023 Medical Detection Dogs Danielle Mills |
| Wednesday 1st February 2023 FlyGirl Adventures Anita Mayes |
| Wednesday 4th January 2023 — |
| Wednesday 2nd November 2022 Last 100 Days of WW1 Barrie Friend |
| 5th October 2022 Fact Finding in Yemen Charles Garraway |
| 7th September 2022 Turing & Enigma Simon Ritchie |
| 3rd August 2022 180 Years of the Cunard Line Alastair Greener |
| 6th July 2022 Business Psychology Michael Wellin |
| 1st June 2022 Guide Dogs for the Blind Sue Mead |
| Wednesday 4 May 2022 AGM |
| Wednesday 20 April President’s Dinner |
| 2nd March 2022 The History of Royal Flying Graham Laurie |
| 2nd February 2022 Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Geoff Baier |
| 3rd November 2021 The Railways of Switzerland Stephen Bishop |
| 6th October 2021 Wycombe’s Contribution to Aviation Dave Scott |
| 4th August 2021 Bat Boat to Red Arrows [Zoom] David Hassard |
| 2nd June 2021 Scams and How to Avoid Them [Zoom] Brad Ashton |
| 12th May 2021 The Job of a Laughtime [Zoom] Brad Ashton |
| 7th April 2021 The Mind of a Gambler [Zoom] Paul Isherwood |
| 3rd March 2021 Zeppelin – Ship of Dreams [Zoom] David Skillen |
| 3rd February 2021 The Work of English Heritage [Zoom] Sam Stones, EH Property Curator/South |
| 6th January 2021 HIdden Wonders of the Night Sky [Zoom] Dr Lilian Hobbs |
| July 2020 Great (British) foods to build you natural resistance [link to GB nutrition guide] Lucy Williamson |
| 4th March 2020 Who has done more for Health; the Doctor, the Scientist or the Engineer? Professor David Perrett |
| 5th February 2020 Berlin – The Tale of an Extraordinary City, 1931-89 Alan Grace |
| 8th January 2020 From Moscow to Milk of Magnesia, Her Life in the Foreign Office Sheila Bevan |
| 6th November 2019 Greenland Alan Boyd |
| 2nd October 2019 Apollo 13, Disastrous Mission or Engineering Triumph? Phil Whitemore |
| 4th September 2019 The Jupiter Icy Missions Explorer Dr Adam Masters |
| 7th August 2019 The Work of the Government Chemist Dr Kirstin Gray |
| 3rd July 2019 Clandon Park Restoration Janet Hughes |
| 5th June 2019 Lasting Power of Attorney Made Simple Jackie Lucas |