Our first destination was in Wales, but we were destined not to reach it without incident, since the coach broke down en-route. Plan B featured delaying our reservation on the Lee Valley Railway, an impromptu Al Fresco lunch, and arranging a local coach to get us to LLangollen. Once there, we joined the vintage engine … Read more

First call was the Old Operating Theatre Museum of St Thomas Hospital, located in a garrett, above St Thomas church and adjacent to the Old St Thomas Hospital.  The only entrance/exit to the Museum was up a steep spiral staircase with rope handle, but that did not deter the majority of our party. The fascinating … Read more

An early start on a dull day, motoring north of Reading and finding the very narrow entrance and driveway to Basildon Park and understanding why only one coach per day is allowed into the site. Built in 1783 by the architect John Carr for Francis Sykes, both Yorkshiremen. Sold 50 years later, to the Liberal … Read more

The evening of April 15th was the occasion for the Annual President’s Dinner. Although not strictly an “Outing” this is one of the regular social events of the year, where we invite our Ladies, plus the Presidents of the other local Probus clubs and their ladies (or Husband in the case of the Ladies Probus … Read more

Some traffic delays meant that we were a little late to meet our guide Victoria and to proceed to a modern barge moored in the King George V dock – an excellent relaxed setting, close to the end of the runway at London City Airport (perhaps closer to planes than at any other airport!!). The … Read more

It was a change to visit a very old theatre, with plush furnishings all over, and a design such that you had to pass through the bars to get from anywhere to anywhere. It was easy to see why the show has been running successfully for 6 years in London – it had everything – … Read more

An all-embracing tour of Broadcasting House ranged from a short synopsis of the history of the BBC and their pride in the range and scope of its coverage (claimed to be third-largest in the world),  through to modern programmes and technology. We started at the News room and saw the familiar News presentation cubicle, and … Read more

Everyone managed the early start and long journey down the M4 and then M5 to the Bloodhound HQ at Avonmouth, where we had an eye-opening wake-up to the challenges facing the Bloodhound team in their quest to raise the Land speed record by 30% to close to 1000 mph.(1000 mph means faster than a bullet, … Read more

The Guided tour of Weald and Downland Museum took us to the key historical houses, whilst others made their own menu from the 45 historical houses on display, The guide pointing out the prime features of each as we progressed, and included the bakery with its old tools. The party also looked at the Artifacts … Read more

The initial stage of the day went well and the Bells Of Ouzley coped well with 40+ people for lunch, in the relatively short time available. Then we boarded our boat at Runnymede, motored downstream and all was quiet until the Queens Swan Marker (that’s David Barber) and the Swan Uppers of the Worshipful Companies … Read more