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Thursday 24th October 2024 – Club Meeting – SpeakerDr. Ken Jones. Ken who spoke about ‘Climate Change and Decarbonisation’
Ken referred to elements contained in a document circulated to members during the previous week.
Ken invited members to give their views or comments, often referring to published works or features in various press reports on the subject. This discussion focussed to a large degree on the future of our energy supplies with particular reference to nuclear generation using either uranium or, in the future, Thorium.
A member countered the argument by saying that so many scientists can’t be wrong and pointed out that generation from Thorium is still in its experimental stages.
Another member commented that the disparity of our abandoning fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal only to then start importing them at much greater cost.
The point was made pointed that the massive costs associated with decommissioning Nuclear and disposal of spent fuels.
Ken Jones said we needed carbon dioxide as a key component of life and that the earth could easily tolerate more.
With regard to Climate Change, Ken Jones pointed to reports of extreme weather events often saying it was the worst such happening for 80 years or similar and these were sometimes further sensationalised by the press and other media.
A members view was that Nuclear sometime over-promised on its benefits although he acknowledged the worrying science that proved carbon dioxide levels will soon be double previous figures.
This was a very friendly and cordial discussion and everyone was happy to carry on with it in the bar afterwards!
Thursday 17th October 2024 – Walk – Bollington to Poynton
The Rex Probus Walking Group took travelled to Bollington with an excellent walk devised by Group Leader, Jim Flett.
The 5 mile plus route took the walkers from the Adlington Road car park along the Macclesfield Canal towards Poynton passing the Clarence Mill with its Bollington Discovery Centre and taking the group as far as the Lyme View Marina near Poynton. The return was via the Middlewood Way, a former railway line from Manchester to Macclesfield converted as a rural footpath and bridleway. At the end-point in Bollington all enjoyed an excellent value lunch at The Vale Inn in Bollington.
Thursday 10th October 2024 – Golf – Annual Probus Competition
Neil Stott & Jack Coleman represented the club against Knutsford Tatton and Plumley Probus Clubs. Only 8 holes of the Knutsford Golf Club course were played due to drainage problems. Rex ended as runners up by only 2/3rds of a point. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Thursday 10th October 2023 – Club Meeting – Speaker was Steve Abbott, who gave a talk ‘AVRO and the Legacy of our Aviation Industry’
Steve began by detailing his own involvement after he moved to the Manchester area in 1965 and got a job working with Hawker Siddeley at Woodford Aerodrome near Bramhall.
Steve’s presentation outlined the early history of the Roe family during their time living in Patricroft near Eccles. Of the sons Alliott did his schooling down at Brooklands in Surrey where he developed a very technical mindset. He and his brother had a keen interest in cycling and became aware of the experiments by the American Wright brothers with their cycling business and their attempts to get a 3 wheel vehicle off the ground!
Alliott’s earliest ‘Flying machine’ was called ‘The Hopper’ simply because that’s all it did. But much progress was made and in 1911 a first factory was opened at Brownsfield Mill in Ancoats. Further sites developed along with aviation itself and facilities were positioned wherever there was an airfield and refuelling points. They were at Alexandra Park, Woodford, Newton Heath, Chadderton, Ringway and Yeadon. Alliott Verdon-Roe himself eventually left the company and became a partner in the Saunders-Roe Company to serve the developing need for ‘Flying Boat’ aircraft.
After the Second World War there was much consolidation of the aviation industry until there was only one major player in the UK in the form of British Aerospace and eventually evolving into BAE Systems who still make wing sections for the European conglomerate Airbus Industries.
Steve went on to tell us about the Woodford Museum and its opening times.
Thursday 3rd October – Walkers v Bowlers Fun Day
Jim Flett and Roger Collins receive their bowling awards from Club President Peter Clegg
To start the day the “Walkers” journeyed around Mobberley passing the vast mansion of Wayne Rooney on a 4.5mile route back to Beech Hill and then The Railway Inn to join the Bowling Section members for the joint ‘Fun Day’
The excellent lunch provided by The Railway Inn, good weather and an improved bowling green condition compared to last year ensured of an excellent day.
The bowling consisted of four pairs of bowlers, each having 1 bowler and 1 walker for the competition. They played 3 opposing pairs in a “Round Robin.” The eventual winners being the expert duo of Roger Collins & Jim Flett.
David Howard receives the “Mike Johnson Trophy” from Peter.
The winner of the overall Bowling/Walking award ‘The Mike Johnson Trophy’ was deemed to be David Howard.
Jim Flett thanked Roger Collins and Andrew Allen for their organisational skills and Bruce Snowdon for attending with Probus President, Peter Clegg, who kindly presented the trophies.