Thursday 11th June 2026 – Club Meeting – Speaker, Frank Vigon with a presentation entitled ‘The Strange Birth of British Television’.
Frank began his talk with the origins of the BBC and the birth of radio under its first Director General, Lord Reith. He was a formidable defender of the BBC and its principles, namely ‘to inform, educate and entertain’. The first radio broadcast took place on 14th of November 1922, introduced by the call sign ‘2LO calling’. This was apparently the Post Office Licence number. Frank showed a picture of the first copy of the Radio Times, price 2d!
Television broadcasting began on 2nd of November 1936. The first sets had a 9” square screen and cost £150 (about £12,500 today!). The picture quality was awful! TV broadcasting was stopped when war broke
out and didn’t resume until January 1946 and then only for 1 hour per day. The first entertainer to appear on that day was Petula Clark aged 14. The price of a TV set had by then come down to a mere £60 (about £3000 today).
Few people could afford a set in those days and the first time many people actually watched a TV was in a neighbour’s house for the Coronation in 1953. Frank reminded us of many of the limitations of early TV broadcasting, the ‘Normal service will resume as soon as possible’ announcements, the Potter’s wheel Interludes when things went wrong, the Vertical Hold problems of trying to keep the picture in the centre of the screen and the interference by passing cars without suppressors fitted.
His many clips from early programmes were perfect for an audience of a certain age, i.e. a typical Probus club, and much appreciated by us all today. We revelled in nostalgia at reminders of children’s television, of Andy Pandy, the Flower Pot Men and Muffin the Mule. We laughed out loud at famous clips from Morecambe & Wise, Dad’s Army and Some Mothers Do Have ‘Em’.
Wednesday 10th June 2026 – Bowls – Northwich Probus v Knutsford Probus
It was a wet morning as the Knutsford bowlers arrived at the Owley Wood Social Club. With threatening skies it was unlikely that the games would go without interruption and that was the case. It seemed that the Northwich bowlers adapted to the conditions better than Knutsford or perhaps they were just better on the day so when the scores were totalled it was no surprise that Northwich were victorious by 54-43 in the match that was eventually abandoned because of heavy rain.
Tuesday 9th June 2026 – Social – Summer Lunch at Knutsford Golf Club
Thirtyfive members, members’ wives and widows of members sat down to an excellent lunch provided by the staff of the Knutsford Golf Club. The lunch is one of the highlights of the Rex Probus Social Calendar and is enjoyed by all who attended..
Thursday 4th June – Walk- Whiteley Green/Bollington
The Windmill
The 4.3 mile ramble started from The Windmill pub in Whitely Green, near Bollington. The walk encompassed a wide variety of scenery: open countryside, canal towpath and great views across the Cheshire plain. There were some industrial history relics, including old quarries, one of which was now finding a new use as a BMX arena. The walk was a very enjoyable experience as the group adjourned for lunch served at The Windmill pub.
Tuesday 2nd June 2026 – Church Hulme Probus v Knutsford Probus
On a day of heavy rain showers the Knutsford bowlers travelled down the A50 to the picturesque Cranage Bowling Club green to play the members of Church Hulme Probus. Church Hulme is the old name for Holmes Chapel which not may people actually know.
Several bowlers of Church Hulme obviously knew the green well and do play for one of the teams to base their home there. The competition was tough and by the half time tea break Church Hulme had a reasonable lead. The Knutsford squad do accept a challenge however and did perform a recovery but as the points were totalled they fell short by just 3 points, losing for the first time this season by 87 to 90 points. Church Hulme visit Knutsford later in the season.