Blake Probus Club (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Blake Probus Club

10:52am Wednesday 31st December 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

IN mid December the Club had its Christmas lunch at The Cottage at Keenthorne and the presidents of the Bridgwater Club and the East Quantock Club at North Petherton were the honoured guests along with their partners and the meal was much enjoyed. Extending a welcome to everyone, our President Grahame Lock noted that his counterparts from the other clubs were also Graeme and Graham. All sounding the same but spelt differently.

The speaker at our meeting later in the month was Robert Tinker who had spent much of his life involved with seaside piers, particularly at Weston. Our shores have seen about 100 piers particularly at holiday resorts and Robert's talk was full of interesting facts and something of a history lesson. He had many interesting slides showing how fashions and peoples interests had changed and of course our local pier is not the only one to have burnt down. What happened at Weston in 2008 was a repeat of what had happened before in January of 1929. Also the Minehead Pier was dismantled to allow a defensive gun mounted on the harbour wall have the freedom to fire at the approaching enemy. However the foundations could not withstand the recoil when the gun was fired.

Following questions and answers our president Grahame Lock proposed the vote of thanks to hearty applause. Retirees are welcome to come along and see if they would like to join us and there are details at www.probus.pipm.net We shall be joining forces with the Bridgwater Club at the beginning of February 2009.