Coincidentally the Lunch this year was held on the day of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day 1944.
The lunch was attended by 32 members and guests. It was generally agreed that the menu was excellent and we were very well served by the staff of “Paignton Vista” at The Paignton Club, Trevor, Sue, Holly and Josh.
The Meeting was opened by our new Chairman Colin Small.
After welcoming the ladies present at the lunch, he spoke at length about the roles played by women and girls in the SOE during the war, some working behind the enemy lines to transmit information to Bletchley Park, where the girls worked to help break the German codes, particularly those used in the Enigma Machine.
These ladies were also in direct contact with the beaches of Normandy during the invasion on D Day so heard all the horrors at first hand.
Colin then asked the audience to stand while Geoff Coop recited the famous verse from the poem by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943).
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them”
Our Vice Chairman Barry Ross then said Grace. after which we sat down to our lunch.
Paul Young, our esteemed Speaker Finder (who deserves so much praise for all his work every year in finding speakers) then proposed the Loyal Toast “His Majesty The KIng!”
After proposing a toast to the Ladies present, our Chairman handed over to our Past Chairman and now President, Chris Martin.
Chris started by congratulating Harding Jenkins on celebrating his 94th Birthday.
He then followed this by presenting a small gift (a mug printed with a picture of an old car and the words “NOT OLD. JUST CLASSIC”) to Tony Taft for thanks for taking most of the photos on our website and also writing the words accompanying reports of the weekly meetings.
Chris then told us his father was a Normandy Veteran and that he had brought with him some memorabilia for people to look at if they so wished, which many did.
This was followed by the Raffle and the Chairman wound up by saying the next meeting will be on 4th September and he wished everyone a Happy Summer.
Photos taken by Tony Taft today are shown below.
For the best way to find yourself in the photos, click on any photo to change the view to slide show. Click on the (tiny) arrows on each side of the photo to move between the photos. On a phone or iPad use two fingers to zoom in on yourself. To close the slide show, click on the (tiny) X at the top right of the photo. Any problems? Don’t ask me, ask your grandchildren!
Summer Break:-
Paignton Probus is now hibernating for three months until the first meeting of the Autumn Season on Wednesday 4th September 2024
Note that the Summer informal meetings of the past two years at The Old Smokey will continue on Wednesday lunchtimes from 12.30.
Contact Chris Martin on 07802 314280 or myself Tony Hare, (but not before 23rd of June please, I’m on holiday till then) for details.
Paignton Probus Club 