Rick Purnell Press Officer writes...........

All Change at the Top…

Teignmouth Probus Club’s AGM took place on Wednesday 18th January at Richard Newton Hall Community Centre, Higher Buckeridge Road, Teignmouth where Stephen Battersby was installed as Chairman by Malcolm Adams our retiring Chairman.

The New Chairman Stephen is a retired Solicitor hailing from Yorkshire with hobbies of fly fishing, Burnley FC, Yorkshire Cricket and a former 2nd row forward for Halifax Rugby Club in company of Billy Beaumont. He has a fond penchant for limericks and can tell a good story. We are in for a fun year ahead.

Other officers appointed were: Outgoing Treasurer David Kirk as Vice-Chairman, John Polley reappointed as Secretary, John Reynolds as Treasurer, Terry Jackson as Speaker Finder plus 2 committee members John Pearce & David Head.

The members respected the passing of 4 members, John Vaughan, Peter Edger OBE RN Retired, & Life members Gordon Plahn and centenarian veteran Norman Lee.

Eight new members joined us in 2022 and was a very successful year with 19 interesting speakers plus an outing to Seaton Tramway where one of our members, secretary John Polley is a volunteer tram driver. As a ‘one-off’, outgoing Chairman Malcolm Adams and member John Pearce and others supported  Rowcroft Hospice, Alzheimer’s Society (Memory Bank) and Volunteering in Health  joining events such as the Probus Stall at the Civic ‘Queen’s Jubilee’ on the Den in June, the King’s Arms Darts match and Dart & Partners Christmas Collection.

Our Speaker Finder Terry Jackson, outlined another full list of interesting speakers for 2023.

The next meeting is on 1st February at Richard Newton Hall Community Centre 10:00am. Our speaker is Angela Dodd-Compton talking about “The Italian Garden”.

If any retired/semi-retired male readers in Teignmouth would like to know more about us, please visit our website:  www.teignmouth-probus-club.org.uk