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

Teignmouth Probus Club speaker earlier this month was Local County Councillor, John Smith who has had a very interesting work path from secondary school teacher, moving into youth work with struggling children, moving on to social work and care home management and local authority social services in Wiltshire. During this time his D of E activities earned him a place in 1977 to assist with the organisation of 2500 Gold Award presentations at Buckingham Palace. He recalled the equerry saying ‘The queen may drop in anytime, when you address the Queen it is Ma’am as in jam’.

In 1988 he left social working and moved back to Teignmouth and embarked on being a Councillor rising to Deputy Leader and other duties. John joined the Devon committee of the Princes Trust becoming County Chairman to 1997. It is through his duties as County Councillor and Chairman of the Princes Trust that he was in the company of the Royals’ particularly Prince Charles informally at Kensington Palace for a meeting of Princes Trust County Chairman and on another occasion at High Grove.  He also met the Princess of Wales, Dianna but separately as there were difficulties at that time.

His Trust work also involved him with the famous endurance 10 Tors Treking event. As a County Councillor he was in the company of the Duchess of Gloucester at a garden party. When he was Vice Chairman of the Police Authority he missed meeting the Queen as he was interviewing a new Chief Constable. He met the Duke and Duchess of Essex Edward & Sophie at the opening of Stover Park and John was assigned to organise a ‘Royal Opening’ with reception for 400 guests in Plymouth. Members were discretely told of interesting and amusing tales and anecdotes throughout the talk. Our speaker John Smith held his audience by his oratory skills alone.

The vote of thanks was given by Probus Secretary John Polley.

Our next speaker is by Tom Cadbury with a talk “Devon Hoard”