2015-16 Diary

15th Anniversary Edition

 

Our Probus Club continues to thrive, with a programme of interesting speakers, various events during the year and very active sub-groups.  Here is a report on what has happened this season.

 

PROGRAMME 2015-16

Aug

Meet and Greet

Sep

Lyceum Theatre – Mark Thomson

Oct

Vivaldi Ladies Boutique – Lesley Drummond

Nov

‘In a Voluntary Capacity:  Thoughts on Working for Nothing’ – Dr Alison Elliot OBE

Dec

Christmas Lunch – Capital Hotel

Jan

15th Anniversary Lunch – Holiday Inn

Jan

‘The Land of Lost Content’ – Dr Suresh Sanders

Feb

‘Scots Connections and Intermarrying in Jamaica’ – Professor Geoff Palmer

Mar

Charity:  Richmond’s Hope (supporting bereaved families) – Rev Elizabeth Henderson

Apr

‘The Briggers – the Men who built the Forth Bridge’ – Tom Martin

May

Summer Outing – Anstruther Fisheries Museum

 

WALKING GROUP  The Walking Group enjoyed a very pleasant season.  The opening walk, Raeburn-Stockbridge, took place on what turned out to be the first day of our Indian Summer.  Indeed, the  glorious weather inspired us to walk on to Leith before taking the 26 bus back to Corstorphine. 

Similarly, the last walk, The Falkirk Wheel to the Kelpies on 31 May, ended the season in glorious weather.  This walk had been changed from 29 March in order to avail of local transport.  However, to balance matters, the walk on 2 February to Riccarton Campus had to be cancelled because of inclement weather.  The Summer Outing (Borders Railway Walk) will feature at the beginning of the new season.

Our planning meeting for the new season was scheduled for Tuesday 2 August in the White Lady at 10 am.

The number of walkers remained steady at approximately 10 members per week, and we look forward to welcoming new members during our new programme.  (Theresa)

 

LUNCH CLUB  Our third trip through the alphabet took the group

F

La P'tite Folie, Randolph Place

 

Attractive and very typically French bistro.  We enjoyed the good value lunch menu.  We had been there for P.

G

George Street Bar & Grill (Roxburgh Hotel)

Award-winning restaurant with stunning décor, great food and really good service.

H

Holiday Inn (Zoo) - Traders Restaurant

 

Good food and service – but 2 of the ladies were turned away because there was “no Probus booking”!

I

Indian Cavalry Club, Coates Crescent

 

The food was ok, but the staff were neither friendly nor helpful.

J

Jolly Botanist, Morrison Street

 

 

Upmarket Gin Bar where some of us enjoyed a Prosecco and Edinburgh Gin.  Food was good, especially the fish and chips, but the service was slow.

K

The King’s Wark, The Shore, Leith

 

Newly re-opened by the same company which owns the Jolly Botanist.  Really good pub food with excellent service.

Thanks are due to the ladies who took turns to organise the lunches.  All are welcome  - please see the list at the table at each Probus meeting.  (Thanks also to Margaret Miller for the Lunch Club report.)

 

BOOK GROUP  The Book Group has had another good year, having read 10 books.  Space does not allow our views of them all, but we would recommend the following as good reads:

The Paying Guests

by Sara Waters

A Spool of Blue Thread

by Anne Tyler

All the Light We Cannot See

by Anthony Doerr

A God in Ruins

by Kate Atkinson

They are all quite different , but all had lots to interest the group, to keep us turning pages and to provoke lively discussion.  We hope to continue in the same way this coming year. 

Two of our members have moved on to ‘pastures new’ this year – so, if there is anyone out there who would like to join us, please don’t be shy.  (Joan Dakers)

 

ANNUAL EVENTS

  • The Christmas Lunch - another very enjoyable lunch at the Capital Hotel.
  • Dirleton Trip - The annual trip took place this year again – enjoyable as ever.

  • 15th Anniversary Lunch 

On Thursday 21 January 2016 we celebrated our 15th Anniversary with a lunch at Sampans Restaurant in the Holiday Inn, a local venue.  Over 60 ladies attended, although, sadly, we had a few  casualties due to colds and flu.

The venue was ideal, well set out and with plenty of room to move around.  Margaret Simister and Joan Dakers made beautiful flower arrangements to adorn the tables.  Balloons also decorated the room.

For the first time it was decided to have random seating, each lady choosing a seat number on arrival.  This worked really well - everyone spoke to someone new, and there was certainly no shortage of chatter.  After a welcome glass of bubbly, our President, Laura, introduced the proceedings.

The lunch was carvery style, and everyone managed to find something to her taste.  During the meal, the ladies were challenged in a quiz on their knowledge of the number 15, the millennium, Probus and the sycamore tree.

After coffee, Laura introduced our Founder President, Theresa.  As ever, Theresa was very entertaining and had us rocking with laughter.  If you could have seen the faces of the staff present - they could not believe the outrageous jokes from a lady of such an age!

Theresa finished off with 15 surprise gifts.  Seat numbers were drawn from a hat, and each winner received a scratch card.  Sadly, no fortunes were made – a lesson to the gamblers among us!

Table flowers were presented to Elizabeth Wilson, who was 90 on Christmas Day, to Helen Harper, who will celebrate her 90th birthday in August, and to Gail Welsh, our newest member.

Thanks are due to the organising sub-committee for a most enjoyable day.  We now look forward to the 20th Anniversary of our very thriving Probus Club. (Joan McBain)  See photos – Laura, Theresa and all past Presidents. (More on the website.)

 

The May Outing

This year’s outing was a successful trip to the Anstruther Fisheries Museum, which proved to be much bigger than expected, and very interesting – definitely worth a visit.  There was time for a little retail therapy in gift shops before going on to a very enjoyable lunch at Anstruther Golf Club.