Founded in December 1985 to provide facilities
for retired and semi-retired professional and business men
to meet in fellowship and to maintain social contacts
CHAPELTOWN & DISTRICT
PROBUS CLUB
Home
Page
Monthly Meetings
Social Activities
Visits
Club
History
Monthly Meetings
Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Around forty members attend the monthly meetings and a majority then go for lunch at a nearby restaurant. This is optional, but many members find it an excellent opportunity to get to know others better and together attempt to set the world to rights!
Below is our 2024 - 25 Programme which gives a flavour of our monthly events
2024
10th January
14th February
13th March
10th April
8th May
12th June
10th July
14th August
11th September
9th October
13th November
11th December
2025
10th January
14th February
David Templeman
Melvyn Cook
AGM
Paul Salter
Paul Adey
Nick Johnson
Mike Ogden
Martin Rowley
Neil Hanson
Paul Adey
Stuart Atkins
Mike Higginbotham
David Templeman
Mark Dawson
Ancient Suburbs Of Sheffield
African Wildlife Bonanza
In house activity
Life as a Chief Fire Officer
The History of Oil
More Tales from the Press Box
Beyond the Blue Horizon
Sheffield Gang Wars
Inn and Out at the Top
Engineering Oddities
My Life in Music
Waterways and Railways across the Peak District
Ancient Suburbs of Sheffield Part 2
The History of Hendersons Relish
Previous Speakers
This is just to give you some idea of the range of speakers and the broad content they cover
The October 2020 meeting had Peak District Archivist Tim Knebel giving us an illustrated talk on the visitors to Lady Bower House, Derwent Woodlands, Derbyshire.
The country residence of Arthur Wightman (1842-1924) a prominent solicitor and public notary in Sheffield.
Visitors to Lady Bower House signed the Visitors Book as they came and went and the survival and archiving of this Visitors Book gives us an insight into the ‘great and good’ of Sheffield who visited the Wightman family. Among them were solicitors, clergymen, and steel industry magnates many of whom became benefactors to the city’s people giving them: hospitals, parks, art galleries and libraries, etc.
Photo: Tim Knebel with his sister Holly a High Peak Journalist
The September 2020 meeting had local historian, David Templeman, talking about the unusually large Sheffield Deer Park. His talk included the history of Sheffield back to the days of its great castle and showed where the deer park was using modern maps. A fascinating look back at how important Sheffield was in those days.
The August 2020 meeting had well-known BBC sports reporter and commentator Peter Slater give a highly amusing talk- “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”. This included interviews with people such as Muhammad Ali, Brian Clough, Alex Ferguson and Damon Hill.
He left the BBC in 2012, but continues to cover Premier League and Championship matches for Radio 5Live and Final Score on BBC TV. His recently published book, “Don’t You Know Who I Am” (35 years being ignored by sports rich and famous) details much of what has been a varied and rewarding career.
The July 2020 meeting - Our first Zoom meeting had an 'in house' presentation by Fred Dewhurst on the rise of Trade Unions in Sheffield – “The Sheffield Outrages”.
Andrew Raftery, retired Consultant Surgeon, whose presentation was entitled “Theatre to Theatre”. With the aid of a desk-top publisher and a very impressive narrative, he described his early youth and his not too impressive early educational achievements. He said that he was born on the 29th June 1943, and sometime during his early years at school he had suggested to his dad, that he may like, one day, to try his hand at becoming a stage actor. To which his father had responded by saying that no son of his would be taking that path. He now proudly possesses an Equity card for his paid acting skills.
