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WORTLEY HALL GARDEN TOUR on WEDNESDAY 17 JULY starting at 2pm

The tour will include the walled gardens, an opportunity to buy some produce,

and be followed by

AFTERNOON TEA

The inclusive cost is £21 each

It is open to members, family and friends etc but the maximum number is 20

Note: It is understood that the tour will go ahead even if it's raining!

The list is open now

Visits in planning 2024 onwards

Visits being organised, include:

Jodrell Bank Telescope

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

South Yorkshire Transport Museum

Canal trip at either Swinton or Skipton

Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Previous Visits

Click on images for more information

Wentworth Woodhouse

On Tuesday 19 September 32 people, members, partners and friends, went for a guided tour around one of the grandest stately homes in the country. Arriving at about 10am. some of us had a coffee in The Butler's Pantry and then we went in two groups, led by two excellent guides, who certainly knew their stuff, around the House. One of the guides was known to us as she is the widow of David Banham, a past chairman of our Probus Club, which gave it a more personal touch.

We saw the Chapel, the Ballroom, the State Dining Room, the Grand Staircase and further reception rooms.

Co-incidental to our tour was the display of the costumes from several of BBC's drama series. This being the first day of the exhibition, it was being recorded for a feature on Look North later that evening. Ian Fisher's wife Lynne was interviewed by Amy Garcia and if you watched the programme carefully you might have caught sight of some of our group.

After the official tour of the House we had a cold buffet lunch in The Long Gallery and then we were free to explore the Gardens if we so wished.

We were lucky with the weather and it was an altogether delightful day. Ray Sanderson

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet

On 27^th May 2023 we had a good group of members and guests visit the Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. We started with a welcome and cup of tea in the café and then had an interesting and enjoyable guided visit to the facility and site discussing the history and activity.

I very much enjoyed this as some ## years ago when at Abbeydale school I spent a week in the mud clearing the sluice gates - great fun!

Following the visit, we had a talk and demonstration of sword making (very skilled). Finally, we all retired to the excellent café on site for an enjoyable lunch.

The site is very interesting if anybody wishes to visit. Nick Tovey

After the tour we were treated to an exhilarating ride on the miniature railway run by volunteers on the site. The trip finished with a delicious lunch of hot pork sandwiches and chips served at the Wortley Club. All agreed it was a thoroughly enjoyable visit and thanked Nick for organising.

Wortley Top Forge

At the end of March 2023 a group of 20 Members, with their partners and friends, paid a visit to Wortley Top Forge – the oldest iron forge in England, dating back to the seventeenth century. We were treated to a fascinating tour led by Graham Parkinson, a retired lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University with a wealth of knowledge about the Forge, its processes, and its history.

Sheffield Forgemasters Ltd

Forgemasters is owned by the Ministry of Defence to safeguard its production of components for the UK fleet of nuclear submarines. Consequently visits are very restricted, but Michael Grey was able to use his family connection to arrange a tour for Probus Members.

In April a group of 14 of our fitter Members was given an extensive tour of the site led by senior members of the production team.

The highlight was undoubtedly witnessing a melt and pour in excess of 100 tonnes, which had been delayed slightly so that we could see it. A fascinating experience, and one which brought back memories for those of the group who had made their careers in the steel industry. Many thanks to Michael and his daughter Amy for arranging a memorable visit

Drax Power Station

Note the smiling faces and the absence of ladies for this interesting visit to a modern power station. Drax power station is a large biomass and coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire, England, capable of co-firing petcoke. It has a 2.6 GW capacity for biomass and 1.29 GW capacity for coal. Its name comes from the nearby village of Drax. It is situated on the River Ouse between Selby and Goole.

The Royal Air Force Museum Cosford

Located in Cosford in Shropshire, is a museum dedicated to the history of aviation and the Royal Air Force in particular. The museum is part of the Royal Air Force Museum, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and a registered charity. The museum is spread over two sites in England; the other site is at the Royal Air Force Museum London at Colindale (near Hendon) in north London.

Imperial War Museum Duxford

Near Duxford in Cambridgeshire. Based on the historic Duxford Aerodrome, the site was originally operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War. During the Second World War Duxford played a prominent role during the Battle of Britain and was later used by United States Army Air Forces fighter units in support of the daylight bombing of Germany. Duxford remained an active RAF airfield until 1961. After the Ministry of Defence declared the site surplus to requirements in 1969 the Imperial War Museum received permission to use part of the site for storage. The entirety of the site was transferred to the museum in February 1976.

Rolls-Royce Aerospace

A major manufacturer of aero engines for the large commercial aircraft, regional jet and business aviation markets. The business uses its engineering expertise, in-depth knowledge and capabilities to provide through-life support solutions for its customers. Their engines power 35 type of commercial aircraft and they have over 13,000 Engines in service around the world.

Rolls-Royce have research ties with AMRC at Catcliffe near Sheffield

Wedgwood Pottery

Wedgwood is especially associated with the "dry-bodied" (unglazed) stoneware Jasperware in contrasting colours, and in particular that in "Wedgwood blue" and white, always much the most popular colours, though there are several others. Jasperware has been made continuously by the firm since 1775, and also much imitated. In the 18th century, however, it was table china in the refined earthenware creamware that represented most of the sales and profits.

$probus @ pontefract races$

A Day At The Races - Pontefract Races

A day out with our ladies with may be a few bets on the side – and no signs of The Marx Brothers. The layman's view of racing is that it is an elitist sport for the wealthy and privileged. The reality could not be further from the truth! Racing is a sport for everyone - for young and old, men and women, rich and poor.

A Day at the Races can be a great day or night out with colleagues from work, an amazing way to catch up with friends, a fantastic way to make friends or a fabulous way to spend time with the family.