Club News
January Lunch: Chairman, Andrew Carver, welcomed 19 members and our guest speaker Andy Thomas. £36 was raised for the Chairman’s Charity, Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The raffle raised £29.
News of Members: Will be reported at our luncheon meeting.
Birthdays in February: David Bone, Tony Farrell, Roger Gourd.
Outings/Events: The ‘Magic Circle HQ’ in March is full. Terry Ribbons is planning a river trip to Hampton Court for the New Year. Please Contact Terry Ribbens on tribbs42@gmail.com for ideas on outings.
Annual Quiz 6th February 2026, Cameron Hall Old Coulsdon for the benefit of the Chairman’s Charity, Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
We have several Probus teams competing tomorrow including some from other Probuses. Some local Coulsdon quizzers will be adding to what we trust will be an enjoyable evening
Speaker today: Chris Chippendale ‘Lasting Power of Attorney Made Simple.
5th March 2026 AGM: Chairman’s Chairty guest speaker.
Welfare Secretary: Please contact Tony Farrell if anyone knows of a member in difficulty: tonyfarrell1953@gmail.com
Lunch changes by 10.30am the prior Tuesday to chris@moniz.co.uk T: 020 8660 6063. Please email vincentfosdike@gmail.com with articles for the Newsletter.
January Speaker: Andy Thomas ‘Lewes and Bonfire Night’
by James Dearlove
The Club welcomed Andy Thomas, a well-known speaker and author (who grew up in the Lewes area) and informed us that the town is best known for holding the largest bonfire night in the world. There is a fascinating history which probably supports the residents’ claim that the town is the centre of the cosmos! Although the terrain is hilly, affording superb views, there are a number of man-made mounds believed to date to the iron age, although some have since disappeared, including one beneath St. John’s Church (as has the former church building which was constructed on a former mound).
Lewes has had a violent past. The Normans built a castle (originally of timber) which saw later action in a battle in 1264 between King Henry III and his barons where some 2,000 combatants died. There are (and were) a number of historic buildings and structures in Lewes, including the former Priory of St. Pancras, the stone needle commemorating 17 martyrs burned at the stake by Queen Mary. A number of houses are linked to famous residents including Thomas Paine, John Evelyn, D R Gideon Mantell and Virginia Woolf. Further historical features include cobbled streets (known as twittens), mathematical tiles on walls which resemble bricks and St. Michael’s Church has a twisted spire (one of only three in the country). The town still boasts a number of traditional shops. In fact, the first Bill’s (restaurant chain) was located in Lewes.
Lewes once had an important harbour with a ship-building industry and, interestingly, part of Sidney Harbour Bridge was constructed in the town! Many of us will know that Harveys Brewery is also located in the town, founded in the late 1790s. Andy recounted the story of when one of the town’s pubs, The Lewes Arms, was taken over by the Green King group which then bootlegged future sales of locally brewed Harveys beer, only for the locals to boycott the establishment with the patronage. Green King then reversed their policy and the local clientele returned! This typically reflects the town’ character.
Lewes is best known for the bonfire traditions referencing Guy Fawkes. There is a rather complex history starting with the 1605 Gunpowder Plot followed with an association of rioting in the town in 1847 when hooped Guernsey jumpers were worn by the rioters in order to evade detection. This has culminated in 7 bonfire societies and 6 displays all taking place on the same night. In fact, on the 4th November (known as Badge Night), banners are erected and a number of ceremonies take place, continued the following day when approximately 50,000 to 60,000 visitors descend on Lewes and the roads are closed in preparation for the main events.
It should be noted that a number of sad historical episodes are remembered over the two-day period including the 17 martyrs and those who have fallen in war, with poppy tributes as well as the discovery of gunpowder in Westminster. Some costumes are considered to be controversial and effigies of unpopular national and international characters are burned. Andy emphasised that no particular religion or sect is targeted in the ceremonies and in fact funds are raised for charity. The main theme of our speaker’s talk was to inform us how the town’s folk are determined to maintain traditions and are exceptionally independent. The moto: ‘we wunt be druv’ (we won’t be driven) is the unofficial motto of Sussex and well-describes their character. Thank you, Andy.
Happy new year from the Tax office (various departments)
by Vincent Fosdike
Don’t lose heart when you see this title although it might already have altered your blood pressure.
For better or worse I had thought that I was more or less done with the Tax people after I became a pensioner and sold (and paid the CGT) on my late mother’s flat which I had rented out
after it became mine. I assumed they would just tax my pension on information supplied by the pension provider and send me the calculation. Life would be simple almost totally free of tedious admin and calculations.
Most of you will have spotted the weakness in this optimism. I was not allowed simply to notify them of the annual interest. They would require as ever a full annual return (tedium reigns O.K.)
On supplying one I received the amount to pay which contained somewhat more than my accountant had calculated. I Checked with her and she assured me the excess was not owed and should not have been shown on their account, they would not in fact pursue it. Just pay the principal figure and ignore the additional sum. I could see why they had asked for it and I do trust my accountant. Sadly I still felt the need to speak with big brother rather than await developments.
I dialled the number for the forty-minute queue, rested the hand set on the table and got on with more interesting things. Finally I was answered and lodged my challenge. Twenty minutes and a transfer later I WON MY CASE. They would confirm in writing.
They did! Two weeks later the same excess demand arrived!! A further forty-minute phone call later they conceded their error and a correction letter arrived in due course. By now I felt the onset of PTSD as experienced by those in combat.
Then two further weeks later two large brown envelopes arrived in the same post but from different departments of Big Brother.
One started off with a demand and new tax code and the other written four days later stating that I did not owe any tax and indeed that some money had actually been paid into my account, despite the fact that I had not claimed anything.
Naturally I filed these immediately feeling somewhat as the Duke of Wellington must have felt after the Battle of Waterloo. It had been a “dammed close-run thing”.