Club News
There was no luncheon meeting in August, but many of us got together for a trip to Chatham Historic Dockyard – see Andrew Banfield’s report on page 2. The outing was thoroughly enjoyed by all thanks to the superb planning by Andrew and Jenny and their chaperoning us on the visit – thank you.
Andrew Kellard is in Mayday (Croydon University Hospital). His continued low blood pressure and underlying condition requires repeated blood transfusions. Andrew’s family are looking to move him to a hospice. [stuck-on overprint replaced this with:] We’re very sad to report that Andrew passed away on Wed’day 31st August.
Please notify lunch changes by 10.30am the prior Tuesday for Thursday 6th Oct. meeting to chris@moniz.co.uk T: 020 8660 6063. Please notify Member News to Secretary, Ian Payne T: 01737 554449. Please email vincent@fosdike.comwith articles/news for the Newsletter
Talks with Purley Probus
Following discussions, we have made an ‘In Principle’ proposal to merge with Purley Probus Club from April 2023. Most committee places have been agreed. We will still meet at Purley Sports Club (1st or 2nd Thursdays to be settled). See separate report with this Newsletter.
Extraordinary General Meeting
October’s meeting will be an EGM for Coulsdon Probus to make a final decision on the merger.
Speaker 1st September: Brian Biggs: ‘My Life on Tugboats’
6th October: Stuart Robinson: ‘Curiosities of the City of London’
Visit to Chatham Historic Dockyard
Tuesday 26th July 2022
Andrew Banfield
We assembled at 9am at the Tudor Rose Pub in Old Coulsdon for the much anticipated trip to the Dockyard and the tour round the Call the Midwife TV set. There were 38 of us, mostly members of Coulsdon Probus Club with family and friends. We were joined by a few others from Purley Probus Club, Warlingham Probus Club and Old Coulsdon’s 35 club
After a smooth ride we arrived at the Dockyard for coffee and an explanation of the programme for the day.
In the morning we were able to independently visit the ships, galleries and other exhibits. Two popular visits were the submarine and a working rope manufacturing shed. There was a general view that there was so much to see that further visit would be called for.
After lunch when a number of people had the famous Chatham Dockyard Restaurant’s fish and chips, we assembled for the tour.
Some of the filming was around HMS Cavalier
Divided into two groups we each had a tour guide dressed in Midwife uniform (see photo). We were shown around the dockyard and how it, the buildings, the river and some ships are transformed into the 50s and 60s Poplar in the East End. It also included a small museum of artifacts. Whilst no filming of Call the Midwife took place while we were there, there were camera crews on site. It was fascinating to see how modern technology used the site to illustrate the stories. The guide took us back in her talk to various episodes to show us how they were filmed. Altogether a fantastic tour if a little tiring.
After the tour we then gathered to get on our coach to return to Old Coulsdon. We were nearly on time despite the efforts of the M25!
A Touch of Greenwash — Vincent Fosdike
DEFINITION:
“To give a false impression of environmentally virtuous behaviour.”
I think our membership would score well on socially responsible rubbish sorting. But it can be challenging particularly if you take an interest in what really happens behind the scenes. For example you may have wondered why the green bags for kitchen food waste often show themselves as compostable when they appear to emerge unaffected by a passage through the garden composter. Apparently they degrade only in high temperature composters which not all local authorities have, and we don’t! Newspapers often come wrapped in starch based covers but why wrap them? What is their total energy cost?
Everything we have needs a battery which needs recycling. Local authorities often refuse battery collection leaving a special journey to a supermarket which may take them (but lithium ones must have their terminals taped over – hard to be certain which they are). Worse still when appliances fail or more often are rendered obsolete they must be driven to the “recycling centre” and if it contains radioactive material like fire alarms it must be further sorted. Car exhaust gas? Do we need electric toothbrushes and razors, pepper grinders, carving knives and even battery powered thermometers? When sitting outside my local café, I daily see drivers take their coffee to their vans, start the engine and then cheerfully burn half a pint of petrol whilst chatting on their mobiles and sipping coffee over a timed period of twenty minutes!Depressed of Carshalton