THE PROBUS CLUB OF ST NEOTS
“Friendly, Like-minded and Local”
Club Secretary Contact: Secprobusstneots@hotmail.com
SOCIAL EVENTS 2018
MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER DECEMBER
APRIL
WE DO CULTURE AS WELL AS FOOD
Visit to Clare College 11 April 2018
The Branch kicked off the Spring social calendar with a behind the scenes trip to Clare College Cambridge kindly organised by our very own Geoff Hoy.
A small band of 19 hardy individuals assembled outside the college on 11 April where they were met by a very knowledgeable guide (Alan Lloyd) who for the next hour or so kept us regaled with some very interesting little known facts about the places we visited. Including a very interesting story about the skeleton and the staircase, as well as the exchange of land between Kings and Clare to ensure a more open access to the chapel doors of Kings.
Those keen gardeners amongst the group had a real treat when they met the head gardener of the college in his magnificent gardens. He explained all the various aspects of looking after the magnificent gardens whilst ensuring their continued use for the many college functions which take place in them. He also explained how the recent unseasonably wet weather had caused problems for him and his staff.
After visiting the College Chapel and the atmospheric Fellows’ Library, the afternoon was rounded off with coffee/tea and biscuits in the cellars of the college.
St Neots Group prior to Clare College Visit 11 Apr 2018
Inside the grounds of Clare College
Inside the grounds of Clare College
Dining Room for Students at Clare College
Gardens with unusually shaped shrubbery
Inside Clare College Chapel
Clare College Chapel skylight
Flower display along the pathway to the second half of Clare College
Cambridge College Library
MAY
Anniversary Lunch 2 May 2018
Member, partners and widows were gathered in the Bower Room for the annual Club Anniversary Lunch. The food produced by Kevin and served by his staff was as always excellent and everyone had a good time. We had the President of the Sandy Probus Club and his wife as our official guests.
Visit to Wimpole Hall
Our Secretary and his wife took a small group on a guided tour of the National Trust property Wimpole Hall on Wednesday 9 May 2018. Despite it being a local attraction, those on the tour learnt a lot about the Hall and its grounds.
The group gathered ready for the tour.
Wimpole Hall a National Trust property with lots of history. 
View of the Folly
View looking from the Hall. 
AUGUST
Hog Roast at Roxton Garden Centre 22 August 2018
We quickly returned to our food theme with the annual Hog Roast at our local garden centre, those present made short work of the wonderful hog shown below.
Hog Roast
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
SEPTEMBER
Visit to National Memorial Arboretum 26 September 2018
The Club social team organised a trip to the National Arboretum, which proved very popular with members and their partners.
On a glorious late summer’s day in September 30 members, wives and friends of St Neots Probus visited the 150 acre National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire.
During the visit, the group travelled around the 30,000 tree arboretum on the land train, seeing many of the 300+ memorials related to military associations, charitable organisations, emergency services, fraternity groups and individuals. Some in the group found the day out evoked many memories of their time in the services and other organisations, visiting the memorable and the thought provoking Armed Forces Memorial. Others took the opportunity to talk with other visitors and sharing their past experiences with each other. Overall it was a successful outing which everyone enjoyed.
OCTOBER
The annual Autumn Buffet was held in the Bower Room on Wednesday 24th October 2018 when 67 members, partners and widows were treated to a mountain of food by Kevin and his staff. Meat choices were Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, Chicken Pie, with masses of vegetables to choose from. No one went hungry!!
Everyone is now looking forward to the Christmas Lunch which currently has 109 sat down for lunch, a record for the club in recent times.
DECEMBER
The club held its annual Christmas Lunch in the Bower Room, on Wednesday 5th December. Kevin and the staff had been busy suitably decorating the room as well as producing special place mats for the occasion. 100 diners sat down to traditional Christmas fayre, which was rounded off with coffee or tea and mince pies. A very successful raffle was held which helped the Treasurer offset the reduced rate charged to members and partners. Kevin and Joyce Johnson were presented with tokens of the Clubs appreciation for all their hard work in looking after us all during the year.
Bower Room Christmas Lunch decoration
Bower Room Christmas Lunch
Our year was rounded off with the December Coffee Morning held in the Bower Room on Wednesday 12th December. The Committee served those attending with coffee, tea and a selection of Christmas accompaniments. Some were suitably attired in Christmas hats and jumpers.
