Taunton Ladies’ Probus Club

THE Taunton Ladies’ Probus club ended 2016 with 45 members and two guests sitting down to a delicious Christmas lunch at the Castle Hotel and John Carrington, our speaker, setting the scene for Christmas by treating us to readings from several writers and poets, all on the theme of Christmas, the most notable probably being ‘This Was The Moment’ by Ursula Fanthorpe and Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’.

Many of the writers wrote of cold and frosty festive seasons while we were experiencing unusually warm weather.

In November, 16 members had enjoyed a two day trip to Norwich to see the Christmas Spectacular at Thursford which has been staged there for the last 40 years.

They were also able to explore Norwich and visit the Castle and the magnificent 900 year old Cathedral built of Caen stone.

The first meeting of 2017 was held on January 18, again with 45 members present.

Joan Bird, the president, welcomed everyone especially a new member, Irene Roberts and gave the sad news of the death of Thora Taylor, a long time member, and latterly an honorary member of the club, who was 101.

Members stood in silence to remember her.

The social programme for the year includes trips to the SS Great Britain and a boat trip on the River Avon, a two-day visit to Bletchley Park and a theatre outing to see War Horse in Bristol in October.

We have an invitation to join the Tone Deane men’s Probus club on a steam outing on the WSR to Minehead, and we are also hoping to visit Highgrove sometime, so a busy year ahead.

Our speaker, Paul Carter of Creative Interiors, shared with us his love of design, elegance and colour as he explained the many varied projects he’d completed in homes of all sizes from flats and cottages to farmhouses and even grand chateaux.

He showed us examples of how he had used colour and lovely fabrics, and of some problems such as echoey rooms or bad acoustics that he had been able to rectify.

He also related some humorous incidents that happened when things went wrong.

A most enjoyable talk ended with two lucky members winning prizes in a raffle that Paul had organised. Shirley Hartley won a beautiful cushion and Vivienne Brunt won a scented candle. Paul and his wife Joan then joined us for lunch.

The next meeting will be on February 15 when Jill Venn will speak on “From Head to Toe in Reverse” which sounds like and invitation to dress up, as she will be demonstrating which hats to wear with different outfits.

In March the club will not have a general meeting but will enjoy a traditional Spring Lunch at the Oake Manor Golf Club.