Teignmouth Probus (2026)

18/08/2026

Our next meeting is on 7th October 2026 with a talk by David Hinchcliffe on "Willian Scorsby Captain & Clergyman"
We meet at the Richard Newton Hall Community Centre, Higher Buckeridge Road, Teignmouth at 10:00 am for refreshments.

18/08/2026

Funeral Directing
Teignmouth Probus Club’s last meeting before the summer break was about ‘death’ and the services provided by our local friendly independent funeral undertaker, Oliver Knapman.
In his interesting talk, Oliver answered the question “What do I do?” by outlining his introduction to Funeral Directing by his godfather Tom Clark. Oliver started his interest by working for the local Co-Op since he was 17 yrs old by valeting funeral cars, then fitting and lining coffins, moving on to preparing body dressing and learning how to ‘put on the best show’ for the deceased family before opening his own funeral parlor.
In questions from the audience, many taboos were addressed including problems arising from the recent ‘Hull Funeral Director fiasco’ with the ensuing changes in regulations which Oliver’s service were already ‘in compliance’.
Probus members were encouraged to talk about what they wanted when they ‘passed’ as so many times the family ‘just didn’t know’ what the deceased wanted. The popular minimalist of a ‘no service or ceremony’ called ‘Direct Cremation’ or ‘Pure Cremation’ was explained with the family having the option of ‘a celebration of life’ event at a more appropriate later time.
Having thought about ones own funeral arrangements, it is a good move to keep your ‘wishes’ written down and tucked into your personal papers or will. Also, you may find that you can see your chosen funeral director who will keep your thoughts and preferences ‘on file’ for the stressful moment facing your family including benefits of fully insured pre-payment schemes.
The vote of thanks was given by club secretary John Polley.
Posted by Press Officer Rick Purnell

Photo L-R: Pre meeting 'amusing chat' - Guest Speaker Oliver Knapman with Secretary John Polley and David Macveigh

12/07/2026

Exercise Tiger - July's Speaker

Teignmouth Probus Club’s guest speaker Dr. Harry Bennett (32 years a Plymouth University historian) reminisced about his involvement with the restoration project in Cornwall of the last remaining German WWII Motor Torpedo Boat No. S130. These were very powerful 110 feet long 45 knot F1 racing boats armed to the teeth with torpedoes. This led to the focal point of his talk of where such vessels were ‘in action’ and the mourning for the loss of 749 lives in the pre Normandy campaign preparations held in Lyme Bay late April 1944 called ‘Exercise Tiger’. This event has been a closely kept secret where all involved ‘kept mum’ from the Germans (and everyone else besides). In the 1980’s Interest on what happened at that time erupted with the discovery of WWII American Sherman ‘Swimmer’ Tank offshore from Slapton Sands Torcross South Devon when a ‘local’ Ken Small and team in 1984 recovered the tank from the seabed which can still be seen at Torcross and now part of a memorial to ‘Exercise Tiger’.
Another legacy was the requisition of 30,000 acres behind Slapton Sands with the removal of some 3000 South Hams residents, many never to return to their property, to make way for 15,000 servicemen to prepare for D-Day – all again ‘hush hush’.
Many books and frequent documentaries have been produced with confusing conspiracy theories compounding the legend which our speaker had a hand in researching ‘the truth’ about those times. Lyme Bay looked like the Normandy Utah Beach especially with Slapton Lake behind the shoreline, the ‘perfect’ location for realistic mock action with live am******on. It did produce casualties. But the big disaster and loss of lives actually occurred 30 miles away, off Portland Bill by a chance encounter by one of 3 German MTB patrols sent from Cherbourg to investigate some ‘unusual maritime activity in the area’ showing up on German triangulated radio traffic. One group chanced upon a small convoy of unprotected landing craft and sank ‘enemy vessels’ with so many casualties. The ‘main event of some 200+ vessels’ was not discovered my Germany.
In all the documentaries no one asked ‘where were the bodies?’ None were found in the Slapton area but were washed up or recovered in the Portland area. All were secretly taken either to Brookwood Military Cemetery Surrey or Madingley Military Cemetery Cambridge, but 2/3rds were repatriated back to America. It is only in current times that the relatives of the casualties have now ‘learned what really happened’. The members were spellbound by this interesting piece of local history.

Posted by Press Officer Rick Purnell

Photo: L - R: Chris Inch Speaker Finder, Dr. Harry Bennett Guest Speaker, Malcolm Adams Past Chairman, Brian Tucker Member with David Jeffrey Past Chairman

29/06/2026

Climate Crisis & the Dodgy Walnut June 26 meetings

David Ramsden MBE (for services to wild life) with the present Head of Conservation of the Barn Own Trust Natalie Mostert were the guest speakers for Teignmouth Mens Probus Club’s June meeting presenting an illuminating talk about ‘Climate and Ecological Crisis? What’s all the fuss about?’
Using our nearest exoplanet Proxima Centauri b (4.25 light years away – 25 trillion miles) to illustrate the necessities for a habitable balanced climate system for life to exist there has to be a cryosphere (polar ice caps), Geosphere land mass, Hydrosphere water, Ecosphere, Atmosphere and it only takes one element to shift leads to extinction. The example cited was the accelerated ice melt. This event we see crop failure increasing, wild life in decline, fish stock dwindling and air pollution increasing. If earth had no gas layer the temperature drops to -18°C. Carbon and Co2 play an essential influence upon our existence. A moderate average global temperature is vital. In 1880 it was 13.7°C which has risen to 15.1°C by 2024 and rising. We were shown many records and statistics, even during our 4 past ice ages and whichever way it was cut, planet earth is in trouble. Co2 has increased from 280ppm pre industrial to 441ppm today. As Co2 and temperature increases, by even small amounts, it has an impact of life on our planet. Our current small increase in average temperatures are seeing changes in the Jet Stream, heated oceans, carbonic acid increase in sea water is affecting shellfish and is already seeing the extinction process of our coral reefs. It was particularly disturbing to see the 2050 map of the Teign Estuary with its predicted risen sea levels giving an unrecognisable coast line. The world is not heeding the COPs 27, 28,29 or 30 and no pledges secured to limit global warming. We were told that just a 3.2 to 5.4% increase in global temperature was sufficient to see the end of all life on earth. Our speaker highlighted many things we can do as individuals to try and save ourselves from extinction as well as our county, our country and all nations and all humanity on our planet.
Member Malcolm Adams gave the vote of thanks for a thought provoking reminder of our current crises.
The speaker’s ‘handout’ of Sources of Useful information can be accessed at owlydavid.info/climate-eco-crisis/ also attached to our June meeting web pages – www.teignmouth-probus-club.org.uk where you can find out more about us.
Our second speakers this month on a very topical subject ‘The Dodgy Walnut’ and the work of Torbay Prostate Cancer Support Assn was presented by Ian Nightingale and John Cleaver. More men die of the disease (13,000 pa) than women do of breast cancer yet ladies are screened yet our government has just ruled against men having PSA tests. In the early stages men have few or no symptoms. As with our ladies, early diagnosis increases the success of any treatment. Our speakers outlined the diagnostic pathway and the early signs to look out for to seek diagnosis and treatment. Both our speakers are ‘survivors’ and outlined their own pathway. Further information go to www.tpsa.org.uk
A grateful vote of thanks was given by member David MacVeigh.

Photo l-R: Speaker David Ramsden MBE & Natalie Mostert with Chairman Keith Underhill & Speaker Finder Chris Inch

01/06/2026

Meeting 20th May "How to get out of th S***" by Steve Marvel

Steve Marvell gave sound advice to Teignmouth Mens Probus Club about ‘How to get out of the S*** (Trouble) as the guest speaker for our May meeting. We can all find ourselves in a difficult maybe a life threatening situation but do we know what to do? Are we prepared to enable us to survive and ‘get home’? Steve made us believe that most of his audience if going for a hike up a mountain would wear the right footwear, have the right spare clothing for bad weather and carry water and Kendal Cake, a mobile phone and maybe a whistle. But, who and how would you summon help? How long do you need to survive before help arrives? Much depends on how dangerous or remote a place you are travelling. A sound plan is to carry a survival pack for 2 days on land and 4 days by sea. If taking essential medication, carry a couple of day’s supply, just in case. Always tell someone, friends/family where you are going and when you expect to come home. If in remote locations, leave a note in your car of your intentions. Make sure you phone is well charged and do have the ‘numbers’ to call to hand. Search & Rescue, Police and Coastguard. Messge to ‘999’ or Emergency ‘112’ is internationally used but if the network is patchy or weak a TEXT is the best chance for getting a message through. Use ‘What Three Words’ for accurate location especially of the weather gets bad. If in a car, stay with it. How do you attract attention of your distress? Yes waving both hands over your head but have a torch especially at night. What signal best attracts attention? Well tried is three say 3 second flashes. Wait a few seconds then repeat another three in a regular pattern. Could use headlights. Have emergency kit in your car, 1st Aid kit, windscreen/window glass breaker and seatbelt strap cutter. Think, Prepare, can you light a fire? Blanket or clothing to keep warm overnight? Your very survival may depend on forward planning. Don’t get caught out.
Chris Inch our Speaker finder gave the vote of thanks for a thought provoking reminder to rehearse what and how to save yourself if going to remote or dangerous places. Just running out of petrol or breaking down in a remote location is all it takes.

Posted by Pres Officer rick Purnell

Photo: L-R: Chariman Keith Underhill wit Speaker Steve Marvell and Speaker Finder Chris Inch

11/05/2026

May 6th Meeting "Biological Clocks" by Dr. Roger Avery

Are you a Lark or an Owl? That is the question? asked by Teignmouth Probus Club’s returning guest speaker Dr. Roger Avery, a retired Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Bristol University. “Biological Clocks” was the subject of his illustrated talk. The concept now called the Circadian Rhythm was first observed by a French Astronomer Jean-Jacque d’Ortous de Mairan in 1729 when studying the Mimosa pudica, a light sensitive plant which opened its leaves at dawn and closed them at dusk on a 24 hour cycle. This phenomenon continued when no light was provided but still continued in permanent darkness in time with daily rotation of the earth. Our speaker also studied a single cell green algae in the river Avon in Bristol which also had a regular daily life cycle but controlled by the tide. When a specimen was taken to the lab in non-tidal location, the cycle of photosynthesis on rising tide and dropping into the mud at low tide also continued for several days. The Human Circadian Rhythm was demonstrated bases on ‘average’ data but there was also a clear pattern that people fall into two main categories, early risers and best in the mornings or late to bed afternoon performers. The ways people respond to ‘jet-lag’ or shift workers and Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD) suffers were other examples consequent upon the interruption or interference of the circadian rhythm.
Until quite recently (2017) why/how these biological clocks worked from the simplest of organisms to the most complex remained a bit if a mystery. A particularly instance was how Arctic Terns managed to migrate between the N/S poles and vice versa at regular times every year. A team of scientists were rewarded with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research of molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms. Our speaker enthralled the meeting with nature’s amazing ‘ESP’ feats and some of the discoveries of ‘how they do it’.
An appreciative vote of thanks was given by past Chairman members Bruce Watt.

Posted by Rick Purnell Press Officer

Picture L-R: Member Ian Dodds, Press Oficer Rick Purnell, Guest Speaker Dr. Roger Avery, Speaker Finder Chris Inch & Past Chairman David Jeffery
AND
The Human Circadian Rhythm

27/04/2026

April Meetings: The Admirals of Nelson from Bishopsteignton &
Cybercrime
Bishopsteignton’s history has close links to the Napoleonic wars as told by the Heritage Centre volunteer, Jenny Ridd to Teignmouth Mens Probus club’s April meeting. The story was about Four Admirals who fought with Nelson who upon retirement, had earned enough prize money to build grand houses along Forder Lane, forming the westward expansion of the village. They fought in the American and French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars from 1793 – 1815, keeping our shores safe from invasion.
Admirals Sir Edward Thornborough, Conrnelius Quinton and Samual Granston Goodall are buried in St John’s churchyard and Admiral James Noble is in Kensal Green Cemetery. Jenny is writing booklets about each Admiral available to read at Bishop’s Community Centre Hub.
Our second meeting was a complete contrasting topic presented by Devon & Cornwall’s Cyber Protection Officer, Mick Harrison updating us with present trends of in on-line criminal activity attempting to con us into parting with our hard earned cash and trying to clone our identity for criminal purposes in our name.
We were all encouraged to ‘stay safe’ being vigilant and questioning unexpected approaches.
Safeguarding, easily remembered slogans ensued: A B C – NEVER Assume: NEVER Believe: NEVER Confirm: ‘Out of the blue, not for you’ (including voice, never confirm anything). ‘Live’ video’s were viewed of street interviews where questioned ‘suspects’ easily gave up passwords of use to cyber criminals. With passwords: ‘Longer is stronger’. The hardest to crack is using 3 random words of 12 characters or more, or with password changes to substitute a letter for a symbol - £ or % etc. , Use of AI was particularly concerning with simple ones cracked in seconds). Keep email & banking access unique for each, Other tips included: use 2 step verification, always keep device operation systems supported and up to date, Keep anti-virus software activated, externally, back-up your data/files frequently, If suspect, call back on a known trusted number, Criminals are putting workforces into call centres – be very very cautious indeed, Voice theft is rife, Only criminals ask for passwords, Never use debit cards online, particularly if invited to do so. Better protection with a Credit Card as clearance takes longer and more chance of banks being able to stop fraudulent payments. We were encouraged to report fraud or suspected scams, phishing, smishing and criminal activity – ‘phone to 0300 123 2040 or on a second phone to ‘159’, Texts to 7726. ‘phone numbers displays can be spoofed and most scams emanate from Countries we have no judicial relations, ‘closed’ places like Russia, North Korea and the like. Beware, Artificial Intelligence is becoming a nightmare.
A grateful vote of thanks was given by Secretary John Polley.

Posted by Rick Purnell Press Officer

Photo L-R; John Polley (Secretary) with Mick Harrison (Speaker from Devon & Cornwall Police)

Teignmouth Probus

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

12/07/2026

29/06/2026

01/06/2026

11/05/2026

27/04/2026

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