2021/2022 ANNALS OF THE PROBUS CLUB OF LUDLOW
5th October 2021 Mary’s Warning
Colin Kelsey
Colin opened appropriately with a portrait Of Mary Shelley, an English novelist born in 1797. Her farther William Godwin was a political philosopher who raised Mary, whose mother had died soon after her birth. The early 1800’s in Britain saw not only the advance of the industrial revolution but also scientific development which would change people’s lives. In 1802 Humphrey Davy began a series of evening lectures at the Royal Institute on chemistry which led to widespread discussions in London’s middle classes. Davy not only invented the Miners Safety Lamp which saved thousands of lives, but also in his research questioned whether science could give life to inanimate objects. In 1814 Percy Bysshe Shelley, a follower of Mary’s father eloped with her: they travelled through Europe and finally married in late 1816. Earlier in that year the couple spent the summer near Geneva with Lord Bryon and other ‘oddballs’. During this time Mary conceived the idea for her novel ‘Frankenstein’, an early example of science fiction which addresses what it means to be human. Mary’s first child Clara had died four days after he premature birth and Mary was ‘clinically depressed’ (Colin’s words) as she started writing Frankenstein which reflected the contemporary interest in dissection and reviving the dead. Premature burial also became an issue – Edgar Allan Poe wrote a story on the subject. Sometimes bodies waited until decomposition set in before burial. Coffins with alarms and safety features were produced. Mary Shelley was greatly influenced by popular scientific theory, in particular galvanism, defined as the muscle contractions resulting from the application of electrical current to the tissues of an organism. Shelly believed it possible to reanimate dead organisms through using electricity and included galvanism in Frankenstein as the mode by which the creature is reanimated. In 1803 the Italian philosopher Giovani Aldini carried out experiments at the Royal College of Surgeons on a young man hanged for murder using electricity to produce movement to several parts of the body, Shelley’s tale leads to a consideration of how far we should go with rebuilding people in a world where many transplants are already in everyday use. A defibulator can resuscitate a person, Deep brain stimulation is a technique now practised, Better known is ‘in vitro fertilisation’. Colin’s work has acquainted him with many new developments, but he remains keenly aware of ethical considerations. We can remind ourselves that Frankenstein ended up with the creature killing all his loved ones. Colin’s riveting talk included some notable illustrations, some from long ago. Once again we were both informed and entertained and showed our appreciation in the usual way.
By Michael Haines
Colin Kelsey
Colin opened appropriately with a portrait Of Mary Shelley, an English novelist born in 1797. Her farther William Godwin was a political philosopher who raised Mary, whose mother had died soon after her birth. The early 1800’s in Britain saw not only the advance of the industrial revolution but also scientific development which would change people’s lives. In 1802 Humphrey Davy began a series of evening lectures at the Royal Institute on chemistry which led to widespread discussions in London’s middle classes. Davy not only invented the Miners Safety Lamp which saved thousands of lives, but also in his research questioned whether science could give life to inanimate objects. In 1814 Percy Bysshe Shelley, a follower of Mary’s father eloped with her: they travelled through Europe and finally married in late 1816. Earlier in that year the couple spent the summer near Geneva with Lord Bryon and other ‘oddballs’. During this time Mary conceived the idea for her novel ‘Frankenstein’, an early example of science fiction which addresses what it means to be human. Mary’s first child Clara had died four days after he premature birth and Mary was ‘clinically depressed’ (Colin’s words) as she started writing Frankenstein which reflected the contemporary interest in dissection and reviving the dead. Premature burial also became an issue – Edgar Allan Poe wrote a story on the subject. Sometimes bodies waited until decomposition set in before burial. Coffins with alarms and safety features were produced. Mary Shelley was greatly influenced by popular scientific theory, in particular galvanism, defined as the muscle contractions resulting from the application of electrical current to the tissues of an organism. Shelly believed it possible to reanimate dead organisms through using electricity and included galvanism in Frankenstein as the mode by which the creature is reanimated. In 1803 the Italian philosopher Giovani Aldini carried out experiments at the Royal College of Surgeons on a young man hanged for murder using electricity to produce movement to several parts of the body, Shelley’s tale leads to a consideration of how far we should go with rebuilding people in a world where many transplants are already in everyday use. A defibulator can resuscitate a person, Deep brain stimulation is a technique now practised, Better known is ‘in vitro fertilisation’. Colin’s work has acquainted him with many new developments, but he remains keenly aware of ethical considerations. We can remind ourselves that Frankenstein ended up with the creature killing all his loved ones. Colin’s riveting talk included some notable illustrations, some from long ago. Once again we were both informed and entertained and showed our appreciation in the usual way.
By Michael Haines
19 October 2021 Alas poor ghost – spooky tales
Peter Hayter
Forgive me dear reader - for I am not a cricket aficionado - but I trust you may overlook possible omissions or inaccuracies you may see in my report below. I cannot hope here to reproduce all the remarkable facts and figures at Peter’s fingertips, or his attention to detail, and total recall of events and dates. His deeply insightful knowledge of all things cricket – both on, and off the pitch! – provided us with a wonderful morning’s entertainment.Peter started by telling us the ‘ghost’ in his talk was indeed himself - he was a ‘ghost writer’ for many a famous contemporary British cricketer you might care to name, with few notable exceptions. Peter was following in the footsteps of his father - who wrote in similar vein for well-known sports persons. Peter’s first ‘story’ appeared in 1989 in The Mail on Sunday, and he became a prolific ‘ghost’ book writer for cricketing celebrities ever since. He travelled all over the globe covering matches, reporting on and talking with the cricketers themselves. His immediate access to them, including outside the games themselves, provided not only articles for the newspapers but also great content for his books, a selection of which were available to buy at our Probus meeting. By gaining the confidence of the players themselves he established a valuable two-way ‘dialogue’, which in one instance later proved to be ground-breaking. Off-the-pitch interaction also proved as fertile a ground as the game itself, so that Peter gained valuable insights into the mindsets of many a sportsperson. Peter reckoned that in his ‘ghostly’ sporting career ‘he’ thus had scored more than 57,400 Test runs, won countless trophies, plus secured numerous other world cricketing title accolades! Ian Botham (‘Beefy’) never had recollection of past events - so was of no assistance to or writer ‘for the record’! Present on one occasion to report on a Test match taking place on a different island in the Caribbean, Peter recalled that Ian detained him whilst plying him with drink after drink, to the extent that Peter’s essential plane took off without him aboard! The Mail on Sunday insisted on a ‘story’ out of this failure, to make up for his non-coverage of the Test match! Despite ‘Beefy’s’ inability to remember past events Peter managed to obtain sufficient material to complete a full book – including how a colleague imagined ‘Beefy’ could become a new sex symbol! Beefy loved - and lived - the high life, but following a chance visit to a children’s ward in a Somerset hospital, he turned his attention to long charity walks to raise millions for leukaemia sufferers, and walking the full distances personally, often enduring great pain and being treated for foot injuries en route.
Phil Tufnell was a sympathetic character to deal with in Peter’s book, although Peter emphasized that Phil was a totally undisciplined person, due to events in his life contributing to his chaotic lifestyle. Peter supplied an anecdote about a high speed car chase escapade, involving Phil trying to evade the law in the east end of London. It ended with our cricketer hero being arrested, but released the following morning – by his own wife’s father! (Who just happened to be the officer-in-charge!) Phil had also behaved extremely badly in a foreign hotel, and where Peter had had to come to the rescue to avoid his friend being thrown out.Peter’s good relationships with his sports friends came to the fore when he wrote a book together with Marcus Trescothick about mental health problems which the latter was experiencing. This was more or less the first time such issues had been addressed in a book concerning a famous sports person. The book won an award in 2008.Peter also talked about the sheer volume of his writing, often compressed into just a few continuous hours with no overnight sleep, in order to meet deadlines. There were lots more amusing and entertaining anecdotes in this virtually non-stop chat that was never dull for a single moment. Peter is also a thespian, so we are advised to keep a look-out for him in different guise when appearing locally! Clearly a man with many talents.
Paul Hayward
Peter Hayter
Forgive me dear reader - for I am not a cricket aficionado - but I trust you may overlook possible omissions or inaccuracies you may see in my report below. I cannot hope here to reproduce all the remarkable facts and figures at Peter’s fingertips, or his attention to detail, and total recall of events and dates. His deeply insightful knowledge of all things cricket – both on, and off the pitch! – provided us with a wonderful morning’s entertainment.Peter started by telling us the ‘ghost’ in his talk was indeed himself - he was a ‘ghost writer’ for many a famous contemporary British cricketer you might care to name, with few notable exceptions. Peter was following in the footsteps of his father - who wrote in similar vein for well-known sports persons. Peter’s first ‘story’ appeared in 1989 in The Mail on Sunday, and he became a prolific ‘ghost’ book writer for cricketing celebrities ever since. He travelled all over the globe covering matches, reporting on and talking with the cricketers themselves. His immediate access to them, including outside the games themselves, provided not only articles for the newspapers but also great content for his books, a selection of which were available to buy at our Probus meeting. By gaining the confidence of the players themselves he established a valuable two-way ‘dialogue’, which in one instance later proved to be ground-breaking. Off-the-pitch interaction also proved as fertile a ground as the game itself, so that Peter gained valuable insights into the mindsets of many a sportsperson. Peter reckoned that in his ‘ghostly’ sporting career ‘he’ thus had scored more than 57,400 Test runs, won countless trophies, plus secured numerous other world cricketing title accolades! Ian Botham (‘Beefy’) never had recollection of past events - so was of no assistance to or writer ‘for the record’! Present on one occasion to report on a Test match taking place on a different island in the Caribbean, Peter recalled that Ian detained him whilst plying him with drink after drink, to the extent that Peter’s essential plane took off without him aboard! The Mail on Sunday insisted on a ‘story’ out of this failure, to make up for his non-coverage of the Test match! Despite ‘Beefy’s’ inability to remember past events Peter managed to obtain sufficient material to complete a full book – including how a colleague imagined ‘Beefy’ could become a new sex symbol! Beefy loved - and lived - the high life, but following a chance visit to a children’s ward in a Somerset hospital, he turned his attention to long charity walks to raise millions for leukaemia sufferers, and walking the full distances personally, often enduring great pain and being treated for foot injuries en route.
Phil Tufnell was a sympathetic character to deal with in Peter’s book, although Peter emphasized that Phil was a totally undisciplined person, due to events in his life contributing to his chaotic lifestyle. Peter supplied an anecdote about a high speed car chase escapade, involving Phil trying to evade the law in the east end of London. It ended with our cricketer hero being arrested, but released the following morning – by his own wife’s father! (Who just happened to be the officer-in-charge!) Phil had also behaved extremely badly in a foreign hotel, and where Peter had had to come to the rescue to avoid his friend being thrown out.Peter’s good relationships with his sports friends came to the fore when he wrote a book together with Marcus Trescothick about mental health problems which the latter was experiencing. This was more or less the first time such issues had been addressed in a book concerning a famous sports person. The book won an award in 2008.Peter also talked about the sheer volume of his writing, often compressed into just a few continuous hours with no overnight sleep, in order to meet deadlines. There were lots more amusing and entertaining anecdotes in this virtually non-stop chat that was never dull for a single moment. Peter is also a thespian, so we are advised to keep a look-out for him in different guise when appearing locally! Clearly a man with many talents.
Paul Hayward
2nd November 2021 The Burning Question
The Internal Combustion engine and air pollution
Tony Martyr
48 years of Tony’s 55-year career in engineering were directly involved in the testing of internal and external combustion engines and since 1980 his work was almost exclusively involved with vehicular emissions and the design and construction of a test plant to monitor them.
Carbon Dioxide and various Nitrous Oxides are two of the worse gaseous pollutants arising from fuels such as hydrocarbons, octane, methanol, petrol, kerosene, lubricating oils and marine ‘residual’ fuels. Lead as a fuel additive was particularly bad and affected children’s IQs until it was eliminated.
It is now possible to measure every type of pollutants emitted by a vehicle in a machine abbreviated to SHED – Sealed Housing for Evaporative Determination.
Particulates are caused by combustion and by abrasion emanating from brakes, tyres and road surfaces. They can be extremely small – much smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Tony demonstrated a meter for measuring these particulates.
Since the industrial revolution we have been poisoning the air we breathe. After the London smog of 1952 the situation was improved by the Clean Air of 1956 and 1968. There were similar pollution problems in Los Angeles which triggered the UN into action in 1968 leading to a world agreement and legislation in 2020.
The gaseous and particulate emissions from internal combustion engines (ICEs) remain a problem. Tony explained that most vehicular pollutants occur due to transient states such as cold starts, intermittent journeys and starting and stopping. Airplanes cause most pollution when on the ground while ships do so when leaving port. Cruise ships are some of the worst offenders. Tony particularly berated cruise ship as very bad offenders.
Tony is the author of the standard work about engine testing which is now in its 5th edition, available from amazon at £74.85. He is expecting to sell many copies!
We now drive vehicles with computer-controlled fuel injection from which the accelerator pedal is completely mechanically disconnected - few of us can identify many of the components now installed under the bonnet.
Bernard North
30th November2021 CLIMATE CHANGE. WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE ?
Frank Baker, Chairman
Fank began by defining its scientific meaning.
Climate Change is the outcome of temperature changes over a very long period of time caused by a number of factors. Five Ice Ages have occurred, and we are still in the Cenozioc Ice Age which started 2.8 million years ago.
The Sun heats the Earth but due to the Earths’ Orbital Variations the Seasons change from hot/warm to cold/freezing so the climate changes according to geographical locations. Our planetary system also influences our climate as do variations in the Earth’s atmosphere, asteroids and comets. Movements of the oceans’ currents results in transfer of water at varying temperatures thereby affecting the climate. The movement of the surface of the Earth during millions of years of tectonic plate activity has caused climate changes especially the outpourings from volcanic activity.
Since their appearance many thousands of years ago, human activities have had a major impact on climate change. Analysing sediment cores from Antarctica for carbon dioxide and methane, scientists have revealed huge increases in both of those elements in the atmosphere. In particular, a huge spike in the Earth’s temperature is evident from 1950, resulting over the past 71 years in a large shrinkage of the Greenland Ice Cap and the opening of the North-West Passage from Russia to China.
Frank then posed the question, what can be done? The clear answer is to stop burning so much fossil fuel. Governments worldwide have been slow to react but are now taking steps to address this challenge. Frank gave examples of the pioneering work being done; The Terraton Initiative to encourage regenerative farming. Desertec, an international solar grid system which failed due to political intractability. Renewables such as solar, wind tides and battery improvements are underway.
Illustrations were shown of aircraft experiments using battery/electric engines. Alternatively fuelled cars are now available. Ships powered by solar-sourced electric engines and metal sails and hydrogen fuel cell; the hydrogen obtained by electrolysis of sea water. Hydrogen produced from ‘green’ electricity to provide a clean power for engines is advancing.
Despite all these, the main energy sources worldwide are oil, (33%), coal, (27%) and gas (24%). Renewables are providing less than 15% but the UK is doing better than most.
Members were very eager to ask questions and raise issues of importance and share their in-depth knowledge of this subject. Much of pertinence and interest was raised providing food for thought for us all.
.
Martin Thomas
14th December 2021 Gerry’s Magic
Gerry Walker a magician from Abergavenny treated 20 members and their guests to a morning of light-hearted banter of his journey from schoolteacher in the daytime who did magic tricks in the evenings to making it a full-time career.
Whilst doing the ‘magic’ he explained the history of magic interspersed with amusing anecdotes of the places and people with whom he had worked from the working men’s clubs in the valleys to performing with Ken Dodd
All in all a very pleasant and amusing experience with which to start the festive season
Clayton Lee
2022
25th January 2022 Britain’s Agriculture and food supply after Brexit
Nicolas Tilt
Nick opened his talk with a short account of his earlier years. His father Bob took on a three-generation tenancy of High Meadow Farm near Ludlow in 1969 where Nick was born three years later. At that point the farm was a traditional mixed farm, with a dairy herd, poultry and arable production. Changes were already in the offing.
Nick Studied agricultural practices and management at Harper Adams College (now University), following which he worked for 15 years for the Coop on their different types of farms, this was a time when they owned more than 20 farms. He then worked full time running an employment agency in Leominster whilst helping on the family farm as time allowed.
Gradually the time approached when Bob was able to hand over the running of High Meadow Farm and he had to carefully consider his prospects as a tenant farmer, on a different plane from an owner occupier.
His main ambition around 2015 was to purchase arable land which could produce a variety of crops. By now farming had changed widely and Nick quickly adapted to accepting and not fearing the notion of change.an initial purchase of 165 acers was followed by more and today all the work on the arable fields of High Meadow Farm is carried out by contractors, with virtually no costly equipment owned on the farm. The dairy side went long ago, but in 2015 a modern egg producing unit was built and large-scale production commenced to supply supermarkets, including Waitrose. Some 32,000 hens each laying on average 61/2 eggs weekly.
Yet Nick retains his liking for traditional aspects of farming. His brother-in-law has a dairy farm near Shrewsbury and his heifers come to High Meadow to enjoy grazing the land until their first calves are due.
There is clearly some uncertainty about how the government see’s farming in the future, although one certainty is the end of EU style payments in 2027. Environmental schemes are becoming more widespread, re wilding of the countryside and the demand for crops to produce energy are popular in some areas. Should the UK produce more food or rely on cheap imports from distant sources? Brexit has certainly resulted in fewer fruit crops being harvested. Nick is clearly justified in believing that further change is inevitable and that farmers must not fear new practices.
He also thought that food production in the future should be carried out close to the point of sale in warehouse type ‘farms’ where food could be grown vertically in sort of ‘hanging gardens’
As a nice parting comment, he expressed the view that Jeremy Clarkson has done more recently for farming than Country File.
Michael Haines
25th January 2022 Britain’s Agriculture and food supply after Brexit
Nicolas Tilt
Nick opened his talk with a short account of his earlier years. His father Bob took on a three-generation tenancy of High Meadow Farm near Ludlow in 1969 where Nick was born three years later. At that point the farm was a traditional mixed farm, with a dairy herd, poultry and arable production. Changes were already in the offing.
Nick Studied agricultural practices and management at Harper Adams College (now University), following which he worked for 15 years for the Coop on their different types of farms, this was a time when they owned more than 20 farms. He then worked full time running an employment agency in Leominster whilst helping on the family farm as time allowed.
Gradually the time approached when Bob was able to hand over the running of High Meadow Farm and he had to carefully consider his prospects as a tenant farmer, on a different plane from an owner occupier.
His main ambition around 2015 was to purchase arable land which could produce a variety of crops. By now farming had changed widely and Nick quickly adapted to accepting and not fearing the notion of change.an initial purchase of 165 acers was followed by more and today all the work on the arable fields of High Meadow Farm is carried out by contractors, with virtually no costly equipment owned on the farm. The dairy side went long ago, but in 2015 a modern egg producing unit was built and large-scale production commenced to supply supermarkets, including Waitrose. Some 32,000 hens each laying on average 61/2 eggs weekly.
Yet Nick retains his liking for traditional aspects of farming. His brother-in-law has a dairy farm near Shrewsbury and his heifers come to High Meadow to enjoy grazing the land until their first calves are due.
There is clearly some uncertainty about how the government see’s farming in the future, although one certainty is the end of EU style payments in 2027. Environmental schemes are becoming more widespread, re wilding of the countryside and the demand for crops to produce energy are popular in some areas. Should the UK produce more food or rely on cheap imports from distant sources? Brexit has certainly resulted in fewer fruit crops being harvested. Nick is clearly justified in believing that further change is inevitable and that farmers must not fear new practices.
He also thought that food production in the future should be carried out close to the point of sale in warehouse type ‘farms’ where food could be grown vertically in sort of ‘hanging gardens’
As a nice parting comment, he expressed the view that Jeremy Clarkson has done more recently for farming than Country File.
Michael Haines
8th February 2022 CANUK
David Trotter
David recounted that the part of his life spent as a navigator with the RAF spanned 20 years. Six years were spent away from the RAF; 3 of them with the Fleet Air Arm, and the other three (from 1971 – 1973) were spent in Canada - the subject of his talk today, and outlined below.
David explained he’d been selected for an ‘exchange’ posting, based at Chicoutimi and also Chatham in the eastern seaboard province of New Brunswick. He showed us an exhilarating close-up video of a McDonnell Douglas CF101 ‘Voodoo’ jet fighter taking off, filmed from one of the other aircraft performing in this exercise, out of the 18-strong jet squadron. The thrilling film took us all on a short low-level flight over endless Canadian forest, before coming into land again. David showed us the navigator’s seat behind the pilot’s seat, together with the multitude of what he described as ‘rudimentary’ navigational instruments used by ‘The Guy in the Back’(!) and current at the time. He also outlined the “tasks” of the day which because this was during the period of the ‘Cold War’, included patrols at the edge of the Arctic Circle as part of the DEW system (Distant Early Warning) within the NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) organisation. At this time the Russians were regularly flying various bombers near the region – including the well-known huge 4-engined ‘Bear’ bomber - to test reflexes and posing a potential threat to Western airspace.
David showed us a youthful photo of himself (with identifier name badge on his uniform!) smiling proudly with a colleague outside the cockpit of a Voodoo jet. Various types of weaponry were carried both onboard, and outboard the plane, including infra-red air-to-air missiles. David explained that there was little actual voice control with the ground, and that communications were mainly made via a ‘Datalink’ system.
His posting to Canada was an accompanied one, and so he and his wife took the opportunity to see as much as possible of their surroundings by driving a 6-litre Chrysler car and tent trailer around the Maritimes and New England.
David briefly explained the federal nature of Canadian government – the provinces holding considerable powers. Quebec is a very ‘French’ province, where English is a second language. The Canadian maple leaf flag was introduced in 1965, replacing the former flag which incorporated a small Union Jack. One of David’s two sons – both born in Canada - lives permanently in Toronto with his wife and has dual UK/Canada citizenship - but is essentially now Canadian!
David went on to further give us a brief history of 416 (AWF) Squadron, formed by the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) in 1941 with crews coming directly from Canada and flying Spitfires from Peterhead in Scotland. After WW2 service, the Spitfires were disbanded in Germany in 1946 but the squadron was subsequently reformed/re-equipped with F86 Sabre jet fighters, the first jets to be used in actual warfare (the Korean War). Between 1957 -61 the Avro Canada twin jet CF100 ‘Canuck’ was employed (interestingly an example of this aircraft can be seen at the RAF Cosford Museum.) Finally, David showed us a sobering picture of the Canadian-manufactured version of our own TSR2 - the Avro Canada Arrow which was also cancelled.
A most engaging and insightful talk for everyone, and clearly all those present thoroughly enjoyed the experience presented by David.
Paul Hayward
22nd February 2022 PRS/TWA
Paul Hayward
After the Second World War Paul’s father worked for the NAAFI which was founded in 1920. In 2021 a memorial was erected at the National Arboretum to commemorate their personnel who died in their service.
Paul’s father was first posted to Hamburg in Germany with his family, Paul being only four years old. He received his education in Germay in schools specifically provided for the education of service and civil service personnel. He became proficient in speaking that language.
As an interesting diversion Paul showed videos of two model airliners, a Lufthansa A380 and Concorde taking off, together with the accompanying deafening sound. These are just part of a modal of the entire Hamburg Airport.
He gave a detailed account of his experiences and exploits as a pupil at the Prince Rupert School (PRS) situated in the naval port of Wilhelmshaven which, during the war, was a base for the German U-boats. Prince Rupert was a German-English royalist in the English Civil War and who was buried in Westminster Abbey in 1682. Prince Rupert’s name was chosen for the school as representing a new beginning after the war and as an act of reconciliation. The Prince Rupert hotel in the heart of Shrewsbury is named after him.
Paul lived in a town called Jever about twelve miles from the school and travelled each day to and from on an RAF bus. He gave details of the many buildings which formed the school, all sited near the harbour. He told us about many aspects of his time at the school including details of the pupils building a swimming pool for themselves which did not last long. The school no longer exists and most of the buildings have been demolished. Paul completed hie secondary education back in England.
Although the school has gone Paul still attends The Wilhelmshaven Association (TWA) where ex-pupils and staff still meet periodically and produce a regular magazine.
Bernard North
8th March 2022 Life & Death of Coal – A personal Voyage
Kit Smith
Due to Covid the family had not met for two years but at Christmas 2021 Kit was to welcome them into his Georgian home. His granddaughters saw the cellar where coal used to be stored. They had no knowledge of coal. Therefore, no idea that it was used for heating and cooking for 300 years, so he decided to study the period.
Coal production increased dramatically with industrial revolution, circa 1800, to a peak around 1900, followed by a steady decline.
In 1919, 1.9 million people were employed in mining by 2019 this had reduced to 699
Children worked in the mines pulling trucks of coal often on their hands and knees.
In 1842 labour reforms were introduced, e.g. no females were allowed underground.
Many major accidents and disasters occurred, in 1870 1000 miners died.
Ailments were black lung, back injuries, hearing and eyesight problems.
In 2010 about 2500 miners died from other causes.
A gas explosion at a pit in Glamorgan in 1913 killed 39 men and boys.
Aberfan 1966 the school was buried by a landside killing 116 children and 28 adults. Introduction of the Davy Safety Lamp helped to prevent gas explosions.
Smog’s of the 1950’s led to the use of smokeless fuels.
World War Two saw 20,000 boys conscripted to work in the mines known as
‘Bevin Boys’.
Some former pits have been designated as sights of historical interest, slag heaps cleared and turned into recreation areas.
Graham Till
22nd March 2022 Charles Waterton (1782 – 1865)
Bernard North
Charles Waterton, now largely forgotten but famous in his time, was an explorer, naturalist, skilled taxidermist, pioneer advocate of using the drug curare in medicine, accomplished climber, steeplejack and above all, eccentric. He was described by Charles Darwin as “the strangest mixture of extreme kindness, harshness and bigotry that I ever saw”.
His education at Stoneyhurst College gave him a good knowledge of literature and he also did the then obligatory Grand Tour of Europe, but his main interest was Natural History.
In addition to the family estate, Walton Hall, near Wakefield, they owned a coffee plantation in what is now Guyana, South America. Charles administered this for 12 years. He made a few trips home during this time, but he also had four exploratory journeys in South America, centred on his base in Demerara, Guyana. These trips were also used to collect specimens of the local flora and fauna, including Anaconda Cayman which he killed and stuffed himself. His collection is still largely in Wakefield Museum in extremely good condition due to his skill in taxidermy.
Unmarried until he was 41, he lost his wife 12 moths later. Thereafter he lived a spartan existence in penance. He died at 83 after philanthropically disposing of most of his fortune.
Jim Oakley
5th April West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
Tracy Onslow
As the old saying goes, you wait ages for a bus and then two come along at once. We were very lucky and grateful that Tracy Unslow, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia brought along 5 of her team to talk to us about their work at the PCC.
She outlined the four main areas of service to the community “Putting victims and survivors first”, “Building a more secure West Mercia”, “Reassuring West Mercia’s communities” and “Reforming West Mercia”. It would certainly appear that the service is streamlined, relevant, responsive and efficient with a tight budget. As they spoke to us, we soon realised that their work was very much hands on, appropriate and practical, responding to community needs and being a much-needed link to the Police. Among their specialist services to the community are prevention of Cyber-crime, Domestic Violence, Rural crime and representing rural interests, Transport issues and Robbery and Burglary. There was much interest at the meeting in beating the burglar (Don’t Buy into Crime) by marking individual personal possessions using Smart Water technology to get stolen valuable possessions back. Many members of Probus signed up to Smart Water – judged a smart thing to do.
Kit Smith
19th April 2022 Spring Lunch
Due to the pandemic, we have not been able to hold our spring lunch since 2019. It was therefore a pleasure to sit down with 36 members and their guests’ in the Prince Charles Suite at the Feathers Hotel for a convivial meal
Clayton Lee
5th May 2022 There is more to the honeybee than the sting in its tail
Hamish Barber
Pollination is vital for honeybees and plants to develop so plants have developed strategies to attract bees to propagate and give off nectar at different times of the year. Bees send scouts out to find nectar, share the sources with others by a complex communication system using the Sun, body movement and memorise it for future use. Gardens in Towns and railway sidings are good sources of nectar. The nectar is placed in the centre of the comb By the end of May a bee colony should number 30 – 35,000.
There are 3 castes in a colony. Workers, (female), rule the colony and are largest in number. Drones, (male), number 5 – 600 are for breeding. A Queen who can live for 5 years, for mating and laying a constant flow of about 1 – 2000 eggs a day. They mate on the wing with between 8 to 14 Drones to mix the genes. After mating, Drones die on the wing to ensure good hygiene inside the colony.
Drone fertility is diminishing, and Queens are not lasting for more than a year. A major threat is the Asian Hornet, a vicious species that eats anything, so every effort is being made to stop its spread. Self-pollinating plants such as rape are increasing.
On view were the tools and equipment required and a live hive.
A fascinating Talk much enjoyed by all present which raised much discussion too.
Martin Thomas
17th May 2022 Snailbeach Lead Mine Trust
Andrew Wood
Andrew gave a brief review of the complex geology explaining why the seams of the lead mines slope downwards around 70 degrees as opposed to the horizontal coal seams.
Snailbeach had been mined for lead since Roman times and in its heyday in the middle of the 19th century it was the largest producer of lead in Europe. It has over 12 miles of underground workings most of which have are now flooded.
Visitors can go with a guide into some of the higher-level workings.
He explained the very hard-working conditions and that every ton of lead taken had been mined by candlelight.
A fatal accident in 1895 led to a new rule for operating deep mine winding gear to be introduced nationwide. The enquiry into the accident that killed 7 men found the winding rope had broken because at the end of each day the cage was parked in the same position exposing the same section of rope to the elements which led to corrosion and failure
Due to the failing price of lead in the 20th century they mined Barytes in the upper flooded levels.
Barytes is the source of heavy ‘drilling mud’ required by the oil exploration industry and for barium used in the medical and paper industries.
The mine finally closed in 1955.
The trust also looks after the Tankerville Mine south of Snailbeach. Miner’s cottages are dotted around the area and an interesting feature of the area is the number of holly and laburnum trees in some locations; the former were for winter livestock feed but one theory about the later was that the miners would chew the (mildly poisonous) laburnum seeds on the way to work and spit them out, thus producing a colourful hedge – a habit not now recommended.
Tony Martyr
May 31st 2022 My Life in two halves
Eric Linton
Eric described a series of events, unrecognised at the time, which had influenced his career
Performing in a primary school play he realised his ability to make people laugh. Indeed his talk was peppered with amusing anecdotes which brought many laughs.
For passing his 11+ he was given a model yacht. Through experimentation he learned how to make it go exactly where he wanted on the boating lake whereas his friends’ yachts got stuck in the middle! Thus began a lifelong interest in sailing.
Being wartime most male family members were away from home leaving Eric surrounded by a coterie of aunts and female cousins, one of whom realised he needed male role models and took Eric to the local rifle club where he became a notable shot.
This served him well when he was attached to the Rifle Brigade and Grenadier Guards during his National Service, helping overcome the “class snobbery” and develop his skills in communicating with people from a wide diversity of backgrounds.
After demobilisation and 2 years at College in York he taught at a number of schools in Yorkshire and became a qualified sailing coach.
His desire to improve the relevance and enjoyment of education for children reached its zenith in his last move to Cheshire where he created outdoor education centres. Based at Tatton Park, sailing was prominent in the courses he ran. He loved resolving the challenges thrown up by the job and promoted cooperation and imagination to ensure children got the most out of their visits.
His knowledge of Tatton and his many skills soon turned him into Mr Fixit, not only for the education centre but for the film companies using Tatton as a film set. His abiding memory is of a tactile meeting with the film star Claire Bloom (be still Eric’s beating heart). In summary, a lovely life and an enjoyable career.
Mike Read
14th June 2022 South Shropshire Climate Action Group
Jane Cullen & Professor John Whitelegg
Jane SCAA Chairperson explained the group’s activities and introduced Professor Whitelegg: Shropshire is high on the list with 37% of CO2 emissions from transport. We need to improve this to improve public health, the economy, bio-diversity and environmental damage such as flooding.
An example from Sweden was given where rural communities have an hourly ‘bus service from 6.30am to 11.30pm every day which has improved the rural economy. Cheap, co-ordinated and reliable public transport is widespread in many European countries.
Herefordshire undertook a County consultation asking the public for their views from which they produced an Action Plan and are implementing it already. Shropshire should ask the people too.
SCAA has produced a Report which recommends the ’15 Next Steps’ to achieve net zero status by 2030 in The Ludlow Constituency. The Group members are all volunteers who since their formation in 2019 have conducted research across 4 themes, Land, Biodiversity, Transport, Energy and Buildings. Two leaflets are available to explain more.
Support is required from Councillors, businesses, schools and involve all residents to achieve the ‘Next Steps.’ £71 million to be spent on a Relief Road for Shrewsbury could be better spent Countywide. The excuse that it is too costly does not consider the cost of NOT doing it.
The Vote of Thanks was succinct, Thank you for a most enlightening talk and thank you from our grand-children for what you are doing.
The website for more information is www.southshropshireclimateaction.co.uk
Martin Thomas
28th June 2022 Under Water – a World Apart
Barry Archer
Barry’s talk was unusual in one aspect, namely that almost no member present had experience of deep-sea diving. With no technical qualifications, but the experience of more than 500 dives in a wide variety of countries. He began by showing a picture of three different areas: rolling grass land, snowy mountains and a vast ocean. All are essentially deserts. Over many years a range of materials has been deposited under water, some accidently, some intentionally e.g. construction.
Barry then went on to explain the importance and richness of the world’s coral reefs. They contain animal life which is secured to the sea floor. The relationship between species includes predication, i.e one plant eats another, mutualism, i.e both species benefit from each other: commensalism when one species benefits but the other is not harmed. Many animals live on the coral, some with effective camouflage.
Next, we learned the main ways of taking up diving. Joining a club based in UK waters, Poole is the straightforward. Going to a resort abroad such as the Red Sea with an organised group is also feasible. Living on a boat designed for diving for a week or more would be the most rewarding but lso the most tiring diving several dives each day.
Barry next explained how breathing apparatus and how pressures have to be equalized under water. The advent of a diving computer on the wrist which shows all the details of the diving apparatus throughout the duration of the time under water is a huge modern benefit. For ordinary divers 30 metres would be about the limit of the depth.
There were as usual several questions at the end of the talk particularly about pollution such s micro-plastics and the limits of breathing time under water. I think we came away with a health regard for Barry’s skills in such a demanding activity.
Michael Haines
26th July 2022 Hydrogen – Fuel for the Future
Jim Halcro- Johnston
Jim an Orcadian and Probus member explained how Orkney has become a ‘test bed area’ for the development of systems based on hydrogen as a energy source. It has a calorific value 2 or 3 times that of natural gas of equivalent weight which means that the hydrogen must be delivered under pressure.
Therefore, there are concerns on its storage and delivery. Use of hydrogen seems to be essential to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. But hydrogen must be manufactured.
Government strategy 2020:
Published a plan working with industry to generate 5 gw of low carbon hydrogen production capacity for all transport etc and eventually to a hydrogen town.
Paper 2 (2021) suggested a manufacture of hydrogen by SMR (proven Method|) with CUUS (non-Proven) termed ‘blue hydrogen or by electrolysis of water producing green hydrogen on a large scale (non-Proven)
Paper 3. Recognised hydrogen used as a way of achieving energy security.
A hydrogen economy developed early Orkney, an area of rough seas and wind.
Facilities on Shapinsay Island comprise a 900 kw turbine, a 1mw electrolyser, and a 30 kw boiler heating for the island’s school.
Current developments:
Many in Sheffield and Teesside. Examples are hydrogen vehicles by Toyota and Hyundai using fuel cells. JCB is using hydrogen injection for its diggers already. France and Germany are using long distance hydrogen powered railways.
Finally, Jim has decided it’s not yet time to arrange for a hydrogen central heating system but may be soon
Graham Till
9th August 2022 Life Through a Coloured Window
David Harlington
David Harlington spent his youth in East Yorkshire, living in Goole. His father worked on the electrics of Bombers at an airfield and had a workshop at home to which David had access, thus fostering an interest in mechanics. He cycled to many local Churches, including Selby Abbey and York Minster and became fascinated by the stained-glass windows that he saw. During a career consisting mainly of developing oil fields in the Arctic he realised he needed a hobby totally unconnected with it, and went back to glass, studying at various places, concentrating eventually on stained glass, as this art form incorporates mechanical and artistic skills.
His lecture covered the basic chemistry, history and methods of producing some of the many forms of glass, including hand blown (antique glass) and sheet glass (old and new) and the methods used in the various forms of decoration of these, many of which are very complex. Old glass tends to be stained, I.e., the colour forms part of the surface, but some new glass is simply painted and the pigment sticks onto it. In the older stained glass windows the lead not only holds the glass but also forms an integral part of the depiction. More modern windows tend to make less use of the lines made by the lead as part of the picture.
St. Lawrence’s Church has three C14th stained windows, the Golden, the Jesse, and the Eastern, this having the best medieval glass in the country. The West window is modern I.e. 1870s.
At the end David presented us with a beautiful leaded stained glass Probus logo that he had made, having first talked about the many stages involved in its creation.
Jim Oakley
23rd August 2022 BBC – A View from the Other Side
Phil Brown
Phil wanted to be photographer from being a child, much to the displeasure of his lawyer father. He studied photography at Newcastle College of Art and after qualifying got a job with the AA. After applying for more suitable jobs and getting ten rejection slips, he finally was accepted at the BBC where he remained throughout his career. He became a trainee at Ealing, then an assistant camera man and eventually a Director of Photography.
He explained at length the workings and use of the 16mm camera, which was standard use at the time, a large, heavy piece of equipment fixed to a tripod.
For many years he filmed dramas but later moved to documentaries, which he preferred and on which he worked for 26 years. The main programme he filmed was Nationwide which was shown all over Great Britain.
On one occasion was filming from a Percival Proctor two-seater monoplane at about 30,000 feet when he felt extremely ill. He told the pilot who had forgotten to switch on Phil’s oxygen! Apparently, the pilot was not used to carrying a passenger.
Another time, while filming a documentary on power, he was asked to film the demolition of a 130-foot chimney. The producer had the great idea of filming the chimney falling towards the camera. He carefully paced the distance so that Phil and his camera were just clear of the path of the fall. Phil’s assistants were not so sure and deserted him. Unfortunately, the producer’s calculations were incorrect and some of the debris landed on Phil, badly injuring his leg. His camera was found in a car park some distance away. Sometime afterwards Phil had a starring role in a BBC Safety film!
Following this unfortunate accident, Phil ended his career in the Natural History Unit. He related the tale of going to film a board-skating duck. He never managed to film this feat. The electrician was late arriving, sped onto the scene in his van – and ran over the duck!
On another occasion Phil was with David Attenborough, trying to film the mating dance of the Bird of Paradise. This involved much standing and waiting around. It was decided that, rather than humans, they would use blow-up dolls to get the birds used to people standing around. Some unlucky assistant had to go to porn shop and buy 25 blow-up dolls! Apparently, the scheme worked.
Phil ended his talk by showing us three cameras, each smaller than its predecessor due to the use of modern technology. The earliest camera cost £50,000 whereas the newest Ultra-High-Definition Camera is only £8000.
Phil is still with the BBC. He is now the Postproduction Manager dealing with the technical aspects of production.
Bernard North
6th September 2022. Horse in the Square Mile
Eloise Mayhead
Eloise commenced her talk with a potted history of her life, from Ashford Carbonel to New York before returning to the UK to lecture in Guildford on equine matters. Before applying for a job with the City of London Mounted Branch of the Police. Following a challenging interview, she was awarded the position
Although working full time with police officers and their horses, she is a civilian. Her job is to buy horses, train them and their riders. Ensuring that horse and rider match each other in temperament is essential. When riding, she will be assessing the horse and how it is progressing with its training.
The force has between 7 and 9 horses that are based in two centres – one in central London and the other in Bushey Park. They walk into the city where they patrol each day. Conditions are challenging – traffic, drain covers, cyclists, buses plus vibration from Underground trains. Patrols are for either three hours or two of one of an hour and a half. They work one week on, then one week off. The boundaries of the city are marked with bollards ornamented with its coat of arms and the Police Officers' caps have a red chequered band round them, rather than the usual black ones of the other forces. Half the funding for the Force is by the State and the rest comes from the City Corporation.
The Mounted Branch is often called on to help the Met. One of their most regular tasks is to precede and follow the band in parades – some of the horses are happy to go in front and others prefer to follow.
A major part of their help to the Met. is in Public Order training when the Officers and the horses wear protective gear, which takes getting used to. They are very useful at football matches when it has been calculated that one horse is worth 15 Officers!
The price of horses varies greatly though the most Eloise has paid for one is £17,500. They can continue to work up to 18 but she likes to sell them on while they still have a chance of a good life and not only be put out to grass.
Andrew Stedman.
20th September 2022. Sabsab’s Belly Button
Paul Serrell-Cooke
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In January 1996, Paul a serving officer in the RAF, was posted to the Dhahran Air Base in Saudi Arabia to work alongside the Royal Saudi Air Force, together with his wife and family. They were encouraged to spend their free time exploring the desert areas. Because the terrain was difficult there was always a minimum of two vehicles.
Approximately every six weeks the families would fill the water bottles pack essential supplies (gin) into the vehicles and head for the desert with their tents. The Saudi desert is largely a barren scrub land.
The hills are known as jebels, and they would camp on the lee side and within 10 mins of the first tent peg being driven in guaranteed a visit by the local Bedouin.
Fossils and sharks’ teeth can be found south of Riyadh even though it is 450 miles to the coast, proving that the area was at one time seabed.
About 45 minutes’ drive south from the base were some salt beds where they went to search for desert roses. These are gypsum crystal formations found beneath the surface.
Bat’n Sabsab or Sabsab’s belly button, are caves and passages that exist on various levels whilst they did explore them, they only ventured a few metres in, they do not have stalactites or stalagmites There are three main entrances but the one they entered by was a small insignificant hole in the desert ground.
The Empty Quarter known in Arabic as Rub’ al Khali is one of the least habitable places in the world, in summer the temperature can exceed 55°C. It does support life, 37 species of plants, gazelles, oryx, sand cats, spiny-tailed lizards and many others.
Beneath the ground are vast oil reserves and there is evidence of a less arid past with fossils of hippo, water buffalo and long horned cattle. It became impassable for camel trains around 300AD.
The lost city of Iram of the Pillars and possibly an entire civilisation is thought to be there. Only a few artifacts have been found using ground penetrating radar.
Trips to the sea via treacherous mountain passes driving past colonies of chimpanzees.
Driving to Khamis Mushait the southernmost air base of Royal Saudi Air force near the City of Abha where the natural beauty and geography are stunning.
A most memorable trip was retracing some of the steps of El Lawrence. The Turks built The Hejaz Railway to transport pilgrims to the holy shrines in Mecca and Madinah. It took 9 years to build with stations approximately every 20kms and some 2000 bridges, however when Turkey sided with Germany in 1914 the railway stopped running and sections were destroyed during the Arab revolt in1916 with the aid of the British. They passed several stations in reasonable condition plus items of rolling stock. They reached Madain Saleh described as the ancient home of the Thamud which required permission to enter from the Saudi Interior Ministry, it dates to 800BC. Flourishing as a Nabataen state in the first two centuries BC. There are wonderfully preserved tombs. One is where the owner had his daughter placed whilst still alive for daring to fall in love the stone mason commissioned to build the tomb. Muslins believe the Thamud’s to have been cursed by God and are uncomfortable with visiting the site
At the time it cost £36 for a tank of fuel in the UK but only £6 in Saudi
Clayton Lee
4th October 2022 What Came First – Chicken or the Egg
Andrew Gillard
In the tradition of speakers for the Probus Club of Ludlow, the title of presentations are often deliberately misleading. Andrew Gilliard gave us a far-ranging talk on chickens and eggs but never answered the unfathomable question. What we did have was a highly practical account of his career in the chicken industry from a 19-year-old in 1957 in charge of a flock of chickens to 50 plus years later, a much-respected expert advisor to the industry. It has grown from a farmyard scratching flock to the universally accepted cheap grocery staple. It has not been an easy transition
Following the end of meat rationing in 1954, It took the UK longer to recover than America. Their breeding stock was superior to ours, both for egg production and for food conversion to chicken meat. Some of their improved stock found its way to our shores and the huge expansion of production was underway by the 1960s.
Economies of scale with great intensification brought problems. Many people did not want a chicken farm in their back yard and planning permissions were difficult to get. The chickens in cramped conditions started to get fowl pest and avian ‘flu. The response was to apply antibiotics, which very quickly produced resistance not only for the chickens but also for most other animals and to humans. This together with pictures of caged birds, battery hens and broilers produced bad press, which was not challenged by a disjointed industry. The arguments around caged birds and free range/barn conditions rages on. Most egg and chicken production now appear to more humane and approved of by customers. The chickens do have the last say and it is only a small percentage that move outside in daylight preferring the warmth and protection of a barn. Vladimir Putin set up a centralized national breeding and hatchery centre in communist Russia. This ideological project will probably fail for the same reasons experienced elsewhere of scale and of close proximity, encouraging disease and pests.
The flavour of chicken is relatively bland, and many would claim that real fresh farm eggs have far superior taste. However, whether the chicken came before the egg of not, both chicken and eggs remain one of the first choices of white meat that people eat. Chicken meat in many various forms is a cheap staple diet.
The Probus Club members were very grateful for the candid and informative presentation of Andrew Gilliard lifetime work in the chicken industry.
Kit Smith
1st November 2022 Walking the Pipe
Kate Green (Artist in Residence)
After repeated refusals from Seven Trent Water to employ her as their Artist in residence, Kate, using her ingenuity dressed as an engineer to walk the pipeline unhindered.
The City of Birmingham were allowed by an 1892 Act of Parliament to buy 70 square miles of land NW of Rhyader to build reservoirs. Construction using pipes, tunnels, cuttings, viaducts, red brick well houses and conduits took from 1896-1904. The drop from source to finish at Frankley reservoir is169ft = 1ft a mile.
ACT 1 pre-Covid. An England Arts Council grant provided funding for a wide range of research involving retired staff, roadshows and musical events.
The Big Walk from Bleddfa to Frankley followed the course of the Line. For security reasons it is not on any maps. There is though sufficient evidence on the ground to follow the Line. It took 5 days and we saw pictures taken enroute. This provided more material for the Arts events especially historical and musical ones.
There followed a fine rendition by members of ‘The Engineers Tea Song’ words by Kate who accompanied us on her banjo.
ACT 2 post-Covid. Kate spent 10 days walking the ‘Watershed Line’ alone high up on the top of the moorland following the boundary of the original Act of purchase. This area is legally protected to maintain water purity and preserve rare species. A short video showed the challenges involved in this impressive venture.
Another singalong of ‘The Tunnelling Navies’ was followed by Kate’s thoughts on the environmental impact, good and bad, of this engineering project. These were encapsulated in a thought-provoking song from Kate called, ‘What Next?’
A much enjoyed and informative presentation from an impressive and talented Artist.
Martin Thomas
15th November 2022 The Conquistadors of the Useless
Tony Martyr
We learned a completely new side to Tony during this fascinating story, which some members thought reflected badly on his sanity!
Today climbing is a well formalised sport with detailed guidebooks offering information about the several routes for each venue, including the all important grading of the difficulty of the climbs.
He showed us how all the equipment used has evolved over his climbing lifetime; no longer knee breeches but lycra, sheathed ropes which run more smoothly and have an inherent elasticity, absent from hemp ropes, which absorb much of the energy if called on in the event of a slip and “sticky” footwear owing much to Formula 1.
We were treated to a kaleidoscope of climbs from Cornwall, through the Peak District to the Lake District on to Scotland and the famous mountains in Europe (with a graphic display of the effects of Global Warming in the Swiss Alps over 40 years) and did we know that mountaineers sport beards to protect from severe UV burns?
This talk ended with a recounting of a climb in Majorca which proved so scary that it was to be his swansong, swapping his gravity defying feats for terra firma in the guise of motor sport.
Mike Read
15th November 2022 The Conquistadors of the Uselessth November 2022 Whatever happened to Noel’s Box
Mike Read
Noel Billing was born in Hampstead in 1881, an adventurous lad whose supporters referred to him as a genius/polymath. Though his detractors regarded him as a self-publicising manipulative conman. All agreed that he was charismatic, eccentric and very clever. He had at least 13 different careers in his lifetime.
He ran away from home at 13 and travelled to South Africa. Had several occupations including joining the mounted police and as a boxer. He also did some acting under the name of Pemberton Billing. He also fought in the 2nd Boer War including the Relief of Ladysmith.
Returning to Britain in1903 he opened a garage in Kingston upon Thames. Whilst it was successful, he became more interested in aviation and an attempt to open an aerodrome in Essex failed. So, he started a short-lived career in property whilst studying law. He passed his exams but decided to sell steam yachts. In 1909 he tried and failed to establish another airfield in Essex.
In 1913 he won a wager £500 with Frederick Handley Page that he could earn his pilot’s licence within 24 hrs of sitting in an aircraft. Which he used to fund the aircraft business Pemberton- Billing Ltd. Financial problems were overcome by the start of World War 1. In 1914 he joined the Royal Naval Air Service and was granted a temporary commission as a lieutenant and was involved in the air raid on the Zeppelin sheds near Lake Constance. Subsequently he designed the PB29 a Zeppelin night fighter, it was a failure as was its successor the PB31 Nighthawk.
In 1916 he sold his share of the business to Scott -Paine. He was then elected MP for Hertford and was an advocate for an independent air force. After an altercation with the speaker about procedures in 1918 he was suspended for the rest of the session but returned following the 1918 general election.
Hugh Scott-Paine renamed the company Supermarine Aviation Works Ltd after the company’s telegraphic address.
Between 1917 and 1938 Supermarine Aviation designed 24 aircraft plus the Spitfires in WW2.
Emigrated to Australia in 1921 where he designed and manufactured recording systems. Started a radio station which lasted four months. He also designed a miniature camera.
By 1929 he had returned to the UK and tried and failed to return to politics.
During his lifetime he registered over 500 patients
He passed away in November 1948
Clayton Lee