Author: P83WPAdmin

The new Tax Year and ISA Season have started but wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza, plus the problems in the Straits of Hormuz and Trump’s Tariffs, have confused many of our investment strategies, so it’s fortunate that we have a Guest Speaker at the next Family Finances Forum on Thursday, 16 April, who will consult his extra large crystal ball to try to answer the question “Where do we go from here ?“

As usual, we begin gathering for tea, coffee & biscuits at Weybourne House (GU2 4DR) from 9.45am onwards and the meeting starts at 10.00 a.m. To cover the cost of hiring the room and refreshments, there is a charge of £4, which can be paid on the day or, preferably, by Bank Transfer prior to the meeting, using the usual details.

The next Probus ‘83 Lunch at Weybourne House will be on Thursday 2nd April 2026.

Our speaker will be Major (Retd) Paul Whittle.
 
Paul has a background in banking but don’t let that put you off. He was also a Freeman of the City and saw service in the Territorial Army in the Royal Corps of Signals. Since then he has been a travel lecturer for twenty years and has a keen interest in military and railway histories and has spoken to Probus’83 several times before. 

He will talk on a wide-ranging tour of Peru, including offshore islands, the Amazonian Rain Forest, the fabulous Inca Ruins at Machu Picchu – and a ‘spot of bother’ with illegal gold miners!

We can learn more about Inheritance Tax, including the suite of “IHT 400 Forms”, (which must be completed before Probate can be granted), by coming to next Thursday’s (19 March) Family Finances Forum, when our Guest Speaker will explain the intricacies of the IHT regime.

As usual, we begin gathering for tea, coffee & biscuits at Weybourne House (GU2 4DR) from 9.45am onwards and the meeting starts at 10.00 a.m.  To cover the cost of hiring the room and refreshments, there is a charge of £4, which can be paid on the day or, preferably, by Bank Transfer prior to the meeting, using the usual details.

Note that wives, partners & offspring are always welcome to these sessions.

The next Probus ‘83 Lunch at Weybourne House will be on Thursday 5^th March 2026.

Our speaker will be Dr Richard Marks

 Richard Marks is an experienced historian and has authored a number of books. Richard has a background in Technology and Business, has worked as a consulting historian for various museum exhibitions and is a lecturer in Economic and Social History at the University of Oxford.

He has an engaging presentation style which he will use for his lunch talk:

Barbers to Surgeons

Over the reign of Queen Victoria huge developments occurred in the medical field. The talk will explain how new scientific thinking and bold philosophical challenges of the era reshaped the way people understood illness and the human body. It will examine how the Industrial Revolution also transformed hospitals, surgery, and everyday healthcare, and will demonstrate how Victorian innovation laid the foundations of modern medicine.

Our next monthly lunch will be on Thursday 5th February 2026.

Our February speaker will be another fellow member Martin Campling who will give a talk entitled: An Astronomy Presentation. 

Finally, our Speaker Secretary Fred Knopp has handed over the reins to Alvin Hill after several years. Many thanks to Fred who has so ably managed this important role.

Our January 2026 meeting will be on January 8th 2026, running a week late to avoid the obvious clash with New Year’s Day.

The Speaker will be our fellow member David Mayne who will give a talk entitled – “The Himalayas, a Trekker’s Perspective“.

Our Christmas Lunch, with ladies and guests invited, will be held on Thursday 4th December. There is an appropriate special menu and the cost per head, on this occasion, is £30.

The speaker is Helen Taylor and her talk is entitled: “A history of Christmas Celebrations”.

At our AGM held on 6th November it was agreed that the club Annual Subscription could be reduced from £50 to £35.

The club Committee is continuing in place, except that David Ball has agreed to accept the role of Deputy Honorary Treasurer.

The December 2025 lunch will occur as planned but our January 2026 lunch will be on January 8th, New Years Day being on a Thursday.

Finally the November Family Finances Forum meeting is being slipped to the first week in December so that actual announcements in Parliament on the 26th November can be discussed as opposed to being speculated upon in advance.