ON April 5, in the absence of the advertised speaker, our former President, George Bourne, stepped into the breach with an autobiographical talk which certainly proved he has led an eventful and varied life. After moving from Sedgberrow to a flat in Abbey Manor Evesham he made his first money while still a schoolboy by shooting rabbits and pigeons, before taking up his first job with the Air Ministry at various RAF bases, finishing up at Defford. His next job was as a wages clerk at Evesham Borough Council before transferring to the drawing office of the Surveyor, a line of business he remained in for most of his career, founding a contracting firm for road resurfacing etc. When this ran into difficulties he left to concentrate on music, which will form the subject of another talk. He achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming a pilot in 1986. He was very frank about a family tragedy and his serious medical problems.

George mentioned that joining Probus in 2013 was a highlight of his life and we are grateful to him for sharing his diverse, occasionally harrowing, experiences with us.

We meet at 10am every Thursday at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club. On April 12, Judith Ellis will be talking about The Howse that was so Fayre and on April 19 David Howe will be speaking about Frank Muir and Denis Norden.

Full details can be found on our website www.eveshamprobus.co.uk

ALAN SMITH