Talk Reviews

1. 'Hilarious Hats' by Alexandra Stanbrook
As well as putting the finishing touch to any outfit, a hat sends a message from the wearer to the outside world - that was the theory I took away from this highly entertaining talk by Alex Stanbrook.
Standing before a stunning display of hats ranging from a dainty 1940s utility 'Percher' to a humorous hand-made artist's palette head-piece she had created for a special event, Alex ensured that every example was accompanied by its own amusing personal story. Modelling each hat herself as she regaled us with her fascinating anecdotes, Alex carried them all off with style, panache and plenty of personality.
Although humour ran through the talk, Alex did not shy away from telling her own story of how hats had helped her through some dark times, not least when she talked of her experiences of wearing both hats and wigs after losing her hair during chemotherapy. Alex not only entertained us, but let us, as an audience, into her world with warmth and generosity of spirit.
An inspirational talk from a highly recommended speaker.

Lynda Rowland July 2025
Alex Stanbrook with her Hats!

2. Guided Tour of Cheltenham College

Dominic Faulkner, a Physics master at the college and a regular speaker at our Probus meetings guided a keen group of our members around various areas of Cheltenham College in Thirlestaine Road. The tour included the chapel with its beautiful stained-glass windows, the large and airy dining hall, vibrant and creative art department and the spacious, extremely well-stocked library where a distinguished and graceful portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II looked down upon the scholars.

The college was founded in 1841 to educate the sons of the ladies and gentlemen of Cheltenham. It was followed by the Ladies College, founded in 1853, in order to offer girls the same level of academic opportunity as boys, a novel concept in 1853, according to my later research.

Nowadays, although the Ladies College is still known as an elite girls’ school around the world, the Boys or ‘Gentlemen’s’ College admits both girls and boys from the age of three years old in the nursery school and up to A Levels at age 18.

Walking the imposing cloisters of the College and its grand environs gives a sense of the town’s history and I reflected on the great sense of pride this gives me as a Cheltenham resident.

Particularly poignant are the numerous memorial plaques in the chapel, which commemorate all those former Cheltenham College pupils who died in the service of their country during the First World War. The school was also second only to Eton College in the number of former pupils being awarded the Victoria Cross.

I encountered a group of students from the College recently in a local coffee shop, and found them to be well-mannered, cultured, happy and confident with an endearing level of self-awareness and humility. Briefly catching their bright and sparkling conversations I reflected, ‘Here is the future. If this holds, we have little to fear.’

Kenneth Webb.

August 2025

Dominic Faulkner with the Probus Group

The Chapel

The Dining Hall

Former Pupils Awarded the Victoria Cross

The Library

3 Wye Valley Tour by Kate Peake

Kate Peake is a very talented, young film maker who invited us on a tour of the Wye Valley via a series of short films she has produced using mainly drone footage. The first showed us the source of the Wye in mid-Wales, where the water is crystal clear and we were even treated to some underwater shots – admittedly not filmed by her drone, but on a hand-held camera. We were then transported to the legendary literary town of Hay- on-Wye, where we toured the picturesque streets, filled with shops selling books on every subject from poetry to ‘Murder and Mayhem’.

Kate has a sparkling personality and her films feature her speaking to camera in a style which compared very favourably to many famous tv presenters, as she guided her audience through each of the destinations she was filming. We passed through Hereford, the only city on the Wye, with its famous castle, and cathedral housing the historic Mappa Mundi. We learned about how travelling the Wye became a favourite substitute for the famous Grand Tour of the 17th and 18th centuries, when conflict overseas prevented aristocratic ladies and gentlemen from venturing across to the continent. This period saw the publication of what was probably the first tourist guidebook by William Gilpin an artist and travel writer of the time.

We finally reached Chepstow where the Wye meets the River Severn, having been entertained and moved by beautiful scenery and fascinating facts about a river which plays a rich and varied role in the history of the British Isles.

Kate was happy to answer our many questions about the technicalities of film making, as well as the geographical details of the landscape she had so expertly recorded.

We were all enthralled by the combination of her hugely engaging films and their accompanying soundtracks which, coupled with Kate’s commentary both live and on screen, made for a very engaging morning’s entertainment.

LYNDA ROWLAND

September 2025

4. Amazon Tour -Swindon

Wye Valley at Symonds Yat

A small group of Probus members enjoyed a tour of the Amazon Fulfilment Centre at Swindon recently. Our tour guides were very informative and helpful with everyone expressing there thanks for a thoroughly engaging tour.