AT the meeting on Monday, February 16 we had talks from two of our members.

Graham Chamberlain spoke about his life at sea, beginning with the Elder & Fyffe Line, which used to transport bananas from the West Indies. He moved to the Royal Mail Line, and during the Suez crisis served on troopships. All the time he was working for the Certificates which a merchant navy officer needs to progress in his career, culminating in Master's Certificate. In 1957 was appointed chief officer. At about this time he got married. There is a proverb which states that the sea will never allow you to have another mistress. This refers to the pull which can occur between hearth and home versus a life at sea. How Graham dealt with this dilemma will be the subject of a future talk.

Our next speaker, Graham Myatt, told us about his boyhood in South Derbyshire, and reminded us that corporal punishment used to be the norm at boys' schools and could be quite severe. He told us how facts remembered from a book about astronomy given by his mother when he was a schoolboy stood him in good stead when he was interviewed for his first job, which was at TRE in Malvern. His work there continued after National Service in the RAF.

We will learn what happened next at a future meeting.

The Club is grateful to both members for talks which were well prepared and well delivered and we look forward eagerly to future instalments.

Malvern Link Probus Club meets on alternate Monday mornings at the United Reformed Church hall in the Link. The next meeting will be on March 2 when guest speaker Peter Hawkins will be talking about Peru. Any retired professional or business man is welcome to come and see if he might like to become a member. Please phone the Secretary Paul Dunleavey 01684 565190 for details.

PAUL DUNLEAVEY