Club members and their partners have just returned from their annual holiday which, this year, took place at the manor house at Cricket–St–Thomas in Somerset.

So club members have slept where Admiral Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (aka Penelope Keith) have slept in earlier times.

The Manor has a fascinating history going back to pre-Norman times but the present house was built by Admiral Hood, a colleague of Admiral Nelson, in 1786. More recently, it will be remembered as the setting for three series of the TV comedy “To The Manor Born”.

The club members all met up each day for the traditional breakfasts before disappearing for the day to local places of interest such as Forde Abbey, Lyme Regis, Montacute House and the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton which houses Concorde 02. Members also enjoyed golf, petanque, bowls and walking around the beautiful and extensive estate with its gardens, lakes, bridges and beautiful views.

The group came together each evening for a pre-dinner libation in one of the magnificent lounges in the heart of the manor house. As usual, with Probus Clubs, the “chat” flowed with the libations and we never failed to put right all that ails the world today.

A toast was drunk to Gerry and Sue Lyons for all the hard work they had put in to make the holiday such a success. Here's to the next one!