Next Lunch and Speakers

Friday 17th July 2026

The Balance of Power - give peace a chance

On On Friday 17 July after a friendly lunch, members of Milford Probus Club and visitors (always welcome) will have a talk by Hugh Thomas, a highly rated speaker on international politics, diplomacy and influences on nations’ policies. His degree in International Politics and a career involving oversees embassy postings including Washington and Ankara combine intellectual rigour with hard experience.

Hugh’s talk is on the Balance of Power today and keeping the peace in this Brave New World.  What are the priorities of the major powers and the impediments to peace? Is a new approach to diplomacy needed?

Questions and opinions will be welcome.

Come and join us. Lunch and talk are just £34.

Friday 21st August 2026

“It's not what you say…” 

At our after-lunch talk on Friday 21 August, members of Milford Probus Club and visitors (always welcome to come and try us out) will learn of the limitations of speech. Most of us form an opinion about someone within a few seconds, and we rarely change our minds. Why do we feel at ease with some people and prefer to avoid others?

Our speaker Alan Jones is a retired BBC journalist and former state registered nurse. He has entertained and informed us before and we are delighted to welcome him back. He will explain the subliminal signals of behaviour, gestures, and facial expressions that we all use to communicate with each other, showing that “ it’s not what you say” that matters most.

Come and join us. Lunch and talk are just £34. 

Friday 19th June 2026

The Battle of the River Plate 

On Friday 19 June after a friendly lunch, members of Milford Probus Club and visitors will have a talk by David Bickerton, an admired speaker in the field of military history, about the battle of the River Plate. 

This was the first major naval battle of WW2, fought between the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and three smaller British cruisers. Graf Spee and her sisterships were designed to outgun any cruiser fast enough to catch them. Their top speed of 28 knots outpaced all but a few capital ships and cruisers in the Anglo-French navies. The battle followed a three month hunt for Graf Spee which had sunk nine British merchant ships. It lasted 80 terrifying minutes and left over 100 men dead and many more wounded. Graf Spee sought refuge in the Port of Montevideo where, convinced by false reports of superior British naval forces gathering, its commander ordered the vessel to be scuttled.

Come and join us. Lunch and talk are just £34.