Embedded Files
Next Lunch
Next Lunch
Friday 17th October 2025
The Madness of Courage : the astonishing exploits of a WW1 pilot
Group Captain Gilbert Insall holds a unique record: he is the only person to have both won a Victoria Cross and escaped successfully from a German prisoner of war camp during the First World War.
After a congenial lunch on Friday 17 October, his great-nephew Tony Insall will tell this story of exceptional achievements and near-unbelievable courage to members of Milford Probus Club, guests and visitors. Tony has a distinguished career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of War Studies at King’s College and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He lives near Guildford.
Future Lunch
Future Lunch
Friday 21st November 2025
Hogarth: Vice, Satire and Welfare
William Hogarth gave us a unique perspective of Georgian London. After a congenial lunch on Friday 21 November, Milford Probus Club members, guests and visitors will explore this perspective with Dr Helen Naylor, a favourite speaker with a talent for bringing history to life.
Hogarth’s city scenes are dynamic and chaotic. Helen contrasts this with his contemporary Canaletto’s sanitized view of London and examines what we can learn from his depiction of high and low culture and human nature. London was Hogarth’s stage. He wove real people and places into his pictures, notably ‘A Harlot’s Progress’ and ‘Four Times a Day’ which examine London’s dark underbelly, its vices and debauchery.
Hogarth’s art was an improbable success. It led to legislation, including the first copyright laws and using ‘Gin Lane’ as a potent anti-alcohol poster for the Gin Act of 1751.
Visitors are very welcome. This website shows location and timing. Lunch and talk are just £32.
Past Lunches
Past Lunches
Friday 19th September 2025
Britain’s atomic v bombers – a personal memoir
Our speaker, after a friendly lunch on Friday 19 September, suggested to members of Milford Probus club and visitors that the Cold War of the 1960s has uncomfortable resonances with today.
While much of Britain embraced the swinging sixties, the threat from an aggressive Soviet Union was deadly serious. The Royal Air Force’s role in countering that threat included a formidable nuclear deterrent provided by Britain’s V Bomber Force. Around the country, nuclear armed aircraft with highly trained crews were on duty 24/7, able to be airborne in two minutes. The purpose of such potent defence was to ensure that no sane person would dare challenge let alone test it. It worked. Our speaker Andy Richardson, one of those crew members, believes that the RAF V Force provided the safest decade for our country in recent history.
Friday 15th August 2025
Victorians at Leisure
The nineteenth century saw a shift towards shorter working days and increased leisure time. This talk delved into the consequences of this shift. We investigated the growing popularity of theatres and music halls among all the social classes. We uncovered the wide array of Victorian pastimes, from collecting cigarette cards and trainspotting to indulging in botany and science, as well as some very unique parlour games. We found out more about how the Victorians spent their time away from work.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse