I was first asked to join Retford Men’s Probus Club on 2015 after I met a chap called Brian Robinson who invited me along to a meeting. Robert Blatchford had just taken over from Brian as President of the club. I found the atmosphere and fellowship of the members very supportive, and it was obvious to me that I was amongst kindred spirits.
I was already a member of Retford’s u3a and through that group I knew one or two of the Probus members, so I was made to feel very welcome. It was also a great way to avoid the Friday morning chore of going shopping with my wife. Something she appreciated as well, as we always seemed to spend more when I helped !!
I am a strong believer that there is a place for men who have retired to come together in a non-partisan way just to share life experiences. We as a group meet around twenty times a year and we usually start with a cup of tea or coffee (sometimes fortified) then we have a few notices and a speaker. A few years ago we changed from having external speakers all the time to using our own members. It is very surprising how lives are formed by our diverse experiences.
I’ve said we are non-partisan. We are also non-political and just meet for good fellowship. A number of members are widowers and we who are appreciate the care given to others at times of loss. We do try to provide a degree of support.
So having told you how I was introduced to Retford Men’s Probus Club, I should tell you more about something that I was told when I retired.
I was having my annual medical check-up in 2013 and my G.P. said ‘What are you going to do now you’ve retired’. It was an interesting question. Over the years I had worked with a number of people who didn’t make 70. I worked until I was 67, so it was a daunting thought that I might only have a short time to enjoy my retirement. Don’t go jogging the doctor said, all that does is damage your knee, hip and ankle joints. Walk or swim both are good for you. Keep your brain active and don’t fall into the trap of daytime television.
This triggered a thought. He knew I wrote for a couple of specialist aircraft magazines published by the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association. Well keep that going for as long as you can, keep your brain active I was told.
I was given a commission in 2018 by the Editor of the Lancaster Association to write a lengthy piece (around 8,000 words) on ‘Operation Moonlight Sonata’. This was the November 1940 Luftwaffe raid on Coventry. The Editor’s father was living there at the time so it had special significance. The Editor wanted to publish my article around the time of the 80th anniversary of the raid. Memorial Flight is published twice a year and mine was the major piece for the Autumn 2020 edition. I have had around 15 articles published over the last few years and I was contacted by the Editor who said I should start thinking about writing some of my pieces in book form.
I asked him what I should write about and he suggested I went to Newark Air Museum and had a look in their gift shop to see if there was anything obviously missing. There where lots of books on different aeroplanes and the pilots who flew them, but I couldn’t see anything about the companies who manufactured them. I came home and ‘Googled’ British Aircraft Companies 1945. There were at least 20 airframe manufacturers and over 100 producing component parts. I had my subject.
Getting work published is always difficult, especially when it is a fairly narrow subject. I realised very early on that great commercial success was very unlikely. However my wife said write the book, find a printer and sell it yourself. My target market would be air museums and obviously the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association. So a publisher, ‘Clarborough Aviation Books’ was formed by me and I approached, The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and they were very enthusiastic. Then out of the blue The Vulcan to the Sky team approached me and basically said you write them and we’ll sell them, so I had an embryonic market.
I don’t smoke nor do I go down to the pub and my wife said if I approached writing as an enjoyable hobby the cost over the course of a year was minimal. I probably more or less break even on my books, but that’s ok. My enjoyment is carrying out the research on the different companies who made the aeroplanes. The remarkable thing about these companies is that along with the British Motor Industry a plethora of companies started in the Edwardian period before 1910, but by 1980 most of the individual companies had disappeared.
In 1970 over 1 million people were involved either directly or indirectly with the British Leyland Group. In 1960 there were still over 20 airframe manufacturers. Both, these days are much depleted. Fewer aircraft and motor vehicles mean less steel produced, which means less electricity needed, which means less coal or these days oil is needed.
My career was basically in Industrial Safety. I had been a fireman back in the 1960s and early 1970s. I sold Industrial Safety Equipment before The Fire Precautions Act 1972 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. I know what it was like when health & safety was ignored. I know what it was like being told come and see me when legislation tells me I have to look after my employees. I have had to listen to jibes where health and safety has been derided. However the workplace now is so safe compared to 50 years ago.
So my philosophy should now seem clear to most of you. I have spent my whole working life caring and looking after people. I love to write I know those who have bought my books love to read them and usually come back for more. I am now a widower but the spirit that has driven me since 1970 is still there.
We all at Retford Men’s Probus Club look out for each other. We may not always agree with each other but that is a good thing. Fellowship is the main thing and I have over the last 10 years made some wonderful friends.
If you want more information on Retford’s Men’s Probus Club, contact me through the Contact page of this website and I’ll point you hopefully in the direction of our Secretary.
Roy Evans
President 2024-2025