Peter Ward reminisced about his Second World War experiences on HMS Beagle at the latest meeting.
HMS Beagle served with naval forces protecting the unbelievably difficult and dangerous convoys to Murmansk.
On one occasion, Peter accompanied officers on a courtesy visit to a Russian destroyer. Unsubtle attempts were made to extract secret radar information after the Russians had plied them with vodka.
Peter showed slides illustrating the horrendous conditions that the convoys endured, and referred to the recent long-delayed decision to award veteran seamen the ‘Arctic Star’ medal for service on those convoys.
This caused one Probus member to reflect that the tardiness in recognising such brave and hazardous service should be compared with the honours given so freely today for “activities of epic irrelevance”.
The club’s next meeting at the Chester Road Bowling Club will be on Wednesday, August 7 when John Keetch will consider the topic ‘Henry VIIIand Charles II – Two realist Monarchs’. It starts at 2pm.
Anyone interested in joining this club for retired professional and businessmen should contact the secretary on 01562 515087.
The club has a website at communigate.co.uk/worcs/ kidderminsterprobus
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