It was a great pleasure to welcome Ken MacCallum as speaker at the Probus October meeting.

Ken reminisced about a childhood in Pembroke Dock, followed by his experiences throughout his working life around the world.

A Pembrokeshire childhood for Ken was indelible. His working life complete, Ken found that there was no place like home. Our good fortune, therefore, to have Ken as our local guest.

Ken related about his work as a master mariner and then in industry as an offshore quality control consultant for Shell. His seafaring slides of ships and mountainous seas were unbelievable.

Ken travelled to Africa after several years at sea, building a hotel on the North East coast of Zanzibar. Not many local people can say that they have been charged by both an elephant and a wounded hippo or eaten in a restaurant with a black mamba snake and a scorpion for company! Nevertheless, happy family fishing trips in this part of the world were also unforgettable and quite unique, making up for the more risky episodes.

Ken's presentation was total escapism and so fascinating.

On behalf of members, Vanessa Owen expressed gratitude to Ken for accepting our invitation and taking us around the world with all his marvellous memories.

Probus Ladies will next meet at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock, on November 20, at 11 am. The guest speaker will be Edward Perkins, talking about the Historic Buildings of Pembrokeshire.

D.B.