DAWLISH Probus Club reconvened after the Christmas break with a heart-warming illustrated talk by Jan Green on the contribution made by hearing dogs for the deaf, which provide greater independence, confidence and security for deaf people. The charity originated in the USA when the life of a seven-year-old girl was changed with the assistance of a trained 'hearing dog'. Subsequently, a training centre was set up in England. With the aid of slides, Jan Green was able to illustrate hearing dogs responding to the telephone, alarm clocks, smoke alarms and the front door bell – they are, in effect, their masters' 'ears'. The following week the attendance was swollen by the attendance of women for the first time, described by chairman Ken Braithwaite as 'a refining influence'. It was felt that the subject matter, The History of Fields Department Store, Sidmouth – which had featured in an ITV Westcountry documentary – would be of special interest to them. Guest speaker Trevor Roberts, a senior executive, stated that the store, which can be traced back to the reign of George III, is one of the oldest trading entities in Britain. Photographic evidence shows that the façade has hardly altered since 1849 and Fields remains an integral part of the history of the town. The family business evolved through successive generations, prior to an extensive renovation programme following its takeover by the current management in 1978. During the renovation works a RN bomb disposal team was alerted to the discovery of a bomb in the basement. Mr Roberts concluded by stating that the management was proud of its unique retailing past. There was a change to the specified speaker at the next meeting. Probus member Peter Spackman gave a light-hearted account of Travelling in Canada, based on his 25-year ministry in that country. In general, Canadians do not fly. The furthest the majority travel abroad is the USA. Travel by train is slow. Freight takes priority. It takes five days to cross Canada by rail, with just three trains per week. It is quicker by bus. There is a boat service connecting the adjacent islands with the last boat, before the onset of winter, laden with beer crates. Automobile is the most popular means of travel in Canada where there is a maximum 55mph speed limit. Mr Spackman found Canadian drivers to be considerate in the event of an emergency, not least when his car was involved with a moose. The month concluded with a talk by Piers Le Cheminant on The Work of the Devon Air Ambulance, which costs £6,000 per day to run and is financed entirely by voluntary contributions and sponsorship. Devon is the only county to have two air ambulances, thanks to the generosity of Jenny Bond who donated the £250,000 she won from her exploits on television. The original helicopter operates five days a week from its base in north Devon, while the latest, upgraded air ambulance provides a seven-day service from its new base at Middlemoor. The helicopters are hired and flown by pilots from Bond Air Services, with medical cover provided by a team of nine dedicated paramedics. An additional member of the crew is Ambrose, the teddy bear, which provides additional comfort to small children. The February programme includes a talk by Geoffrey Wildey, relating his experiences in the role of Brunel during the past year. For more information, contact secretary John Sykes on 891562.
