Ferring Probus Club Talk - The Life of a Ranger
STEVE WEBSTER
Steve Webster started his career in conservation at a young age. Since then, he has worked as a Countryside Ranger for a couple of local authorities in the south; as the Site Manager for the RSPB at Pagham Harbour reserve and held several management roles for Sussex Wildlife Trust. He has recently been employed by the Knepp Rewilding Project.
The number of rangers in the UK (2024) is 34,700 and their main role being that of guardians of the countryside. The job is varied and includes surveying, recording, understanding the soil, the habitat, tree health, looking after the infrastructure (gates, stiles, fences signposts, footpaths), preventing poaching, engaging communities in conservation and much.
Steve went on to say part of the job involves enforcing the rules of the countryside so that the public may continue to enjoy the open spaces and natural habitats and wildlife. Unfortunately, some of the actions of people can lead to havoc in the countryside: off-road driving, antisocial behaviour, arson, barbecues, dogs out of control, egg, fungi and moss collecting.
World Ranger Day is celebrated worldwide on July 31st to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet's natural treasures and cultural heritage.
Ferring Probus Club talk by Joanna Bogle
SEASONS & CELEBRATIONS
Seasons and Celebrations was the subject of the talk given by Joanna Bogle to Ferring Probus Club, at the Lunch on Wednesday 20th August.
Joanna is a writer, broadcaster and journalist, who has written several biographies but has taken a special interest in researching and writing about seasons and celebrations. At a time when several celebrations (such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day) have become very commercialised, Joanna reminded the group of the true meaning of such celebrations.
Among the many interesting facts drawn to our attention was that seasons in the Church are generally forty days (Christmas is forty days from Christmas Eve to Candlemas, Lent is forty days from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday prior to Easter and Easter Sunday to the feast of the Ascension). Long ago, in preparation for Easter meat, eggs and dairy products were given up. Rather than waste the eggs in the house, pancakes were made (thus we have Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day). Eggs laid during the Lent period were saved and used up at Easter (thus Easter Eggs and cakes). She told of how in some European Countries the birth of St. John the Baptist is celebrated on Midsummer’s Day with bonfires on mountain tops, and of a tradition in Austria that jumping over the fire is wishing for a good husband! Another interesting fact Joanna shared was that the first Advent wreath in England was made on the children’s programme Blue Peter.
Joanna’s enthusiasm for the subject not only gave the members an enjoyable talk but we also became more appreciative and aware of the history behind many our celebrations.
Ferring Probus Club - recent talks
A Murder is explained
On Wednesday 18 June members and guests met at the Worthing Bowls’ Club for their Summer Invitation lunch. A superb meal in convivial company was enjoyed and after lunch the speaker was Mr. Peter Blood, a retired barrister. Keeping everyone spellbound he described a past (1931) murder case and its subsequent trial. Plans of the house and the town in which this murder took place were provided, as well as other evidence including the coroner’s report and reports from members of the public. This was securitised by ‘the jury’ (i.e. the audience) who then had to decide whether the defendant was guilty or not. The case, which became known as the ‘Julia Wallace murder’, involved a seemingly staged robbery and a mysterious phone call. Despite the conviction, the evidence against Edgar Wallace was primarily circumstantial, and he was ultimately freed on appeal. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining afternoon!
Sussex weather over the years
At the July 2025 lunch Ian Currie, retired weatherman, described some the weather events that Sussex had endured over three centuries. The Great Storm of 1703 was devastating for Sussex with significant damage to shipping, coastal towns and inland areas. Brighton and Shoreham suffered greatly as many fishing fleets were destroyed, buildings endured extensive damage or were destroyed, roads were blocked, and inland trees uprooted. In the early hours of 27 December,1836, people living in seven cottages along the River Ouse in Lewes were warned that snow settling on the cliffs above their homes could collapse. The occupants of the cottages stayed put and for some their decision turned out to be fatal. The aptly named Snowdrop Inn now stands on the area where the cottages once were. In January 1940 Bodiam experienced the coldest temperature on record reaching -21.6 degrees C. The summer of 1912 was the worst on record for Sussex due to an exceptionally wet and cold August. The awful and magnificent storm on 8 September 1958 hit Horsham and wreaked havoc on a scale never seen in the town before or since. Hurricane force wind, tropical rain and hailstones 6.5cms across smashed into homes and other buildings, uprooted and snapped hundreds of trees and turned the area into a battlefield. However, Sussex is known as one of the sunniest regions in the UK!
Transport, Traffic, Safety and Roads
Transport, Traffic, Safety and Roads
Graham Feest, a UK based Road Safety Consultant, gave an interesting and enlightening talk at the August 2025 Coffee Morning on Transport, Traffic, Safety and Roads. Graham stated that cars do not crash into cars, it is the people behind the wheel who are responsible for a crash or collision – these are not accidents. He gave the group some interesting facts:
· 1 June 1935 the driving test was introduced.
· In 1967 in Worthing there was only one set of traffic lights – at the junction of Mill Road and Heene Road.
· In 1974 the Road Safety Act introduced significant reforms to road traffic laws, focusing on safety which included stricter drink-driving regulations and enhanced penalties for dangerous driving.
· 1983 the compulsory wearing of seat belts was introduced for drivers and front-seat passengers.
· The 90s saw the introduction of traffic calming measures and Drink Drive Rehabilitation Schemes.
· In the 2000s Speed Workshops were set up and an endeavour undertaken to make tomorrow’s roads safer for everyone.
· In 2024 there were 128,375 casualties of all severities, a decline of 3% from 2023 and 1,633 fatalities, an increase of 1% to 2023.
Ferring Probus Club - Transport, Traffic, Safety & Roads
TRANSPORT, TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND ROADS
Graham Feest, a UK based Road Safety Consultant, gave an interesting and enlightening talk at the August 2025 Coffee Morning on Transport, Traffic, Safety and Roads. Graham stated that cars do not crash into cars, it is the people behind the wheel who are responsible for a crash or collision – these are not accidents. He gave the group some interesting facts:
· 1 June 1935 the driving test was introduced.
· In 1967 in Worthing there was only one set of traffic lights – at the junction of Mill Road and Heene Road.
· In 1974 the Road Safety Act introduced significant reforms to road traffic laws, focusing on safety which included stricter drink-driving regulations and enhanced penalties for dangerous driving.
· 1983 the compulsory wearing of seat belts was introduced for drivers and front-seat passengers.
· The 90s saw the introduction of traffic calming measures and Drink Drive Rehabilitation Schemes.
· In the 2000s Speed Workshops were set up and an endeavour undertaken to make tomorrow’s roads safer for everyone.
· In 2024 there were 128,375 casualties of all severities, a decline of 3% from 2023 and 1,633 fatalities, an increase of 1% to 2023.
Ferring Probus Club Talk - Fire Safety by Ben Applin
Fire Safety in the Home by Ben Applin
At the June 2025 Coffee Morning Ben Applin from West Sussex Fire and Rescue gave a very interesting talk on Fire Safety in the home. Ben began by giving a history lesson. The first Roman fire brigade was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus. He took advantage of the fact that Rome had no firefighters. Crassus created his own brigade of 500 firefighters who rushed to burning buildings at the first cry for help. The Tooley Street Fire of 1861 occurred at Cotton’s Wharf, London. The buildings were filled with a huge array of goods, including jute, hemp, cotton, spices, tea and coffee. It is thought the fire started by spontaneous combustion and it caused a huge commotion as it rapidly spread. Although the firefighters were quickly on the scene, they were unable to get a supply of water for nearly an hour – the Thames was at low tide making it even more difficult to fight the fire. Ben then recounted some statistics, for example, the West Sussex Fire Control receive approximately 80 calls per day. Finally, Ben reminded members of how to use electrical equipment safely in the home and asked members to consider having a free safety check of their homes. A number followed his advice and signed up to receive this.
Ferring Probus Club Talk - Magnus Volk by Bill McNaught
Magnus Volk by Bill McNaught
At the May 2025 Coffee Morning Bill McNaught gave an informative and illustrative talk about the life and work of Magnus Volk (1851-1937), a prolific inventor. During his early life he had some success producing parlour telegraph sets and first became properly well-known in 1879 when he installed the first telephone line in Brighton from his house in Preston Road to another nearby in Springfield Road. In 1880 he was the first person in the town to light his home by electricity. This success led to him being awarded a contract for installing electric lighting in the Brighton Pavillion and the Dome. In 1883 he launched his most famous project, the Volk’s Electric Railway which still runs along the seafront today, making it the oldest electric railway in the world that is still running. Throughout his life Volk became involved in various other projects including designing the first electric car in 1880 and exporting two to the Sultan of Turkey and in 1890 designing electric boats that sailed on the River Thames.
Our next meeting
Coffee morning, 10am on Tue 4th November at St Andrew's Church Centre, Ferring. Talk by Roy Peachery of Mary's Meals