ACTING President Brian Ireland opened this week’s meeting by officially welcoming our latest new member, Andy Richardson of Harvington who has quickly become involved in the club, not least in the post-meeting discussions.

Given that today was voting day, Clive Allen then announced a poll. At last week’s lunch someone had objected to ice cream, rather than custard, being served with crumble. Following a show of hands, Clive declared custard the winner.

Our speaker this week was Tony Butler of Broadway, who has won the Sports award for over 40 year’s service to cycling. Tony described the history of the Tour de France and showed a marvellous film of the first leg of the 2014 Tour, which covered Yorkshire and was watched by thousands of spectators as it wound round the hills, dales, cities and towns of that county.

Tony quoted some amazing facts and figures about the race: 3,000 miles in 21 days; 9 riders in 22 teams; 6,000 foot mountains; up to 10,000 calories consumed daily by each rider; the top riders earning £millions; continuous drug testing; and bicycles costing over £10,000 each.

He also spoke about some of the winners of yester year including more recent favourites like Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins and also the less well regarded Lance Armstrong.

Grenville Burrows recalled his first experience of watching the Tour de France, when having waited hours saw the riders whoosh past in seconds! He thanked Tony and said his fascinating presentation was ‘reet champion’!

We look forward to David Howe’s talk about Prime Ministers of the Midlands on May 14 and Tales of the Unexpected by Bob Young on May 21.

CHRIS DONOUGH

Probus Club of Evesham