Those of us who attended this lunch were rewarded by hearing a most interesting talk and by enjoying a particularly good lunch. The roast beef and Yorkshire pudding was delicious and the Hake looked very appetising. We will have to ask Chef to repeat this menu early next year. The August lunch was attended by 44 members, by two members' guests, and by our Speaker, Keith Kerruish. This attendance was our best for over three years.

Keith's talk was entitled, “Star of India”. This is a full-rigged iron windjammer built in 1863 by Gibson McDonald & Arnold of Ramsey for the Indian jute trade. The ship was originally named for “Euterpe”, the muse of music. She began her sailing life with two near-disastrous voyages to India. On her first trip she suffered a collision and a mutiny. On her second trip, a cyclone caught Euterpe in the Bay of Bengal, and with her topmasts cut away, she barely made port. Shortly afterward, her first captain died on board and was buried at sea. In late 1871, “Euterpe” began 25 years of carrying passengers and freight in the New Zealand emigrant trade , each voyage going eastward around the world. In 1897, after 21 round-the world trips, the ship was sold to the Alaska Packers Association to become a salmon hauler on the Alaska to California route. In 1906 the Association changed the ship's name to “Star of India”. It was laid up in 1923. After years of decay, the ship was restored and its home port is now the San Diego Maritime Museum. “Star of India” is kept fully sea worthy and is the second oldest ship in the world that still sails regularly; albeit within sight of the San Diego coast. She is sailed by a skilled volunteer crew of Maritime Museum members and usually returns to her dock within a day.

Keith's interest in the “Star of India” began nearly 50 years ago. He first visited the ship during 1970 and visited again, with family, during 1990. He made a third visit during 2013 to mark the ship's 150th Anniversary and was lucky enough to achieve his long held ambition to actually sail on it. Keith regrets that there is scant recognition in the Isle of Man of the world's oldest sea going iron built sailing ship which was built in Ramsey. Can that be rectified one day by creating a memorial?

REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE MANX MOTOR MUSEUM

A small party of eighteen members and wives visited the new Museum on 5th August and were impressed by both the size of the building and the number and variety of the exhibits contained therein. There were over 200 vintage motor vehicles from around the world, all with unique and fascinating stories to tell. For example, there was a car which could only be sold to women—American, of course. There were rarely seen motorcycles from world-renowned collectors on the upper floor and there were steam cars, lorries, and working model engines dating from the late 1870's. There was no need for a guide as each exhibit had a large card in front of it giving a clear description of what one was looking at and how it was acquired for the exhibition. After the visit, some of our party visited the Guard House Cafe, next door to the Museum, for afternoon tea.

MEETINGS

We meet every second Wednesday of the month for lunch and a talk at Ramsey Golf Club. Membership of Probus is open to all retired Professional and Business men. Please contact our Hon Secretary, John Christal, on 812565 if you would like more information.