In good heart forthe next 25 years

This was most evident at a well attended general meeting of the travel and social section of the club which confirmed the proposed programme for 2008 and invited ideas for 2009.

The current programme for 2007 continues with a recent day visit to Salisbury and a four-day visit to Oxford and the Cotswolds.

The day trip was based on the White Hart Hotel which is in easy walking distance of the cathedral, the delightful upper reaches of the river Avon and the extensive open market.

On the way to Oxford, a stop was made at the superbly re-born GWR complex in Swindon.

Then there was a comprehensive tour of the Cotswolds with coffee in Stow, lunch in Cirencester and tea in Burford not to mention sight of Bourton on the Water, Bibury, Witney and the Chippings.

In Oxford there was the wonderfully presented Oxford Story from 1090 to the present day, the dreaming spires in abundance and other internationally recognised treasures plus the justifiably famous covered market for some retail therapy to offset the culture.

The May meeting of the clubwas well attended with new members inducted.

Speaker John Forster in May spoke eloquently of his fascination and obsession with all things metal detection from the original cumbersome two-man mine detection probe to the current hi-tech detectors costing up to 1,000 and effective up to nine inches below the surface.

Ground rules and courtesies were emphasised for searches as a club, with friends or individually and the correct recording and disposal of finds.

This hobby has more disappointments, especially from the curse of can ring pulls and silver paper, than successes but occasionally there is a significant find such as a gold sovereign lost in 1902 and found by John who was able to verify the circumstances and has a photograph of the family concerned to prove it.

This, with numerous other finds including coins, shards and metal artefacts from all ages past, are recorded on camera or on display and are proof positive of John's continuous search for his personal Holy Grail which he hopes will startle the world.

The Bognor Regis Men's Probus Club meets in the Royal Norfolk Hotel every third Wednesday of the month except August. For further information call secretary Wilf Archer on 821388.