Probus Club members pay respects

Bognor Regis Probus Club chairman Neil Harris was supported by members when, together with other local organisations, he laid a wreath at the War Memorial in front of the town hall on Remembrance Sunday.

The club has many members who are veterans of the D-Day campaign.

At the November monthly meeting, speaker Patrick Phillips was from the Driving Standards Agency and a member of their Arrive Alive road-safety team.

His excellent visual presentation accompanied by his personal touches was aimed at the older driver, and there were plenty of them listening with great interest.

The comparison between the first compulsory driving tests in 1935 and those of today showed there are many similar categories of competence that are examined.

Hand signals were recalled together with emergency stops and road courtesy.

Mr Phillips, himself a driving examiner, stressed the difficulties of the older driver, mentioning in particular tiredness, taking medicines that impaired judgment, stress and failing eyesight.

The older drivers should test their eyesight by standing by a car, taking 25 steps away and turning to see if they could read the number plate.

The new Highway Code was recommended to read as regulations change and new road signs are always being introduced.

He said the question as to when a person should stop driving is not an easy decision to make and growing older is no reason to give up driving providing the DVLA's licence requirements are met.

However, it was suggested if a driver has the slightest problem then a session with a driving instructor for an assessment drive would be very beneficial.

A lively question-and-answer session followed with much emphasis being put on stress and tiredness, especially the need to take breaks at least every two hours and in some circumstances even more often.

John Lakin received the club's best wishes for his forthcoming move away from Bognor Regis. New members Mick Segger and Ted Irons were introduced and members were reminded booking with the secretary was necessary to attend the December Christmas luncheon.

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