Talks
Ashtead and Leatherhead Probus
Talks
10 times a year we have a talk on a topic of general interest.
Take a look through the upcoming events and for a full idea of the subjects covered, view our “Past Talks”
Future Talks
Annual General Meeting followed by talk on present day Iran
Meeting date:
19 October, 2026
19 October, 2026
Presenter:
Dr Mehrdad Khonsari
Dr Mehrdad Khonsari
Details:
Following our short AGM, Dr Khonsari will give a talk on the present day politics and economics of Iran. Dr Khonsari, an Iranian political activist in exile, is one of the leading writers and commentators in his field. He was a senior Iranian diplomat until the Islamist revolution in 1979 pushed him into exile, whereupon he became an adviser to the Iranian Prime Minister in exile and also to the late Shah's son. Since 1991 he has founded or been active in various institutions commenting on Iranian affairs and has made frequent appearances on TV.
Following our short AGM, Dr Khonsari will give a talk on the present day politics and economics of Iran. Dr Khonsari, an Iranian political activist in exile, is one of the leading writers and commentators in his field. He was a senior Iranian diplomat until the Islamist revolution in 1979 pushed him into exile, whereupon he became an adviser to the Iranian Prime Minister in exile and also to the late Shah's son. Since 1991 he has founded or been active in various institutions commenting on Iranian affairs and has made frequent appearances on TV.
The Aristocrat, the Able Seaman & the tragic sinking of RMS Titanic
Meeting date:
16 November, 2026
16 November, 2026
Presenter:
Angela Young
Angela Young
Details:
When Titanic left Southampton in 1912, neither the Aristocrat, the Countess of Rothes, nor the Able Seaman, Thomas Jones, imagined meeting, let alone navigating a tiny lifeboat together at night, among towering icebergs. But Jones put the Countess at the tiller of his boat when he recognised her calm capability, and for seven long hours they did all they could to shepherd at least twenty-five others to safety. Angela Young, the great-granddaughter of the Countess, tells the stories of these two courageous Titanic survivors and explains why so very few people survived the tragedy.
When Titanic left Southampton in 1912, neither the Aristocrat, the Countess of Rothes, nor the Able Seaman, Thomas Jones, imagined meeting, let alone navigating a tiny lifeboat together at night, among towering icebergs. But Jones put the Countess at the tiller of his boat when he recognised her calm capability, and for seven long hours they did all they could to shepherd at least twenty-five others to safety. Angela Young, the great-granddaughter of the Countess, tells the stories of these two courageous Titanic survivors and explains why so very few people survived the tragedy.
Christmas Lunch
Meeting date:
21 December, 2026
21 December, 2026
Presenter:
Entertainment by the Soundbytes Choir
Entertainment by the Soundbytes Choir
On being the set photographer for ‘Room with a View’
Meeting date:
18 January, 2027
18 January, 2027
Presenter:
Sarah Quill
Sarah Quill
How our Constitution has changed over the last 30 years
Meeting date:
15 February, 2027
15 February, 2027
Presenter:
Dr David Starkey
Dr David Starkey
TBA
Meeting date:
15 March, 2027
15 March, 2027
TBA
Meeting date:
19 April, 2027
19 April, 2027
TBA
Meeting date:
17 May, 2027
17 May, 2027
Summer Lunch
Meeting date:
21 June, 2027
21 June, 2027
Details:
No talk
No talk
TBA
Meeting date:
19 July, 2027
19 July, 2027
TBA
Meeting date:
16 August, 2027
16 August, 2027
TBA
Meeting date:
20 September, 2027
20 September, 2027
AGM followed by TBA
Meeting date:
18 October, 2027
18 October, 2027
TBA
Meeting date:
15 November, 2027
15 November, 2027
Christmas Lunch
Meeting date:
20 December, 2027
20 December, 2027