David McCandless, admin manager for St Ives Cromwell Probus Club admin, details what happened at the club's Christmas-themed lunch.

24 diners of the St Ives Cromwell Probus Club invited its latest centenarian, Ed Kelly (100 on December 5), to be the guest of honour at its five-course Christmas-themed lunch in The Brasserie, Slepe Hall Hotel.

David McCandless, the club’s administrator, chauffeured Ed from his home where, apart from his congratulatory greetings from King Charles and Queen Camilla, his lounge was bursting with cards, insignia, photos and military crests. 

Many of these represented his 41 years of flying duties as a Master Navigator and his subsequent involvement with the St Ives Royal British Legion, The Blenheim Society, The Pathfinder Association and the RAF Association. 

At the lunch, Chris Leah, the club’s chair, congratulated Ed on his birthday as everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ almost in tune.

The Hunts Post: Deputy Mayor of St Ives, Cllr Julie Kerr, endorsing congratulations to Ed and thanking the club.Deputy Mayor of St Ives, Cllr Julie Kerr, endorsing congratulations to Ed and thanking the club. (Image: David McCandless)

Cllr Julie Kerr, then endorsed the Club’s congratulations and thanked it on behalf of the town for its contribution to the social fabric of the local community by providing a convivial relaxed forum for ex-business people and their partners to meet monthly for ‘a good old chat’ and catchup with kindred spirits.

Over coffee, mince pies and after dinner mints, Chris Leah provided the diners with a very much précised summary of Ed Kelly’s life and RAF career that spanned 41 years.

This included some 7,400 flying hours as a Master Navigator on an amazing assortment of bomber aircraft including Canberras at some 17 RAF stations world-wide (his wife Joan remembers the packing for them all) before getting a desk job at JARIC, RAF Brampton from where he retired in 1982.

In retirement, Ed continued his contribution to his town with his contribution to the St Ives Royal British Legion for which he was the president for many years and led the RBL on the town’s Remembrance Day parade.

The Hunts Post: Ed thanking the club for its invitation and kind words. He is pictured next to the club’s ex-secretary, Alf Beazeley from Chatteris.Ed thanking the club for its invitation and kind words. He is pictured next to the club’s ex-secretary, Alf Beazeley from Chatteris. (Image: David McCandless)

Some of his other activities included being a founder member of the Blenheim Society and a member of the RAF Association.

Ed thanked the club for its invitation and kind words and to the delight and amusement of the diners recounted just one or two of his endless interesting experiences.

In true tradition, the lunch was concluded with a raffle, followed by a Christmas jumper competition judged by Crystal the Hotel’s manager who, having circulated the banquet table, decided that Gordon Steptoe was a worthy winner.

Mr Steptoe was presented with his prize before the £50 proceeds of the raffle were handed over to Crystal, by Chris Leah, as a Christmas box for the staff.

For more information about the PAYD Club or to join (no membership subscriptions): www.CromwellProbusClub.org.uk

The Hunts Post: Crystal, the hotel’s manager, presenting Gordon Steptoe with his prize for the best Christmas ‘jumper’ with Val Berg’s obvious approval. Crystal, the hotel’s manager, presenting Gordon Steptoe with his prize for the best Christmas ‘jumper’ with Val Berg’s obvious approval. (Image: David McCandless)

The Hunts Post: Chris Leah, the club’s chair, handing over the proceeds of the raffle to Crystal as a Christmas box for the staff.Chris Leah, the club’s chair, handing over the proceeds of the raffle to Crystal as a Christmas box for the staff. (Image: David McCandless)