Hay-making on a farm, as a young man inspired Kyrle Probus Club member, Robin Nicol, to become involved in agriculture for the rest of his working life, the club meeting was told on Thursday, September 20th.

When he was advised that he should get as much practical experience as possible, Robin, then 19, decided to work on a 3,000 acre ranch in Canada.

Calling his talk ‘Reflections’ Robin gave a fascinating slide-show highlighting the great impact and wonderful memories from the trip. They included a backcloth of majestic mountainous landscapes towering over glaciers and lakes and immense open spaces as Robin worked the land six days a week, finding the experience challenging and satisfying.

Based in a ranch bunk-house, Robin’s duties ranged from fencing to ‘mucking out’ as well as feeding the 35 horses.

The spectacular and famous Calgary Stampede, with its cow-branding exhibitions and chuck-wagon racing teams provided a colourful event before Robin moved on with his 99-dollar Greyhound bus ticket and unlimited travel.

His itinerary took in a conifer-bedecked wilderness; endless prairies; Vancouver Island; Seattle; Montreal, and finally New York.

Robin was an agri-environment adviser with the Worcester-based Farming and Rural Conservancy Agency (FRCA), before taking early retirement. He has been a Kyrle Probus Club member for 18 years.

Kyrle Probus is a men-only club which meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 10.30am at the Conservative Club in Ross. For more information see the website www.kyrleprobusross.org.uk or contact Secretary Jeff Morris on 01989 563698.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.