CHAIRMAN

John Parker

Tel. 07970 568425

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

       ???

SECRETARY

Allan (Mac) Black

Tel. 07512 022949

TREASURER

Duncan Pickard

Tel. 01334 870203

TALK CONVENOR

Graeme Hogg

Tel. 01334 653043

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jim Lawrence

David Martin

Maurice Shepherd

David Sinclair

ASSIST. TALK CONVENOR

Bill Bowman

TALK RECORDERS

Jim Lawrence

Tony Miklinski

Brian Murray

Graham Pirie

MEMBERS PAGE

To access the MEMBERS page enter your password in the box above

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Wednesday

11th February 2026

10.00am

'Literacy in Scotland'

Presenter - David Neill

Club News

Secretary email: macblack.author@gmail.com

The meeting held in the Castlehill Community Hall on 28th January, marked the start of John Parker's year in the Chair. He welcomed a good attendance that included a new member, Graham Sinclair, and our speaker for today, Pheonix Archer.

Graham Sinclair hails from Dunfermline but has lived in St Andrews for a long time, and is a retired financial consultant with his own business, and is an ex-member of St Andrews Probus.

Pheonix Archer is representative of the RNID - the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. She would be explaining the service that is provided by her group across Fife, with local involvement in Cupar LIbrary on the second Friday of each month from 1.45pm to 3.45pm. At the Cupar Library meeting there will be the opportunity to discuss hearing problems, and get assistance with hearing aids - cleaning and possible repair.

Have you retired - would you like to join us?

If you look at the various Notice Boards that are dotted around Cupar you should see a poster about Cupar Probus Club. We are inviting persons who have retired and are free on Wednesday mornings, and who would like to make new friends, to come and join us at our twice monthly meetings in Castlehill Community Hall. If you are curious, but uncertain about actually joining, you are welcome to come along for a taster session and to meet us. 

Our website cuparprobusclub.org.uk can tell you more about us.

The Work of the RNID

Our speaker today was Phoenix Archer from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID). During her talk Phoenix explained the various environmental, medical and medication factors that can affect an individual’s hearing. The RNID work closely with NHS Audiology Services and RNID drop-in sessions are run locally in Cupar and other locations around Fife. Roughly half the population will suffer hearing loss at some point in their lives and around one third of us will suffer significant hearing issues. Phoenix stressed the importance of consulting your GP if you have a concern about hearing and in addition the support available from the RNID who can help with hearing tests and letters of referral to a GP. For those who already wear hearing aids the correct fitting and regular adjustments to the domes and tubes of personal aids can make a big difference to hearing quality. Our ears are not symmetrical so for best hearing quality adjustments may be needed. Hearing loss is especially relevant as we get older and having problems hearing our Grandchildren’s voices, young children have a higher pitch, can be a sign of hearing issues. The RNID also work closely with technical researchers to aid the development of new and improved hearing aids.  This excellent presentation brought many questions from the audience ranging from ear wax removal to the pros and cons of audio ear buds now popular with many people, especially the younger generation. After Phoenix’s talk there was a queue of members to consult Phoenix with more detailed personal queries. Altogether a fascinating and very relevant presentation given our groups mature demographic.

Jim Lawrence