Luncheons and Speakers

2022

The Probus Club of Yeovil meets at The Quicksilver Mail pub, Hendford Hill, Yeovil BA20 2RG – on the second Monday of each month

2022 SPEAKERS

10th January	The Merchant Navy	David Parsons
14th February	30 Years Quit – Gamblers Anonymous Saved Me	Paul Isherwood
14th March	The Morgan Motor Company	Neville Lear
11th April	The Battle of Britain	John Smith
9th May	Fakes and Forgeries	Richard Kay of Lawrences Auctioneers
13th June	West Country Witchcraft	Brian Wright
11th July	John Scott, Nelson’s Secretary and Friend	John Maynard
8th August	Dorset and Somerset AirAmbulance	tba
12th September	Yeovil’s Past	Jack Sweet
10th October	Garden in Your Gut	Rob Bygrave
14th November	AGM
12th December	Wessex Water	Jane Angell

On Monday 11th July guest speaker, John Maynard gave a fascinating talk to Yeovil Probus Club about one of his ancestors, John Scott, who was Admiral Lord Nelson’s Secretary.

Scott came from fairly humble Scottish origins but received a good education, enabling to him to become a warrant officer secretary in the Royal Navy.  As a ship’s secretary he was not only responsible for any correspondence and record keeping, but also victualling his vessel. He became highly regarded and posted to ever larger ships.  At a young age he became not only the secretary to Lord Nelson, but also his confidante and friend. He was also a confidante of Emma Lady Hamilton and it was from Scott that Nelson learnt of the birth of his illegitimate son shortly after leaving England in 1905.

Scott was present at the Battle of Trafalgar and stationed on the quarter deck of Victory, next to Nelson, to record the battle where, sadly, one of the first cannonballs killed him immediately. Nelson clearly valued Scott enormously, writing that “…as a secretary for ability, punctuality and regularity I believe your superior is not to be met with”. It is a testimony to Scott that Nelson ensured that his family, to whom he was very close, were well provided for.