** PROBUS MEETING ON TUESDAY,  JULY 14th AT ASHBOURNE GOLF CLUB **

15 Probus members attended the meeting.

The speaker at this meeting was Tony Walden and the subject – “The Buck Stops Here”.

The talk was about the Walden family firm, originally A. Walden & Sons then changed to A&G Walden Brothers Ltd, trading as Walden’s Trucks.
The firm was started in 1850 and made products from willow and cane in the Somerset Levels.
In 1852 the firm moved to London where it continued to grow and diversified into making hand carts.
However after World War 2, the Blind Institute employed injured forces personnel to make willow products that they 
sold at material cost, which wiped out the basket trade nation-wide.
Walden Bothers changed their focus to vulcanised fibre boxes, exercise wheels and expanded their range of carts.
Tony joined Walden Brothers in 1956.
When the lease on their premises in London expired after 99 years Walden Brothers decided to move to Dalston London, following growth of the business they then moved to Brandon in Suffolk.
In Brandon the business prospered and Walden Brothers increased their range of products, 
producing products that suited their manufacturing capability to meet market demand.
In 1998 Tony retired and his brother continued to run the business until 2010 when it was sold to Hyprosteps.

Tony peppered his talk with many amusing stories.

There was a lively Q & A session before Peter Oldfield called on members to give a vote of thanks.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday August 11th 2026 when the talk will be ” The Klondike Gold Rush”.