KEITH Walker, a Stroud Probus member and formerly marketing director of Redler was the speaker at the first March meeting where he gave an illustrated presentation entitled 'The Importance of Redler to Stroud'.

Arnold Redler the founder was born in South Moulton and suffered from hearing loss.

He re-located to Sharpness where he was involved in the rain industry, however because his workforce was severely depleted due to men being called up for military service he found it necessary to use female staff.

This presented him with a problem as the sacks men had been required to carry were too heavy for the ladies so to overcome this difficulty he invented a machine to move goods.

So it was that Redler E-Masse Handling came into existence.

Arnold Redler moved to Stroud and established a factory at Cainscross, which at one time employed five hundred staff involved in the production of machines to move a variety of goods.

He bought a house called 'The Lawn' at Cainscross when the main road ran up Bridge Street to a crossroads controlled by traffic lights, he had an organ installed which because of his deafness he played loudly resulting in neighbours complaining about the noise.

The house was demolished many years ago and the land is now occupied by Cainscross round-a-bout and Tricorn House.

In 1930 Arnold met the then Prince of Wales at the London Exhibition where the company was exhibiting it's products.

As a result orders were received from various parts of the world, and Keith told members that a walk around any supermarket would find goods on display which were at one stage of production moved by Redler En-Masse Handling.

This presentation was of particular interest considering it's local connection, and the president, Peter Nairn gave a vote of thanks.

Probus meet at 10.15am on the second and fourth Wednesday each month at The Cotswold Indoor Bowling Centre, Dudbridge, Stroud, and is open to all retired men.

Ample free parking is available on site.