Probus Talk – Grate Talk by Cheese Producer

The Henley Probus Club welcomed guest speaker Patrick Heathcote Amery who is Production Director of Nettlebed Creamery which is based at the Cheese Shed, High Street, Nettlebed to their meeting this week.

Patrick outlined the development of Nettlebed Creamery since its start up in Nettlebed in 2014 as a privately owned business.

Patrick’s talk covered the many issues associated with the manufacture of hard and soft cheeses and the development of the associated supply chain leading to the winning of a World Cheese Award and a British Cheese Award. He went on to describe the difficult COVID period and how the company had to adapt its approach to business to survive this very challenging environment.

Today, Nettlebed Creamery employs c 50 people and has annual sales of c £1m.

There followed a tasting of the Nettlebed Creamery cheeses.

The Chairman thanked Patrick for his fascinating presentation which was warmly appreciated by the members.

Henley Probus meets at Badgemore Park on the second Tuesday of each month; it starts with an informal gathering of its members (plus Visitors) for a discussion and coffee, with the formal meeting commencing at 1130 followed by a lunch. Each meeting normally includes a presentation from a guest speaker, and it is planned that the next meeting, to be held on March 14, will be a talk from John Brearley covering ‘The Great Exhibition of 1851 and the Arts and Craft Movement’.

If anyone is interested in joining the men’s Henley Probus, please make themselves known to Roger Griffiths our Membership Secretary (01491575137/email regriffiths@waitrose.com) or to any Club member that you may know.