Ralph,
I think, for me, it still took me to the page as I was signed in via the app on my phone/tablet. Signing out of the app as well then took me to a sign in page.
If you are a registered FB user then you request to join the group but I, or another admin, have to approve admission to the group. I have set up a couple of questions to try to keep it to members of the Club only. In practice any FB user could stumble across the group and request to join which sort of defeats the object of it being closed!
Should R15 members want to join that's fairly easy as I have an up to date list. However, if someone from, say, R16 wanted to join then I would have to check they are a Club member with HQ before approving. Hence the couple of questions up front.
If I can find a way to let you, Clive and any other member who does not wish to sign up to FB, view the group posts then I will do so. At present though it appears to me that you have to be signed in somewhere, via https or app, to view ANYTHING inside FB.