I received a phone call asking if I would become the first lady member of this club.

My first reaction was a definite No. I knew that there were still in the club a few men who preferred the club to continue as a gentlemen’s lunch club and I fully appreciated that. Nobody likes change.

I then thought about what I had gained by being associated with the Haywards Heath & District Probus Club over the years when my husband had been a member and my own involvement from the side lines as such.

We had some wonderful holidays. River boats in Europe, monthly outings to many places of interest. I and many others. Visited places we possibly would never have gone to. There were lots of laughs on the way.

There was another reason why I agreed to become the first lady member and now your President.  I would like to bring back 'Help and Caring' during my year of office. 

I was very privileged to receive practical help during my husband’s illness. Just to be able to go to the shops and not worry because a kind person had offered to sit with him.  The person who took all the phone calls so that we could get a meal and then passed news on. The queue of people waiting to visit at the hospice was incredible.

If help is needed, I would like to know about it and `I am sure we can find a way and a person prepared to help. Eric and Marcia do a wonderful job but they cannot do it all.

For the future:

On a more cheerful note, we will do our best to get more outings organised. Any member who wishes to organise a day out, could be a day at the races (Plumpton), Skittles, Ploughman’s lunch, Bluebell Railway, Theatre visits. Any help would be welcome.

I hope I can live up to the job of being the first Lady President.