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Wikipedia tells us that the Probus Club movement was formed in the UK in 1965. It started in two other clubs. Fred Carnill, of the Welwyn Garden City Rotary Club, met other retired friends for morning coffee—mostly ex-commuters to London, with professional and business backgrounds. From this, he started a luncheon club. The Rotary Club president arranged the first meeting and 45 men attended. This club was known as ‘The Campus Club’.
Since then Probus clubs have been formed throughout the UK and in other countries. In Horsham, West Sussex, there are five. Our club – Probus Shelley – was the last of these five to be formed. The inaugural meeting was held at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre on 10th January 1995. Monthly meetings were held there until the venue was changed to the Roffey Sports and Social Club in 2002.
So what have we done in the last 29 years (1995 to 2023) ??
Well, the Covid-19 Pandemic brought things to a halt for around 18 months but we were able to talk to each via 9 Zoom meetings in 2021.
Otherwise, we attended 331 meetings and listened to a talk at all bar 4.
The talks were given by 261 guest speakers and 66 club members.
We’ve been out walking on 388 occasions and recovered from the strenuous exercise with 400 pub lunches [One also has to train for the lunches]. We have held annual club lunches, Chinese banquets and annual summer barbecues.
There have been 280 visits, outings and events.
On 7 occasions it was decided to get away from Horsham with prolonged breaks. A storm lashed regions of Devon we visited and we even went across the Channel – which, despite having 3 gliding days and getting 24 certificated pilots, was crossed by Train and Ferry.
We have hit, pushed, prodded, thrown and rolled balls of various substances, sizes, colours and weights on 304 occasions as we played Golf, Snooker and Bowls.
Our hearts and minds have been lifted by going to Concerts 142 times, and Theatres 118 times. At one point we held 8 Art workshops.
And in the past we also had 110 sessions of Bridge.
Who ever said retirement was restful! And we are proud that we still have some of our original fifty founding members active in club events to-day.
