Probus Club of Basingstoke
The relaxation of Covid restrictions resulted in a Probus Club of Basingstoke tradition being enjoyed, that of members and wives meeting for a social pub lunch. Over thirty people were glad to see each other face to face rather than using Zoom as had been necessary on many occasions over the last twenty months.
The AGM
Then it was time for a much-delayed Annual General Meeting, being the 41st since the club was founded back in 1979. Covid restrictions delayed it from June until mid-September and was held at the Test Valley Golf club, the normal venue for Probus monthly meetings.
Because Covid made it impossible to hold the AGM in June 2020 the Executive Committee had continued in office for a second year. This time there was a change at the top with David Wickens (a retired engineering sales manager) taking over as President from Richard Wood (a retired Chartered engineer).
The other committee members, who range from a nuclear scientist, a solicitor, a small business owner, a civil engineer and two RAF officers have specific responsibilities and were happy to continue in post for another nine months until June 2022. This ensures that their experiences are paramount in successfully returning to normal operations as a social club for retired Professional and Business managers as per the acronym of the name the Probus Club.
Meeting for lunch
Although Probus clubs now extend throughout the English-speaking world, with most UK towns having one or two Probus Clubs, the organisation was founded in Caterham, Surrey, in 1964 for retired managers who wanted to remain socially active. With no central office each club sets its own rules while following the basic tenet that likeminded men from all branches of society enjoy meeting for lunch with an attendant interesting speaker. Other opportunities exist to include wives for visits to interesting places throughout the year.
Interested? See www.probusbasingstoke.club for more information.
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