Month: July 2016

The Mayor of Basingstoke & Deane, Cllr Jane Frankum was guest of honour with her son, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Paul Frankum at the first lunch of the new Probus Club season. Fred Locke, the newly-elected President of the Probus Club of Basingstoke – a club for retired professionals and businessmen – welcomed the Mayor to the lunch at the Test Valley Golf Club on Tuesday 12th July. This was his first official function since being appointed President at the Club’s recent AGM.

Cllr Jane Frankum told the Club how she was working as a hospital cleaner when she was first elected as a Popley councillor in 1998, and gave an outline of her work as a councillor, both on Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, and also on Hampshire County Council.

She gave details of her charity – the Mayor’s Community Chest 2016-2017 – which is administered by Basingstoke Voluntary Action, with the aim of providing support to small groups working in the community. She also encourages people to donate their time in volunteering, as well as donating money. When she attended the lunch, she had been Mayor for about 9 weeks, and explained that she has already had success in encouraging youngsters to volunteer, a project to which she attaches great importance, particularly to facilitate communication between the young and old. Fred Locke thanked the Mayor and Cllr Paul Frankum for attending the lunch, and was pleased to present a cheque to the Mayor in support of her charity, on behalf of the Probus Club.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke had been in existence since 1979, the organisation having been formed in Surrey in 1965 by retired members of the Rotary Club. These days most towns have a Probus Club whose diverse membership brings a wide range of experiences to bear in what is a social organisation for like-minded men. The ladies also join in several times during the year at lunches, the Christmas dinner, and various outside trips.

The very recent 37th Annual General Meeting of the Probus Club of Basingstoke saw a change at the top of this social organisation for retired professional and business managers. Fred Locke of Bramley was appointed President for the ensuing year by the outing holder Alan Porter, also of Bramley.

“It is a coincidence” said Fred,” that we both live in the same village, but many of our members live in Bramley so it’s really no surprise that this has happened. However the new Vice President, Nick Waring, lives in Oakley so next year when he becomes the President will ensure there is a geographical shift to the west of Basingstoke.”

Except for Tony Atchison of Chineham, who returns as the Outings Organiser, the other members of the Executive Committee are unchanged which gives great continuity as the club moves into its 38th year of existence.