40th AGM of Probus Club of Basingstoke

Posted on by Paul Flint

 

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Richard Wood receives the presidential chain of office from retiring secretary Paul Flint

 

“The underlying ethos of providing an important avenue of welcome interest and stimulus for those in retirement applies today just as it did over forty years ago when the Probus Club of Basingstoke was formed.”

This was the view of the club’s outgoing President, Chris Perkins MVO, in his report to members of this social organisation for retired professional and business managers at its 40th Annual General Meeting on 27 June. It was held at Christ Church in Chineham which for many years hosted their speaker events.

Today the club meets at the Test Valley Golf club on the second Tuesday of most months with a guest speaker and lunch followed by some business discussions. There is also a social pub lunch every month and there are outings and visits during the year which include the wives and partners of members. The next formal visit, which had to be booked over a year ago, is to the Commandant’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in August.

Richard Wood, of Bramley, was installed as their new President by outgoing Secretary, Paul Flint, of Kempshott. Also retiring, after each had served for more than a decade, was Treasurer Alan May of Oakley and Outings Organiser, Tony Atchison, of Chineham. The newly appointed Secretary is Peter Hayes, along with Dr Jeff Grover as Treasurer, both from Bramley.  David Wickens, a recent mover from Chineham to Newbury, was elected as Vice President while maintaining his role as the Programme Secretary being responsible for arranging the wide array of interesting guest speakers. Outgoing President, Chris Perkins MVO, of Kempshott, will now become the Outings Organiser while Alex Marianos, also a Bramley resident, continues as Dining Steward and Paul Flint continues in his role of Publicity Officer.

 

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Lesley Atchison receives a bouquet from new president Richard Wood to thank her for arranging the canapes and drinks after the AGM

 

The first Probus Club was founded in 1965 in Caterham, Surrey, and in those days consisted of mainly retired members of Rotary. Today its members are from a wide background of professional and business managers as well as the military.  There are Probus clubs in most towns with in excess of 180,000 members in UK and extends throughout the English speaking world.