Probus Club has 44th AGM

Posted on by Paul Flint
Outgoing President Dr Jeff Grover hands over the chain of office to new President Stephen Thair

With 45 years of continuous operation the Probus Club of Basingstoke has just held its 44th Annual General meeting.

It was formed in 1979 under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Basingstoke to provide fellowship for retired professional and businessmen. Today membership consists of men with a wide array of backgrounds from ex- military, legal, scientific, medical, civil engineering, insurance, local government, civil service, car dealerships, small business owners and managers with international experience.

The newly appointed president, Stephen Thair, is a retired solicitor and the vice president, John Swain, was a bank note design manager. Secretary Andrew Barton worked five years at the EC in Brussels followed by an international oil company, Treasurer, Dr Jeff Grover was a nuclear scientist, Publicity officer, Paul Flint had a design and printing business in Basingstoke, and Outings Organiser, Chris Perkins MVO, retired from the RAF with the rank of Squadron Leader.

The club’s officers are completed with Michael Luck as Programme Secretary (speaker finder) who was a consultant specialising in credit card payment systems and Dr Nick Waring, a retired GP, is the Welfare officer. Paul Miller will provide specialist support in some circumstances.

President Stephen Thair with the Executive Committee (missing are Michael Luck and Dr Nick Waring)

When the Equalities Act came into force, it gave protected interest groups freedom to choose their rules about membership. There were some Probus Clubs across the UK that decided to accept women members, however, this was not the case in Basingstoke. Although the decision reached was to remain purely as a club for retired men, this was assisted by having a well-established Ladies’ Probus club in Basingstoke, that also decided to remain true to their founders and not to admit men to their ranks.

That is not to say that the genders remain separate as most months there are occasions when they meet up or simply that the wives of members join their menfolk for meals and outings to interesting places.

The Probus Club of Basingstoke have their business meetings at the Test Valley Golf club followed by lunch. Their July meeting has as their speaker, member David Wickens, whose subject is ‘Lord’ George Sanger – who, in his day, was described as Britain’s greatest showman. August sees their annual Summer Pub lunch which includes their ladies, due to take place at the Bolton Arms in Old Basing.