By Henry Webber, chairman, Oxted & District Probus Club
Oxted & District Probus is a great link for business and professional men, who are retired or almost retired, to meet, chat, take a tasty lunch, hear an interesting speaker and support local charities. Probus clubs originated in 1965, when a group of Rotarians, wishing to continue their friendship after retiring from work, met in Welwyn Garden City.
The idea was taken up a year later in Caterham (yes, Caterham!), where the name Probus was adopted. This reflected the PROfessional and BUSiness membership, which in fact embraces anyone who has held a position of responsibility during their professional life. There are now 247 Probus clubs in the UK and 45 in Surrey.
Oxted & District Probus Club meets in St Peter’s Hall, Limpsfield, on the third Wednesday of each month. A bar opens at noon and lunch is served at 12:30, followed by the speaker, who will often support a charity rather than taking a fee. Talks this year include Scotland Yard, the 1915 Zeppelin raid on Croydon, UFOs, Bygone Limpsfield, St Catherine’s Hospice and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The club’s visits secretary organises several visits each year for members, with wives and other guests. Recent visits have included the Medway Queen, a ship which rescued troops from Dunkirk in 1940, Bazalgette’s Victorian Cathedral of Ironwork at Crossness, Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, Pashley Manor’s tulip festival and the annual musical revival at Chichester Theatre.
There are currently over 80 members and new members are always welcome. See the Oxted and District Probus Club website for more information.
