Those who were there will remember Brian’s remarkable summary in “verse” of the Club’s history.  He has now kindly given his permission for it to be published here:

Our Probus Club was sponsored by Rotary,
Without expensive aid by a notary,
Just an initial meeting to inspire any vot(e)ary.
To the interested parties in Christ Church Hall,
The concept explained held most in thrall.
Brigantes offered the services of an ex-Rotarian,
To be our first Secretary cum Librarian.
They didn’t suggest small print ‘t’s and ‘c’s.
But nor did they favour ‘do as you please’.
They recommended an objective and specimen rules,
For the guidance of wise men; rigid observance by fools.
As a confident loan, not countenancing failure,
We even received Presidential regalia.

But then the meeting came to a halt with a jerk,
Well – running a club calls for volunteer work.
Then my pal Bob McEwen upped his hand in a trice
And volunteered to be the Club’s first Vice,
An inspired gesture that broke the ice.
It prompted our one and only retired ‘copper’,
The late Ron Shersby, firmly to end the ‘stopper’,
By declaring his willingness and intent,
To stand as our first President.
Thus did the Club come alive,
With an opening membership of fifty-five.

Thereafter a series of Presidents have wisely steered the ship,
And Vice-Presidents have organised many a trip.
By coach, barge and train the excursions make us,
Evermore appreciative of Yorkshire’s ‘Broad Acres’,
They’ve also arranged our seasonal lunches,
Consistently attended by convivial bunches,
And Roy Bradley’s carols and brass band event,
Has launched the spirit of Christmas each Advent.

Our Treasurers have carefully managed the funds and as yet,
None has whipped away with the subs to Tibet.
Secretaries have strived to fill each hour with a minute,
Fearful that members might then only bin it.
In these digital times it has seemed Secretaries’ fate,
That some of us might be slow to be computer literate.
Currently progress is maturing fine,
As more members access our web-site online.

Fitter members join in coordinated hikes,
Along routes mapped out by naturalised tykes,
No matter the weather, each circuit never fails ,
To highlight the beauty of the Dales.
For post-walk lunch at the hosting pub’s table,
Walkers are usually joined by a few less physically able.
All to solve the world’s problems and also to guess,
Will the steak pie score ten, or just be an ‘Eaton’ mess?

Twice monthly our core activity is an interesting presentation,
Usually a talk about any subject in creation.
In arranging such variety, a succession of Speaker Finders,
Have, in sports-men’s terms, “played blinders”.
And many of our own members gallant,
Have added to the pool of speaker talent.

Unsung heroes have long maintained our history,
In case the story gets lost in mystery.
Or published our programme and views,
With new members’ CVs and half yearly news.
Or audited meticulously all those amounts,
That go to comprise our annual accounts.

Of course fate has shuffled the membership roll,
As Father Time has taken his toll.
Lest we forget, we make amends,
By ensuring remembrance of absent friends.
And membership still holds up great,
At the moment sixty-eight.

That we have always been a Club of male membership,
Doesn’t imply antipathy to female fellowship.
Our ladies are invited to selected meetings,
And to all social events we extend them greetings.

And so to our guests, honoured by your presence,
How can one summarise the Probus Progress essence?
The strength of the Club, from my observations,
Derives from the very varied range of occupations,
In which members honed their talents during employment,
And now practise them further in social deployment.
The Club still going strong after twenty-five years,
Proves we haven’t just been here for the beers,
Proves that to prefer an active social life in retirement,
Helps to defer one’s date of ‘expirement’(!)
And new members will arrive to bring a fresh view,
Hopefully to join a queue, to contribute their due,
Then long may our Club continue!