The
PROBUS Club of Billericay - 30th Anniversary.
PROBUS stands for PROfessional and BUSiness
A group of retired business and professional men met in The Rose Hall, Chapel Street one lunchtime in May 1977 and, with the assistance of the Billericay Rotary Club, created the Probus Club of Billericay. Meetings were held on the last Thursday in the month, some members thought a weekly meeting to be too frequent, it was decided that the dress standard would be smart and that the object of the club was “Good Fellowship”.
The first chairman was Dr Frank Rilstone, the first secretary Gerald Copsey and the first treasurer Sydney Boyce. Several Rotarians helped with the formation of the club, in particular the President at that time Brian Ford, also involved were Ben Clarke, Alan Ford, Bert Reed and Charles Spare ……. Remember them?
Of the original founder members only Gordon Macey, who is now 88 years old, is able to occasionally attend meetings. Gordon was chairman in 1982. He recollects that the first meal was a plate of soup followed by cheese and biscuits, which was paid for on the day and the annual subscription was £1. Club membership was limited to 30 people; there were no speakers, no outings or holidays very different from the activities of the club today. Gordon was also the first treasurer for Hamlin House and worked over 40 years for the Minister of Education, in 1976 he was awarded the ISO, The Imperial Service Order for his achievements.
After a short time at the Rose Hall the club moved to The Heybridge at Ingatestone eventually moving to their present home at the Hutton Banqueting Hall in 1983. In 1987 the popular and well loved Billericay person Norman Thompson joined the club and then became the secretary in 1990. There followed a period during which Norman introduced new activities in an attempt to “modernise” the club. He started the monthly newsletter, organised days out for members and their spouses and insisted that the club should keep in touch with the widows of members offering them assistance and support in their bereavement. He relinquished his position as secretary in 2005 after 15 years of excellent and constructive dedication to the club. What an achievement. Incidentally Norman was awarded the Billericay “Citizen of the Year” in 1999 “In recognition of his contribution to the life of the community and his concern for the wellbeing of others”. In 2002, the club’s 25th anniversary, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, invited Probus to send a representative to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. Chairman Jim Newman and his wife Jean had the great honour of attending. In 1996 some of the member’s wives formed the “Billericay Ladies Probus Club” which proved to be so popular that a second Ladies Club was formed shortly after.
In this the club’s 30th year John Watson is the chairman but he will be succeeded at the next meeting by Roy Watson. The membership has now grown to about 60 members who enjoy various social activities. For example the short break holiday last year was to Scotland to take part in the 6 day railway experience, whilst this spring the break was to the Dutch waterways including Kukenhof Gardens. Later this year the club will be visiting Scotland for 5 days which will include the Edinburgh Tattoo. Visits to other places have also been arranged.
Twice yearly, spring and Christmas, the wives of members are invited to enjoy a Ladies Luncheon and annually a Summer Garden Party is held at the home of one of the members. This is a very active, interesting, progressive and popular club for the active senior citizens of Billericay and if you are interested in joining then please contact the secretary Eric Nash on 01277 654244.