History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROBUS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1965

The first club for retired business men and professionals, similar to present day Probus Clubs was formed in 1965 by a retired former Rotary Club Member in Welwyn Garden City. It was called The Campus Club, from the fact that the meeting was held in a venue called ‘The Campus’.

The Rotary District took up the idea with the result that “Rotary International, Britain and Ireland” published a leaflet about the idea to encourage other Rotary Clubs to sponsor a similar clubs.

In September 1965 Harold Blanchard from Caterham Rotary Cub retired from business and saw the need for something for retired business men who, formerly, did not have the prospect or inclination for social contacts in the district due to the hours spent commuting and working out of the area. The Club decided that the least that could be done was to organise perhaps a monthly lunch for retired people to enable them to meet for fellowship and participate in social activities in their own club and the idea was put to the Rotary Club Council who agreed with the suggestion.

The proposal was publicised  and  a meeting called at a local hotel for all retired professional and businessmen aged 60 and over living in the local area, in February 1966 and 42 prospective members turned up.  A monthly lunch was arranged so that the men could widen their range of acquaintances. The inaugural luncheon of the new Club took place on the 2nd March 1966.

Members were asked for suggestions for a name and of the many  proposed,  the name PROBUS was adopted taking the first three letters from ‘PROfessional and BUSiness’.   Iin May of that year a Committee was formed under the Chairmanship of the late Harold Blanchard  who is now accepted as the ‘Father Figure’ of Probus.

It was felt that members had suffered too many rules and regulations during their working lives and for this reason very simple Probus Club rules were adopted. The Chairman should serve for one year only and Committee members on average only occupy their posts for two years.  This encouraged volunteers to come forward and helped to ensure a continual current of fresh ideas in the club.

The success of the Probus Club of Caterham very soon became known among neighbouring Rotary Clubs and the whole concept being so simple snowballed and new clubs sprang up everywhere.

Today there are over 2000 clubs in Great Britain and Ireland with others in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Malta, South Africa, Spain, USA, Canada, Bermuda and South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, India, Argentina, Chile, and Malaysia.

Probus Clubs are entirely autonomous organisations, they aim to be unstuffy, have no political connections, and are not linked to any charity. They provide  opportunities for companionship amongst people who have retired from a busy working life and are looking for an outlet amongst people from similar backgrounds.