In 1965 a pro-active member of a Rotary Club in the UK decided to initiate a project on behalf of the retired and semi-retired folk of their community. The idea was to invite some retired Professional and Businessmen to form a club which would meet monthly as a luncheon club – it constituted a form of extension of the Rotary movement to the retired community. Simultaneously, a similar club started by a Rotary Club elsewhere was named Probus. It took a while for these initial ideas to flourish and take off - but take off they did.
The title Probus was derived from the words PROfessional and BUSiness embracing any person who has had some measure of responsibility in such fields as commerce, industry, or education.
The Rotarians of these clubs who were Founder Members of their respective Probus Clubs did sterling work promoting and sponsoring such Clubs in adjacent towns in conjunction with local Rotary Clubs. A pamphlet urging other Rotary Clubs to do likewise was produced. So these modest beginnings in the Sixties and Seventies saw a vast expansion with Clubs being formed all over the country.
The basic inspiration behind a Probus club is to provide regular gatherings of people who, in their retirement, appreciate and value opportunities to meet others in similar circumstances and similar levels of interest. Retired and semi-retired men who join together in autonomous clubs throughout the UK – and subsequently, the world.
Rotary has adopted the approach of enabling a club to start and then leave it to its own devices. Being autonomous, activities of the clubs vary considerably: some simply gather monthly for a meeting followed by lunch while others organise activities such as after-lunch talks of general interest and visits to places of interest and, some, organise overseas tours.
The guiding principles of the clubs are that they should be:
The underlying principle that the clubs should be autonomous meant that there should be no central management or directing mechanism. But an increasing number of inquiries about other Probus clubs, not only because members were moving, but also as word was spreading about other clubs a realisation was that some central information point would be appropriate.
Thus, the Probus Information Centre (UK) was formed to deal with these matters. The supply of printing, diaries, badges, regalia etc. to meet clubs’ requests, and to engage more fully in the increasing correspondence. Although some argued that this represented a move to central control it was generally accepted that the Probus Information Centre (UK) constituted purely a crossroads for the interchange of information between clubs. Over the years the PIC(UK) has become established and accepted by most clubs as the Probus Centre in the UK. As there is no central management body, the PIC relies solely on the sale of its regalia and publications for its financial foundations.
The Probus Information Centre has aided the formation of many clubs, not only in the UK (well over 1500 clubs), but internationally. In the mid 1970's Probus was discovered by an enthusiastic Australian Rotarian, so Probus was established there and, having Rotarian inspiration, was established on Rotary lines, the Probus Clubs being divided into the same districts as the Rotary Districts. Probus Club numbers in Australia have reached some 1250 and in New Zealand 270. All registered and acknowledged by the Probus Centre South Pacific Pty. A recent development is a voluntary contribution from clubs of the PCS Pacific, in which most clubs donate $1 per member has proven a success and will ensure the future of the PCS Pacific. Most other countries have followed the Australian example.
The PIC(UK) has also been involved with forming Probus Clubs in the Netherlands (240), all Ireland (72), Belgium (60), South Africa (25), Canada (60), USA (approximately 16. Bermuda |(1), and recently Germany, Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Trinidad and Portugal (2). So from the self propagating clubs in UK, the assistance of Rotary and the PIC in some part, Probus has done very well. As one Australian wrote 'Its the best thing that England ever exported'.
Because Probus Information Centre is not a central management body, its records do not cover every club as, until they contact it, it is not aware of their existence, but slowly it is updating its records. This has enabled it to compile the Year Book/Directory.
Where is Probus going? Well it's obviously here to stay. Due to the popularity of Probus, the Clubs have a social standing in towns on par (or nearly) with Rotary
There are 5 Probus Clubs in the Southampton area. Membership enquiries about the Southampton Probus Club may be directed to Peter Moth, Hon Secretary – 023 8057 0093 or E-Mail to peter@moth.fsnet.co.uk
Further information about Probus in general is available through:
Probus Information Centre
21 Honeycomb Way
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 1RA
Tel: 0121 475 1699