Contents
Introduction
Notes of meeting
Our Events
Introduction
Notes of meeting
Our Events
Photo Gallery
Ashbourne and District Probus Club
Founded in 1985 the club's first president was John Gadsby, a local county councillor and magistrate. We are a club for retired professional and business men. We meet monthly for a talk, conversation and usually lunch.There are also social events and trips. Please scroll down for more information, our programme and photographs.
If you are interested please email ashbourneprobus@gmail.com
We meet at 10am on the second Tuesday of every month, usually at Ashbourne Golf Club. After coffee and a few minutes of housekeeping we sit back and listen to an entertaining speaker. Then many of us have a light lunch chosen from the Golf Club's menu. We are a men only club. and believe our wives appreciate not having us under their feet for that one morning a month.
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The outgoing president, Peter Walker, summarised his year in office thanking the support that he had received and outlining the objectives he had during his presidency. His main objective was to increase the local content in the club which he had achieved, including making charitable donations to Diabetes UK and Ukrainian ladies.
The membership then voted and approved the new President, Tony O’Rourke for 2024/2025, returning committee members.
The Treasurer, Peter Snelson, summarised the accounts for 2023/2024
Chris Morris asked for members coming to the Bentley Brook to confirm by next Wednesday, 17th April.
Chris asked for approval for the Autumn Lunch to be held at Biggin Hall, which was approved.
Roy Atkinson said that the talk on Mens Health was to be held on the afternoon of Monday May 20th.
Lunch would be available from noon and the talk would start at 1 pm. It will be given by Dr Das, senior Oncologist, at Derby Hospital.
Roger Slater outlined 2 planned visits
- Backstage at the Buxton Opera House. No date set but during the summer
- Wirksworth to visit Aquabox Factory in the morning (10.15), lunch at the Hope and Anchor and afternoon to Ecclesbourne Railway (3.25) for a steam train. Visit to be on 5th July 2024
John Elwell gave a short talk on his upbringing and career.
John’s early life started with him learning to play the piano and then the organ.
He taught the organ and played for the men’s brotherhood, before becoming choirmaster at the local Methodist Church.
He went to Liverpool University and then went into teaching mathematics.
He progressed to be head teacher at Ilkeston School, and he saw it through the transition from grammar to mixed comprehensive.
John was then reassigned to manage school reorganisation in Derby before moving to school inspection, which was reassigned to OFTED and he was made redundant at 50.
Tony O’Rouke gave a short talk on his life and career to date.
He has been married 37 years to Bev and has 2 children, initially living in Bristol.
He moved to Ashbourne 32 years ago and retired 8 years ago.
He worked for Vistec before moving to their competitor Preview Data Systems, both holiday booking businesses.
Next his career took him to Computacentre before ending up at British Telecom, where he retired.
He outlined his main objectives for the coming year:-
Attracting new members
Improving the website
“Juicing up” the enjoyment of Probus events
Getting more member involvement and committee participation
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