Paisley Probus Club, which brings retired people together for guest talks and social meetings, is appealing for new members after its membership fell by half over the last few years.
The club was established in 1984 as a meeting place for retired people with an interest in their local community and beyond.
It currently has 42 members. New president John O’Grady and fellow committee members are beginning a membership drive, including placing posters in venues across Paisley and surrounding towns.
Members meet at 2pm every second Friday at the Community Hub at Accord Hospice in Morton Avenue, Paisley. The season runs from mid-September to mid-April.
Meetings last around 90 minutes and include a guest speaker, a question and answer session and light refreshments.
The name Probus comes from the words “professional” and “business”. Each club sets its own rules and programme. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for social contact and friendship in retirement.
Paisley Probus Club says there are no upper or lower age limits. Although Probus is not a fundraising organisation, the Paisley club chooses to support Accord Hospice, where it meets.
“Paisley Probus Club has a strong, dedicated and motivated committee but sadly our membership overall continues to dwindle,” said Mr O’Grady, who took over as president a few weeks ago.
“We know we are not unique and other clubs and organisations are seeing a similar picture.
“Even in this digital age we believe we have a very interesting syllabus with a wide range of speakers who will entertain our members at our meetings, which are held every fortnight at the Community Hub at the Accord Hospice, Morton Avenue.
“Our meetings, we believe, are informal, interesting and convivial and are just what any retired person with an inquiring and inquisitive mind would find entertaining,” he said.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend the next meeting at 2pm on 23rd October, when the guest speaker will be from Paisley Police.
Future speakers will cover hospital radio, the history of Govan, artificial intelligence and the building of the Glasgow to Greenock railway.
“These are just a small example of the varied range of subjects our speakers entertain us with, followed by light refreshments and a question and answer session. Our meetings last around an hour and a half and our season begins in mid-September and ends in mid-April,” said Mr O’Grady, a Yorkshireman who lives just outside Port Glasgow.
“Membership is not only for the people of Paisley, which will always be our heartland, but we have members such as myself from slightly wider afield and we would welcome anyone with a genuine interest in the activities of Probus.”
Mr O’Grady fears for the club’s future if it cannot recruit more members.
“I really do not want to be the last President of Paisley Probus Club,” he said. “But if our membership continues to dwindle then I fear we are looking at a bleak future.”
Anyone interested in finding out more can email paisleyprobus@outlook.com.
Photo: Paisley Probus Club president John O’Grady receives the chain of office from immediate past president Sandy Farr.
Photo Credit: Paisley Probus Club