Written by: Howard | Wednesday, 17th April 2024 - 11:00

Category: Meetings | Tags: meeting

Rather like Batman and Robin or coffee and cream, the best ideas come in twos. It was just such a happenstance of two people with the same good idea that led to the launch meeting of the combined Arun and Forest Probus Clubs at Horsham Sports Club on Wednesday, 17th April.

It was in March, 2023 that Keith Gaston-Parry, President of the Arun club and Graham Prosser, President of the Forest club, both came to the conclusion that their clubs needed partners. Fortunately both Presidents met and the end result, after much hard work by Ken Runcorn, and a 'start-up' team of members from both clubs, was the launch meeting attended by about 60 members from both clubs. The meeting was followed by an informal lunch and old friends and new shared liquid and solid refreshments. “My, aren't they just like us” was the common and welcome refrain; followed often by “what a good idea this is”.

The photograph shows Ken Runcorn, the new President of the Probus Club of Arun Forest about to receive the accolades of office from the retiring Presidents – Graham Prosser of the Forest club on the left and Keith Gaston-Parry of the Arun club on the right.

The first formal event in the new club's calendar is the President's Lunch to be held at the Roffey Park Institute on Friday, May 10th. It will be attended by over 80 members and their partners.

The new club has a full programme of regular and special events. Regular events include: bowls, golf, pétanque, skittles, bridge, members' pub lunches, pickleball, walks and coffee mornings. Some of the special events are: the Capel Military Show, Oliver at the Chichester Festival Theatre, the summer BBQ and the club holiday in a Warwickshire castle.