Probus Clubs

Sir: I was interested to read “Probing Probus Clubs” (“In England — Now!”, Autumn 2016). It mentioned that some clubs now included women. To make things clear I must point out that there are considerable numbers of Probus Clubs now for women.

We at Nightingale Club in Chesterfield (named after the local heroine) celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2014. We were the first ladies’ Probus Club in the town and quickly became so popular, with a very long waiting list for membership, that a second and then a third club were started.

Apart from our monthly meetings for coffee and a speaker, we enjoy days out to places of interest and there are groups for theatre visits, walking, bowls, Scrabble and various other social activities. In addition we enjoy our annual long weekend away — the first, in our first year, was to Paris.

Like your writer, we appreciate our autonomy and informality and, of course, particularly the fellowship and social opportunities we share. Long may Probus continue! — DOROTHY WALKER, NEWBOLD, CHESTERFIELD, DERBYSHIRE.