7th December 2021
With this new virus variant becoming more prominent the groups committee is starting to think about contingency plans in case they feel the need to discontinue our face to face meetings due to the new variant and at the worst become a casualty of another lock-down! We have to recognize that should the virus comes back to bite us it is likely that a good number of our members will in any event choose to stop away. It is hoped the group will be able to hold the next meeting scheduled for Friday 10th December at the usual venue, the West Hill Community Centre Ordsall.
The consensus of opinion is as follows, if we have to cancel face to face meetings in the foreseeable future we should consider taking to Zoom/Teams meetings or or equivalent.
The committee will have a decision to make regards future meetings and the need to contact members should this become the case.
Following this a decision will have to be taken with regards to monthly guest speakers, some in our programme will be able to offer zoom facilities or we can utilize our very own in-house speaker of which we have a few, to fill in the gaps.
Members have been consulted and their views will weigh heavily on any decisions taken.
27th September 2021
When Retford Men’s Probus Club met on Friday 17th September at the regular venue at Westhill Community Centre Ordsall they were pleased to welcome a few ladies to the club as this was a special event in the programme. The guest speaker on the day was none other than 60’s icon Vince Eager who had many fans back in the day, male and female. Vince, who has been in attendance on a previous occasion, was enjoyed so much by those present, it was decided to invite him back to reiterate tales of the Rock’N’ Roll scene in the late 50’s and into the swinging 60’s and of his nomination for the Eurovision Song Contest. A smart casual dresser as was the fashion of the day Vince followed suit and after viewing the opposition fashion choices decided to improve his image for the event by wearing a traditional suit, hoping the change may bring him more votes in the competition (Not sure about the colour) Voting recorded a total of Nul Points for both the singer and the outfit, so a trend was sent way back then, even now the U.K. entry receiving similar scores. Not one to be daunted by this Vince went on to take part in “Elvis” the musical and continue his career in the States and back home here in the U.K. He may have received no points in Eurovision, but received full marks for his performance here at Retford Men’s Probus Club.
6th August 2021
In line with many other local clubs and societies and following government guidelines Retford Men’s Probus Club stopped holding their meetings in March 2020 Lockdown was introduced and despite being unable to meet, the club committee made a point of contacting members with news, views and updates. With no meetings taking place, and with guest speakers booked through until March 2021, after great deliberation the committee decided that possible cancellations by arrangement may be the way forward and hopefully re-book when things return to normal Although not completely out of the woods yet (covid wise) but heading in the right direction the club committee have decided to regroup and commence meetings once again. The meetings will take place at the usual venue Westhill Community Center Cheyne Walk Ordsall. A new programme has been formulated with a variety of speakers covering a host of topics with hopefully something to suit the majority of tastes. The first of these meetings being scheduled to take place on Friday 3rd September at 10am. This will be the clubs AGM and get together. On Friday 17th September members will get the opportunity to welcome back a very popular figure when 60’s icon Vince Eager makes a welcome return to our club (to be confirmed).and the entertainer who in the heyday of Rock’N Roll shared top billing with the likes of Marty Wilde, Joe Brown and Eddy Cochran to name but a few! On this occasion Vince will address the members on “Life after the Eurovision Song Contest”.