President: Ron Duxbury
Club contact: Secretary: Gwyn Murfet
email: tefrumg@yahoo.co.uk
Tel 01229 471157
FURNESS PROBUS CLUB
YES, FURNESS PROBUS CLUB IS BACK AND UP AND RUNNING!
The Furness Probus Club, for retired Professional and Businesspeople over the age of 55 in Barrow-in-Furness and the Furness Peninsular, meets on the first and third Mondays of each month, moving in May to avoid bank-holidays. With the retirement of our host and fellow member, John Cook, at the Lisdoonie Hotel, from MARCH 2022 meetings are held at “The Fairfield”, Fairfield Lane, off Abbey Road, Barrow in Furness, LA13 9AH, and start at 10.30am. Free Coffee and biscuits are served from 9.45am giving members the opportunity for social chat, and meetings are always finished by 12 noon. There is always a £2 raffle to help pay towards hire of room, refreshments etc.
Speakers are usually booked for the second Monday (depending upon their availability, or to avoid Bank Holidays) with a wide range of subjects on local or national interest. The Committee meets before Open meetings to plan future events and policy. These meetings may also include a Quiz; discussion on important topics of the day; scripted sketches from popular TV shows; etc. Popular additions to the program have been “Room 101” where we can rid the world of our pet hates regarding modern life, “Have I got News for You”, Any Questions, and “Call my Bluff”!
We organise two day trips out per year; a Ladies’ Lunch for wives and widows; and a Christmas Lunch.
We hope that at every meeting, members will have felt at ease, had food for thought and a chuckle or two!
At the September 2025 AGM, we changed the Constitution to include Lady Membership. Wives and widows are welcome as Members, and at the usual subscription rate (currently £35).
We currently have a number of vacancies, and would love to see you. For further details contact the Hon. Secretary Gwyn Murfet, “The Wheels”, 75, Portsmouth Street, Walney, Barrow in Furness, LA14 3AJ, or telephone 01229 471157, or e-mail tefrumg@yahoo.co.uk
Program for 2025/6
September 1st AGM and Open Meeting
8th Breakfast at Holiday Inn
Meeting15th Speaker
October 6th Ladies’ Lunch
13th Breakfast
20th Speaker Alan Coombes “Thorntons in Barrow”
November 3rd Open
10th Breakfast
17th Speaker Jean McSorley “Early History of Barrow”
December 1st Christmas Lunch
8th Breakfast
15th Christmas Meeting
2026
January 5th Open
12th Breakfast
19th Speaker
February 2nd Open
9th Breakfast
16th Speaker
SUBJECT TO REVIEW and Government Restrictions
SECRETARY’S AGM REPORT September 2024 – August 2025
Am interesting year! Disputes over President’s voting rights; a new Constitution – the old one had the Committee as the tail wagging the dog; and only one Speaker problem.
At Open meetings over the year, we have managed a total of exactly 156 attendances (down 47 on last year), and with 9 such meetings gives an average of 17.3 per meeting. Attendances at Speaker meetings is 188 attendances which is down on the previous year, but with11 meetings, the average attendance is 17.1.
To fill in for the Speaker in question (John Nixon had been booked to speak on South Lakeland Airfields, and had died in March). Secretary organised WW2 D Day Recordings and invited members to relate any memories they had.
This year, Speakers have informed us about: The closure of Millom Iron Works; Views of old Mardale; learnt the work of the Salvation Army in Barrow; enjoyed the Barrow Island Singers; Visited Vietnam and Cambodia; viewed the Sankey Photo Collection; enjoyed Saucy Postcards; been taken to Stonecross; learnt the work of the Duddon Inshore Rescue; and Boarded at School on the Isle of Mann.
Open Meetings have included Roger telling us about his experience of National Service; A Quiz on easy TV Questions answered incorrectly; Four Quizzes on the Lake District; Peter and Gwyn spoke of Childhood Memories; a session on Room 101; Quiz on Characters in sitcoms; and Two on Dad’s Army. I hope these sessions have been been thought provoking, stimulating, and if nothing else entertaining. If someone else would like to organise these sessions, I would be more than happy to hand over.
I say a big THANK YOU to all who have helped me make fools of ourselves on your behalf. New ideas for Speakers and Open Meetings are always welcome.
Again, I know I said this last year (it is still on the computer),since lockdown, I receive frequent e-mails from prospective Speakers willing to do talks on “Zoom”, as only £50 a time (some want £70!!!), we currently pay £35, which seems to be the going rate when I go out and speak!
Don’t forget if you lose your program, or want one for a prospective new member, always ask for one, and you can always find us on the internet, just google in “Furness Probus Club”.
Since our last AGM, Roger has organised another Winter warmer coach trip, 18th Marc h to Barton Grange, only 30 went but the trip made £20. July a coach trip to Lytham Hall – successful numbers and weatherwise. Thanks also go to Roger for organising our trips and for his tireless work as our Almoner.
Thanks go to Doug for his work as Treasurer and organising Lunches, and to Ron for steering the new Constitution through troubled waters. Also thanks to Brian Greenwood for taking on the job of Auditor. The Chairman and Committee thank Roger, Doug, Jim and all others who contribute their time organising so much for us, and we mustn’t forget Jack Gaffney for preparing and printing our Lunch Menus. Thanks to retiring Chairman Arnold Mawson, and last by no means least, John Quiggin for making this room ready for us ion a Monday morning especially after it has hosted weekend parties, and glad to see him back after his disastrous fall.
Once a month 7 (illness and holidays reduce it to 5) have continued to enjoy Breakfast
I think the Committee will be discussing the possibility of making the July Coffee Morning an annual event but perhaps with different funding. at Holiday Inn – as much as you can eat for £8
Membership fluctuates slightly, Barry Gill died in September, Jack Gaffney was made Honorary Member in November, Mike Garforth resigned in February and David Grainger in August.
Our current membership to date stands at
20 Active members (down 4 last AGM)
Life Membership now abolished
3 Honorary members (up1 since last AGM)
The list of widows currently stands at 13 (4 no longer wish to be considered for lunches)
We extend sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones, and wish a speedy recovery and good health to all our members, wives and partners who are or have been unwell.
I end this 48th Report by thanking all who have helped me over the past year, especially at Open Meetings, into doing things “up-front”, and to Committee members who continue to take my ideas and give them a good shaking in order to make them workable! As I said earlier, NEW IDEAS ALWAYS WELCOME!!
If as I fear, Furness Probus has to close after 51 years, I for one will be very sorry, as I appreciate the human contact here, and my work as Secretary gives the grey cells work to do. It has been my privilege to serve you in this capacity for 9 years!
Thank You!
Gwyn Murfet
Hon. Secretary
(Please note, the Club did not close after the AGM, we found a new Treasurer in November!)