Coventry Probus is a group which seeks to provide
good fellowship and intellectual stimulation to others who have
similar interests. It meets to hear guest speakers and for various social events including monthly pub meals, at which spouses and partners regularly attend. For details of both future and past presentations click on the “Activities Overview” tab above, then select Speaker Events or else “Activities Overview” and click on the text “usually with a talk”.
The purpose of this website is to tell you a little about the Coventry Probus Club; who we are and what we do. We have included details on the origins of the club, its main aims and how it is run.
Other sections explain the Club’s Activities, where and when our meetings are held and the different events that are held throughout the year.
We hope to resume Specialist Sections/Sub Groups in which members have an opportunity to participate.
The concept of Probus originated in North America in the early 1920s, and evolved over the years. The first Probus Club to form under that name in the UK was in Caterham in 1966, sponsored by the local Rotary Club, although there were precursors with other names.
Probus was established to sponsor the interests of retired professional and business people and the name is derived from an acronym of the first three letters of these words, i.e. PROfessional and BUSiness. Probus is also Latin for honest or virtuous, leading to the English word probity. However, membership is not now limited to these groups. Clubs have been formed separately for men and for ladies. Coventry previously had a ladies’ Probus; some Probus clubs, now including Coventry, are mixed. At some Coventry Probus talks, spouses and partners of members are invited as guests, and as noted above, all social events are also open to them.
The main aim of Probus is to provide good fellowship and new friendships with others who have similar interests.
The organisation is non-sectarian, non–political and each club is entirely autonomous. Other UK clubs can be found at www.probusonline.org and those in other countries at www.probus.org. A brief history of the overall movement is at www.probusonline.org/history/. Probus members from other groups are welcome to attend as guests if they are in the area.
