The Bakewell and District Probus Club was founded in 1984 with the aim of providing fellowship and convivial discussions on a wide range of topics of interest to retired or partially retired professional or businessmen in the Bakewell District. We are a thriving, active and friendly club of about 50 members, any of whom, by arrangement, may bring a guest or prospective new member to our meetings.
We meet at the Cavendish Club, Chatsworth, in Edensor near Bakewell twice a month. Morning coffee, served at 10 a.m. is followed by a presentation which lasts between 45 and 60 minutes before we continue our meeting with drinks and lunch. A list of subjects covered at our meetings is shown on the ‘Talks’ page from the menu above.
We have a rule that, as a condition of membership, all club members, in turn, are expected either to give talks themselves or to arrange guest speakers to fulfil this obligation. By using this method of engaging all of our members, the subject matter of our talks reflects the variety of interests and experiences within the club. We have found this to be a very effective and democratic way of ensuring that every member has the personal satisfaction of making a contribution to the undoubted success of the club. Details of our forthcoming and past meetings are shown on the ‘Talks’ page from the menu above.
Apart from our fortnightly scheduled meetings, we hold a number of social events to which wives, partners and guests are invited. These include luncheons and, during the summer months, outings to somewhere of interest to our members. The latter are usually one-day trips but, for more distant destinations, they have been for longer durations. Details of our social activities are shown on the ‘Social’ page from the menu above.
From time to time – usually at one of our two meetings in March – we aim to hold a Club debate on a topical subject. These have included matters relating to Britain’s place in the World, its domestic challenges, and controversial (albeit non-party political) topics. For instance, they have included: ‘The British Empire – A Force for Good?’, ‘Scottish Independence’, ‘Britain and the EU – In or Out?’. Other topics have considered the renationalisation of Britain’s railways, funding for private schools, the banning of field sports, and the involvement of the private sector in the NHS. Reports of all our debates can be found on the Talks page from the menu above.
The current chairman is Tony Fry.
Previous Chairmen:
2025-26 Paul Davies
2024-25 Christopher Jewitt
2023-24 Ron Enock
2022-23 Stefan Andrejczuk
2021-22 Peter Stubbs
2020-21 Malcolm Cameron
2019-20 Tony Byrne
2018-19 Ian Johnston
2017-18 Ray Smith
2016-17 Ainslie Kelly
2015-16 Alan Grant
2014-15 John Barkley
2013-14 Don Mackenzie
2012-13 Brian Barry
2011-12 Roger Truscott
2010-11 Alan Elsmore
2009-10 Keith Johnston
2008-09 John Bolton
2007-08 Ken Watson
2006-07 Robert Cumming
2005-06 Ron Neath
2004-05 Clifford Mansfield
2003-04 Alan Pigott
2002-03 Ernest Grossman
2001-02 Barry Pearson
2000-01 Charles Maltby
1999-00 Doug Griffith
1998-99 Harry Weaving
1997-98 Peter Hunt
1996-97 Don Briggs
1995-96 Leslie Wright
1994-95 Don Booker
1993-94 Dennis Sutton
1992-93 Peter Bentley
1991-92 Jim Oxley
1990-91 Michael Goode
1989-90 John Clifford
1988-89 Maurice Eaden
1987-88 John Lenihan
1986-87 Robert Blackburn
1985-86 John Hunt
1984-85 Tom Dolby
Social