Executive Meeting Minutes – 30 July 2025

Crewkerne Probus Club Executive Meeting
Wednesday 30 July 2025 – 10.30 a.m. at the Cricket St Thomas Golf Club

1. Present: President J.J., D.L., B.G., N.F., M.L., I.J., A.M., T.L., C.K., R.F.
Apologies received from: Robbie Heyd-Smith, Mark Harris and David Bryant.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting were checked and accepted.

3. Matters arising: Sec Irvin reported on the National website on which we do not appear. H.q. abandoned this some years before but if anyone puts in a search they will come up with the Town Council and this will show our website.
The Honours Board has been updated with Past Pres. David Long showing and this has been collected by Jon Jarrett at a price of £40.

4. Officers reports:

  • Treasurer Mike Luff reported an excess income of £233.76 so far this year plus £259.50 allocated for the President’s charity.
    Mike also had circulated a financial presentation by email to all members and this was filed with the minutes.
  • Sec Irvin Johns apologised for his lack of circulation papers but he had experienced difficulties with emailing attachments. Should now be solved. Agendas and necessary papers were provided for the Committee.
  • Mike Luff will maintain discretion re gratuities to Staff. Timing for meals and speakers was discussed at length. It was finally agreed to stick to the present arrangement of speaker first but with a strict cut off point at 1.25. If there were further questions etc they would be considered between courses later in the meal. Lunch would always be aimed for 1.30.
  • Fellowship: Robbie was not able to be present but he had sent get well thoughts to Past President David Long. Sec Irvin will suggest he contact Mark Harris and Tim Spilsbury with cards. Plus consideration for Eize and Norman who are reaching their 90th A[so as members are getting older the lift at Cricket St Thomas becomes evermore important. Irvin agreed to talk to the Management about this.
  • Social Sec report. Irvin presented a report on the recent very successful Garden Party at President Jon’s home. Jon with wife Jane and Irvin attended a five year celebration event at Ark in Merriott where some 100 plus guests mingled. It was a successful event and Probus was represented.
  • Functions officer Roger Fowlet confirmed Christmas Dinner at the Lordleaze Hotel on Wed. 10th. December at £40 a head (a very competetive price). He will circulate information to members later in the year.
  • Transport Officer David Long will always assist any member who needs transport.
  • President’s comments: Nothing specific to say as he is extremely happy with the way everyone works on behalf of the Club.

5. Speaker programme: Bob Griffiths has this in hand. We are booked to the end of this year and should have Feb or March organised. Two session after Xmas will need filling. September – Mike Luff will locate a film on local churches. August sees the return of three teenage girls from Wadham School who will have returned from volunteer work in Kenya, Members are asked to be prepared with suitable questions should that be necessary.

6. A.O.B.

  • Website is running well and the Garden Party report is written up in full on the website. Also the Executive minutes are available.
  • Increasing our membership numbers was explored. The Misterton magazine has a QR code available which takes people straight to the Probus Website – can this be incorporated elsewhere? All members are encouraged to bring a friend but this would usually mean paying for their lunch. However if a person is interested in membership they are offered a free lunch.
    We do have laminated posters for advertising if required.
  • Roger commented on information he received at a recent funeral of past member Brian Kenyon. In our local church of St. Bartholemew there are lights on the Choir pews which were donated by founder Probus member Fred Poole – something for us all to be proud of.

7. Date and time of next meeting: Wednesday October 29th. 10.30 at the Cricket St. Thomas Golf Club.

I.J.July25