Founded 1988

History of Formation

This history of the formation of the Antonine Probus Club is based on a talk given by Bill McMillan, the first President of the Club, at the A.G.M and Lunch, held on 19th April 1999, at the Buchanan Arms Hotel, Drymen, to mark the Tenth Anniversary of the foundation of the Club.      

By the autumn of 1988 the membership of the Allander Probus Club had reached a total of 85 with a considerable waiting list. As a result, in October 1988, the late Stan Gillies, the then Secretary of the Allander Probus Club, wrote to the members to say that a special meeting of the Club would be held on 24th November seeking members’ approval for the Committee to ascertain if there was sufficient demand to form another Club in the district.

The Allander Club office bearers would arrange and conduct a meeting of prospective members of the proposed new club and hopefully elect a steering committee who would be charged with bringing the new club into being. This was agreed at the November meeting, and the Allander Rotary Club, which had been very supportive during the formation of the Allander Probus Club, was informed and replied giving their agreement and support to the formation of a new club.

It was also agreed to advertise such a meeting in the local paper and to inform and invite those on the existing waiting list to attend.

This meeting was held on 20th January 1989 in the Milngavie Community Centre. A total of 35 men attended the gathering which was chaired by the President of the Allander Club.

Six of those attending, together with the Office Bearers of the Allander Club were elected to form a Steering Committee. The six elected were, Matt Bradshaw, Bill Chalmers, Harry Laws, Bill McMillan, Norrie Nicolson and Jim Woodward

A meeting was called in the Milngavie Community Centre on 3rd. February 1989. On Bill Chalmers’ suggestion, the Club would be called the Antonine Probus Club, and would adopt the Allander Club’s constitution with some minor alterations. It was also agreed to have the same pattern of meetings that exists today, viz., Business meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month, at 2.15 p.m. from September to March, the A.G.M. to be held in April, and Coffee Mornings on the second and fourth Mondays, but running throughout the year..

The first Office Bearers elected at this meeting were as follows:-                      

                    President Bill McMillan

                    Vice- President Harry Laws

                    Secretary Bill Chalmers

                    Treasurer Norrie Nicolson

They proposed that an entrance fee of £2.00 and a membership fee of £1.00 be charged for that year as it was only a part year, but £2.00 would be applied in future years.

It was also agreed that the Committee would search out possible venues for meetings. The possible sites were The Black Bull Hotel, Burnbrae Hotel, the B.B. Hall. Milngavie Community Centre, and Kilmardinny House.

As a result of these visitations, the Community Centre was selected for the first year, with the proviso that the Burnbrae Hotel would be available if the first choice fell through.

The Founding meeting was held there on 11th. February 1989 under the Chairmanship of Harry Laws, Bill McMillan unfortunately being indisposed. The Chairman accepted the Presidential Chain, gifted by the Allander Rotary Club, a much appreciated gesture; a Vice-President’s badge was obtained later. The lectern was made by a local joiner, the late Jimmy Taylor, who was a member of the Allander Club. The Probus badge on the front of the lectern was given by Alex Mitchell, also a member of the Allander Club. A block and gavel was obtained later by Bill McMillan, and is probably Clyde built!

Prior to the first regular meeting on Monday 5 March 1989, the Committee met and agreed Jim Woodward as the Welfare Officer, the Syllabus Committee as Harry Laws, John Gordon and Fred Sharples. Jim Roxburgh was made Catering Officer. Norrie Nicholson opened a bank account with the Clydesdale Bank at Parkhead and the requisite two signatories nominated.

At the first meeting, Harry Laws, taking the Chair in place of the still indisposed Bill McMillan, introduced the first speaker, Bill MacFarlane from the Allander Club who spoke on a tour of Singapore and Australia. After questions, the vote of thanks was proposed by Arthur Hopkins.

It took only five months from the initial approach by Stan Gillies, to the inaugural meeting of the Club, a tremendous tribute to the enthusiasm and energy of the “Founding Fathers”, which has lived on, making the Club as it exists today. It is to be hoped that their successors will continue to build on the foundations so surely laid by these men.

Author Archie Speirs, President 1999-2000