Special mention for Lisburn at Probus rally

The rally was hosted by the Probus Club of Coleraine where some 400 delegates gathered in the Lodge Hotel. Delegates represented Probus Clubs from all parts of Ireland. Members of Probus Clubs come from working lives spent in the professions or in business. Presently there are some 135 Probus in Ireland.

The Lisburn Club was represented at the rally by Jim Niblock and Derek Shuter. “The Rally is an annual event and gives a good opportunity to hear what other clubs are doing,” explained Jim, a Past President of the Lisburn Club.

Delegates at the rally were given a number of reports on Probus activities throughout Ireland.

The District Liaison Officer, Mary Cinnamon, in her report encouraged clubs to meet up with each other and to share activities. She picked out the Lisburn Club and acknowledged their recent publication Blue Remembered Hills. “I congratulate the Lisburn members in getting their recollections of childhood into print,” she said.

“As far as I am aware, Lisburn has been the only Probus Club in Ireland to do this.”

The guest speaker at the Rally was the actor, James Nesbitt.

In his speech, he referred to his strong connections with the Coleraine area and to his family connections with Probus. He entertained the delegates with stories from the many films and TV programmes he has taken part in. Next year’s Rally will be hosted by the Ennis Probus Club in County Clare.