Paisley Probus Club, which brings retired people together for guest talks and social meetings, is appealing for new members after its membership fell by half over the last few years.
The club currently has 42 members. New president John O’Grady (pictured right) and fellow committee members are beginning a membership drive, including placing posters in venues across Paisley and surrounding towns.
Probus is a wider network of clubs for retired and semi-retired people. The name comes from the words “professional” and “business”, reflecting the movement’s origins. Clubs provide opportunities to meet others and maintain interests in retirement. Website at: probusclub.net
In Paisley, members meet every fortnight at the Community Hub at Accord Hospice, 7 Morton Avenue, Paisley PA2 7BW. Meetings last around an hour and a half, with the season running from mid-September to mid-April.
“Paisley Probus Club has a strong, dedicated and motivated committee but sadly our membership overall continues to dwindle,” said Mr O’Grady, who took over as president a few weeks ago.
“We know we are not unique and other clubs and organisations are seeing a similar picture. Even in this digital age, we believe we have a very interesting syllabus with a wide range of speakers who will entertain our members at our meetings, which are held every fortnight at the Community Hub at the Accord Hospice, Morton Avenue, Paisley.”
“Our meetings, we believe, are informal, interesting and convivial and are just what any retired person with an inquiring and inquisitive mind would find entertaining,” he said.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend the next meeting at 2.00pm on 23rd October 2026, when the guest speaker will be from Paisley Police.
Future speakers will cover hospital radio, the history of Govan, artificial intelligence and the building of the Glasgow to Greenock railway.
“These are just a small example of the varied range of subjects our speakers entertain us with, followed by light refreshments and a question and answer session. Our meetings last around an hour and a half and our season begins in mid-September and ends in mid-April,” said Mr O’Grady, a Yorkshireman who lives just outside Port Glasgow.
“Membership is not only for the people of Paisley, which will always be our heartland, but we have members such as myself from slightly wider afield and we would welcome anyone with a genuine interest in the activities of Probus.”
Mr O’Grady fears for the club’s future if it cannot recruit more members.
“I really do not want to be the last President of Paisley Probus Club,” he said. “But if our membership continues to dwindle then I fear we are looking at a bleak future.”
Anyone interested in finding out more can email: paisleyprobus@outlook.com
