Welcome to Ferring Probus Club by President David Gibbs
Ferring Probus Club Website
Thank you for visiting the Ferring Probus Club’s website. We are a Club whose membership consists of both retired ladies and gentlemen who enjoy regular opportunities to meet and share time together through various activities. Please come and join us at one of our Coffee Mornings where you will find a warm welcome. David Gibbs, President
Ferring Probus Club
Ferring Probus Club, founded in 1982, meets twice a month for members to socialise, enjoy fellowship, make new friends and develop their interests. Members are retired or semi-retired and come from all walks of life. The Club welcomes speakers who give talks on a wide variety of interesting subjects. Members enjoy a wonderful lunch, followed by a talk, at Worthing Indoor Bowls Club every month. Social activities include monthly coffee mornings, afternoon tea outings, playing games (eg Shuffleboard) and entertainment (eg films, Bell Ringers).
Learn more about our Club
If you are interested in learning more about our Club please come to a Coffee Morning or contact:
David Gibbs, President
Email: davidjoy25@gmail.com
Tel: 01903 245660
Our NEW WEBSITE
Ferring Probus Club member Ian Goodall created & maintains this new website
Ferring Probus Club talk by Roy Peachey
MARY’S MEALS – A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO WORLD HUNGER
Roy Peachey was the speaker at the November Coffee Morning where he gave a fascinating and inspiring talk about this charity that was unknown to many of the members.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow founded the charity in the 1990s in Dalmally in the highlands of Scotland and the headquarters still operate from the original tin shed. Magnus states “Mary’s Meals is a series of lots of little acts of love. If you put all those acts of sacrifice together, it creates a beautiful thing.
The name Mary was chosen to represent Mary, the mother of Jesus but the charity is not a religious one, it is based on need irrespective of faith.
Mary’s Meals provides life-changing school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. The promise of a good meal brings hungry children into school where they gain an education and therefore better future opportunities while providing the necessary energy for concentration and participation in class.
The charity is already serving more than three million children every school day in 16 countries. Thanks to the low-cost approach it cost just £19.15 to provide a child with meals in a place of education for a whole year. Part of the economy is to recruit and train local people to build the kitchens, cook and serve the meals.
Edward a 14-year-old lad in Malawi said his aim is, “I like to have enough food to eat and I would like to go to school one day.” School + food = hope.
Ferring Probus Club talk by Glen Grants
HOUNDS FOR HEROES
At its monthly members lunch on Wednesday 15th October Ferring Probus Club were delighted to welcome Glen Grants, the charity Manager for the Charity “Hounds for Heroes”. The charity provides benefit through specially trained assistance dogs to those serving, or have served, in HM Armed Forces or the Emergency Services and who have become disabled through illness or injury.
The charity was founded in 2010 by Allen Parton who formerly served in the Navy and had benefited from having an assistance dog. He believed other service personnel would also benefit from this kind of support.
Based in Petersfield (West Sussex) the charity trains up to 8 dogs annually. Puppies come to the charity at around 8 weeks old and are cared for by “puppy parents” during their training, which can take up to two years.
Probus members were informed that the charity has a small staff of 15 members including dog trainers, fund raisers and administrative staff plus several volunteers. Each year the charity has to raise around £600,000 to carry on its work. The charity will fully fund the working life of the assistance dog if this is needed so that the dogs do not become a burden on those who receive them. If the recipient can assist with any of the costs, this enables the charity to extend assistance to more individuals.
The dogs not only provide practical assistance such as fetching, finding and raising alarms, but importantly provide companionship to those with whom they live. This helps the mental health of the recipient.
“Hounds for Heroes” is a small charity but is doing a great work in providing support to those who have spent their service in protecting and assisting others.
Ferring Probus Club Annual Shuffleboard Afternoon
Shuffleboard afternoon
Shuffleboard afternoon
Shuffleboard afternoon
Towards the end of September the Club arranged for its annual Shuffleboard event hosted by the owner of the English Shuffleboard company from Hove. Shuffleboard existed in England over 500 years ago and is an exciting variant of Shov-Ha’Penny, in fact Henry VIII was very fond of the game.
September 2025
Shuffleboard afternoon
Shuffleboard afternoon
The game is played by sliding discs along a narrow board and knocking them through gaps to score points. Each team has three players and although one team came out on top the scores between each of the 9 teams was very close. A superb buffet tea was laid on and those who attended enjoyed a very enjoyable, fun-filled and sociable afternoon.
NEWS - Ferring Probus Club Presentation
Roger & Greta Lovell
Following their lunch the Ferring Probus Club President spoke about how Roger Lovell had served our Club very efficiently and effectively for many years fulfilling many of the roles that are necessary so that the Club runs smoothly. Covid affected many people and organisations but due to his determination Roger steered the Club through this time, transforming it into the mixed club we enjoy today. The President, on behalf of the members, presented Roger with a gift as a token of the Club’s appreciation. A bouquet of flowers was also given to Greta, Roger’s wife, for her support of Roger and her contribution to the Club.
Our next meeting
Lunch 12.30pm on Wed 19th November at Worthing Indoor Bowls Club. Talk by Thea Taylor from The Sussex Dolphin Project