Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 41 members and Guest Mr Malcolm Hinds.

The Club President, John Graham, welcomed members and guest to the meeting. He then introduced our speaker for the morning, Rev Brian Howe, the topic of his talk being “A Change of Life.”
Brian gave a detailed and honest account of his life from the Rectory in Kesh, Co Fermanagh where his father was Rector, to a career in Banking and Accountancy. The career in Banking led to posts in Canada, Poland and Belfast. A personal life crisis led to a loss of faith and the abandonment of the Church.
On returning to Portstewart, Patrick Rooke, the then Rector of Agherton Parish Church encouraged Brian’s return to the Church and again into Parish life which resulted in Mission Outreach to Southern Sudan and Kenya.
On further encouragement from Patrick Rooke, Brian was accepted for ordination in the Church of Ireland and after 5 years part-time study was ordained a Deacon and now serves as a Priest in the local Parish of Ballymoney, Finvoy and Rasharkin.
A lively question and answer session followed the talk. A summary of this talk is available in the Speakers’ Record Book, and also on the Club Website.
A vote of thanks proposed by Norman Gallagher was passed on to The Rev Howe by the President. The members showed their appreciation.

Weekly Business

Apologies: Ronnie Gray, Jack Henderson, Reggie Patterson, Billy Platt, Nigel Semple, John Springhall, Mike Turner and Gordon Ward.

Minutes: The minutes of the 24th March 2015, were read, agreed and signed by the President.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda.

Correspondence: None.

REPORTS:
Social: Joe Alcorn reminded members that the next club lunch will be held on Tuesday 12 May and he hopes to have lunch menus available at the next meeting on 21 April 2015. Members were reminded that a Quiz organised by Dermot Jennings will precede the lunch and members and partners were encouraged to partake in the proceedings.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten said that he had nothing substantial to report.
Treasurer: An apology was received from Nigel Semple.

A O B: 1. John McHenry gave notice of a new membership application for Malcolm Hinds. A proposal will be made at the Next Club Meeting on 21 April 2015.

Next Speakers Meeting: Jim Archer reported that Maurice McAleese cannot come to the next Speaker’s Meeting on 21 April 2015. Instead The Rev Eddie Dorrans will give a talk entitled “Bridge over the River Galana.” Maurice McAleese will now give his talk on Tuesday 28 April 2015.

The President thanked the members for attending and hoped that everyone would be at our next meeting on Tuesday 21 April 2015 .

Meeting closed at 11.50am.

SIGNED: John Graham
Date 21 April 2015