Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 40 members were in attendance.

Apologies: James Dinsmore, John Dobson, John Graham, Dermot Jennings, Norman Maxwell, Aubrey McElhinney, John McGlade, Ian Murray, James Nesbitt, Ernest Preece, Ian Scott, Jim Torrens and Gordon Ward. (13)

Club President Jim Archer informed members that sadly three members died during the summer recess, Hon. member Norman Austin, Don Bell and Ronnie Gray. Ronnie was one of the first members to join the club when established in 1988.

The President then welcomed members and guest, Colum McCluskey, to the meeting. This morning’s speaker, Liam Beckett, was then introduced, the topic of his talk being “Sport”.

Liam is a local sporting personality with an exceptional knowledge of motor cycle road racing and football. He is well known as a BBC commentator for both sports and he also writes for the News Letter and the Sunday Life newspapers. His early life was difficult, his father having died when Liam was two years old leaving his mother the difficult task of raising two sons. Liam admitted with regret that he did not enjoy school but thankfully football came to his rescue. At the age of 15 he was chosen to play for N.I. School Boys. He later played for Crusaders in the Irish League, Droheda United in the Republic of Ireland and then back to his home club Coleraine. Here he met Jack Doherty for whom he had the highest regard, Jack’s malapropisms were legendary. Liam also recalled his eventful trip to a rain swept Monza with the late Robert Dunlop where Robert finished up in hospital with serious injuries. The whole presentation was interspersed with numerous amusing anecdotes and the members appreciated his impersonation of his friend Jackie Fullerton. Seldom was so much laughter heard at a Probus meeting.

A question and answer session followed the talk. By way of a change, a profile of our speaker is available in the speakers record book and here on the club website.

A vote of thanks proposed by John McKegney was passed to Liam by the President. The members showed their enthusiastic appreciation.

Weekly Business:
Minutes: The minutes of 3rd May 2016 were taken as read, with the approval of the members present and signed by the President.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda.

Correspondence: An email from Mary Sinnamon confirmed that her successor as Probus Liaison Officer (Northern Region) is Rotarian Ivan Conner of The Rotary Club of Lisburn

Social: Joe Alcorn said that the Menus for the Club Lunch on Tue 27th September 2016 will be available at the next club meeting on Tue 13th September.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten reported that Ernest Preece’s son had died at the age of 63 and Ernest’s wife Iona is presently in hospital.
Treasurer: Nothing to report.

A O B: Coleraine Hospice Group invites members to attend a charity breakfast in Portstewart Golf Club on Fri. 23 September between 8.00am and 10.30am. Cost £10:00 per person. (Information sheet is available.)

The Next Meeting: Will be on Tue.13th September 2016 when the speaker will be Elaine Way on the subject of “The New Radiography Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital”.

The President thanked members for attending and hoped to see everyone at the next meeting.

The meeting closed at 12:04 pm.

Signed Jim Archer
President.
Date 13th September 2016