Minutes of the meeting of Coleraine Probus Club

Attendance: 43 members were in attendance.

Apologies: Norman Gallagher, Malcolm Hinds, Hammy Houston, John McHenry, John McKegney, Reggie Patterson, Billy Platt, Nigel Semple and Gordon Ward. (9)

Club President Jim Archer welcomed club members to the meeting. He then introduced this mornings speaker John McDowell, the topic of his talk being “Fifty Years in Amateur Dramatics”

John said he felt very much at home in the presence of so many retired teacher friends. In 1962 he took up a teaching post at Coleraine Secondary School and his interest in amateur dramatics soon developed with the Killowen Pantomime produced by The Revd. McConaghie at St. John’s Parish Church. Over the years he was associated with the Portstewart Drama Group,the Portrush Music Society and the Provincial Players. In a production of “Annie Get Your Gun” with Portrush Music Society, six real guns had to be procured under special licence from the RUC and this at the height of the “Troubles”.

Portrush Music Society were the first amateur group to go into production at the Riverside Theatre with “My Fair Lady” under the direction of Des Cranston. This season in a new production of”Oliver” there will be three generations of McDowells on stage. After fifty years in amateur dramatics John no longer undertakes leading roles but he does act as Assistant Director and Producer with the occasional cameo role. In another role he works for The Newsagents Federation.

A question and answer session followed the talk.

A brief summary of this talk is available in the speakers record book and here on the club website.

A vote of thanks proposed by James Nesbitt was passed on to Mr. McDowell by The President. The members showed their appreciation.

Weekly Business:
Minutes: The minutes of 1st March 2016 were read and signed by the President.

Matters arising: None not covered by the agenda

Correspondence: None

Reports:
Social: Joe Alcorn said that the Menus for the Club Lunch on Tue. 22nd March are now available. Menu choices should be returned at the next meeting on 15th March.

Welfare: Cecil Spotten said he had nothing new to report this week.

Treasurer: An apology was received from Nigel Semple.

A O B:
1. The President gave notice that at the next Club meeting he will propose that Richard Russell be admitted to membership of Coleraine Probus Club.
2. The President invited wives/partners/friends of members to the Club meeting on Tue. 15th March to hear the talk by Clare Sugden MLA.
3. Committee members are reminded that a Committee Meeting will be held on Tue. 15th March at 10:15 am. in the Probus Club Room at Portstewart Golf Club.

Next Speakers Meeting: Will be on Tue. 15th March 2016 when the guest speaker will be Clare Sugden the topic of her talk being “Experiences as a MLA”

The President thanked members for attending and hoped to see them at the next meeting.
The meeting closed at 11:44 am.

Signed Jim Archer.
President.
Date 15th. March 2016