An Introduction to the: Paignton Probus Club.
Since January 2022 our normal club meetings have been held at the beautiful, and Historic Building called the ‘Paignton Vista Club’ which is situated at the harbour end of Paignton Seafront Esplanade.
From this building you can enjoy a lovely vista / view over Paignton Beach, The Pier, The Green, and across the bay to Torquay & beyond. (Free onsite parking is available for a limited number of vehicles, although this is not normally too much of a problem).
Our club meets here on Wednesday mornings from 10.00 a.m until around 12.30 noon, this is followed by most members moving into the bar area. This is all year, with the exception of the peak tourist weeks of the summer, plus, a few weeks during Christmas and New Year period, during which the Paignton Vista Club closes. During the High Summer Season weeks, and the Christmas / New Year period, there is the option for members to still meet up socially on a Wednesday, but this is away from the tourist crowds at the Old Smokey Inn & Restaurant at Maldon (just off the ring road), this happens between until 12.30 – 14.00, when members can once again enjoy each others company, plus, have a drink, and / or, some food if you wish.
The regular meetings start with a welcome cup of coffee or tea, and a biscuit (or two). The meeting then starts with a joke of the day, followed by a welcome from the Chairman, and any announcements he may wish to make. We then have a presentation / talk from a guest speaker, this will normally be on a range of various, and interesting subjects, anything from: Life Onboard a Nuclear Submarine, Historical events, Glass Making, Mining, & various means of Transport, etc, etc.
As already stated above, this is followed by most members moving into the bar area, either for, alcoholic, or, non-alcoholic drinks (and food if you wish), but great camaraderie with your fellow Paignton Probus members.
We have three Club Lunch days per year, one just before Christmas, a Paignton Probus Birthday Lunch in early February, and our, End of Season Lunch in June. The members partners are warmly welcomed to come along and enjoy all these lunches, plus, to come on our little outings during the year, which are all very social get togethers. These events also provide a great chance for the partners to meet and mingle with the members and their partners. Some years we have held a fun horse race afternoon, or, evening, this is also open to partners to attend (no physical effort required) just fun, betting is on simulated horses, and this is held in the Paignton Vista Club.
As already mentioned above, during the year we have optional social outings, on which partners, and friends, are also most welcome to come along. As an example; Both in May 2023 and again in 2024, we did a Round Robin Trip with the Dartmouth Steam Railway Company, during which we travelled by steam train from Paignton to Kingswear, then on the ferry boat to Dartmouth. Once here, some free time was allowed for members to look around Dartmouth and its shops, and also to have some lunch. This was then followed by a lovely boat cruise up the river Dart to Totnes, where, after ice creams & / or, a cream tea, we rode back to Paignton on a double-decker open top bus.
Note: The Round Robin Trip we did in 2024 was done the reverse way around i.e. Bus to Totnes, boat Cruise to Dartmouth, ferry, and Train back to Paignton. Both of these trips were really fantastic days out, and I‘m sure we will be repeating them again in the future.
Also during the years 2023 & 24, we did a club Outing before Christmas, this was by train to Exeter City to visit the Christmas Market, held on Cathedral Green, then to have a lunch at the Cote Restaurant, then see the towns and the shops Christmas Lights, then travel home again by train.
Being a member of Paignton Probus, or, a members partner, can mean making many great new friends. However, as is normal in life, ‘it is what you put in, that will lead to what you get out’.
The current (2024 – 25) annual membership cost, which covers all normal meetings at the Paignton Vista Club, plus, also includes your coffee, or, tea, and biscuits whilst there, is £220.00 per year. This works out at just over £6.00 per normal meeting (cheaper than a pint of beer these days in most pubs), no charge is made for the summer and winter pub social lunchtime meetings.
The annual membership fee is due to be paid by the end of August each year, with the first of our normal meeting starting in early September.
A note to any person considering joining Paignton Probus’, you can attend up to a maximum of three times during September before being asked to pay the annual Membership, should you then not wish to join, then it costs you nothing for these three meetings.
Note: Club Lunches, and Club Outings (attendance at which is not mandatory) are at extra cost.
Membership payments should be paid to our Treasurer by either; Cash, a Cheque made payable to ‘Paignton Probus’, or, alternatively by BACS (See details for this below).
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Here are the details for members renewing their annual membership fee, & / or, for newjoining members, who also use online banking and would like to pay their annual membership by BACS:
Account name: Paignton Probus Club.
Account number: 42830160.
Sort Code: 30-90-89.
In the reference box: Please enter your name.
With kind regards from the 2024 – 25 Paignton Probus President
Chris Martin.
Paignton Probus Club 