Tuesday 17 October 2017: 40th Anniversary Dinner
Omagh Probus Club celebrated the 40th Anniversary of its founding with a gala dinner in the Silverbirch Hotel. Attended by some 60 members and guests the evening started with a wine reception at 7.00 pm during which members and guests studied a gallery of past presidents and tried to identify present day members of the club from a dozen photos of “bonny babies”. Following words of welcome by the Probus President, John McCandless, Audrey Hodge, President of Ladies Probus, conveyed the greetings and best wishes of her members before saying Grace to start the meal . A 40th Anniversary birthday cake was cut by President John assisted by his wife Carol and served with the tea and coffee. A toast to the Club was proposed by Mr Alex Baird, Vice-Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and replied to by Probus Past President, Kenneth Collins. A poem, specially composed for the occasion by club secretary, Felim O’Neill, was read by Probian Desmond Smart, after which a number of members were invited to share their reminiscences of Omagh Probus Club. Principal among these was 99 year old Bob Lingwood whose pin sharp memory going back over many years funded a string of reminiscences which those who followed tried to match. The evening was brought to a closed by well deserved vote of thanks to the organising committee and the staff of the Silverbirch Hotel for staging such an enjoyable event.