John takes Probus’ reins
Probus is a social club for retired or semi-retired professional people over the age of 50 years.
John West (76) has taken over the reins at the Probus Amanzimtoti social club once again.
Probus is a social club for retired or semi-retired professional people over the age of 50 years which meets in Umbogavango Nature Reserve, situated in Umbogintwini, once a month. Membership by invitation is open to singles or couples residing in Amanzimtoti who enjoy meeting new people and socialising with their peers.
John, who has been a member of Probus for 15 years, has fulfilled a number of different roles on the committee over the years, including president from 2005 to 2008, treasurer from 2008 to 2010, president from 2010 to 2012, and vice-president from 2012 to 2018.
He was born in Barnes, England and schooled at Putney College, Wandsworth Technical College and Regent Street Polytechnic.
SEE PROBUS PHOTOS: Probus Christmas lunch
He has lived in Toti since 1984. John has been married twice and has three children and two grandchildren – Andrea Willis (53), Paul West (51) and Natasha Wilson (45) and grandchildren James Wilson (28) and Presley West (6). He married his first wife in England in 1965 and the second in Rhodesia in 1971.
John was in radio development and acoustic engineering, with Decca Radio and TV Recording Studios, and advanced military radio design, mostly for the SA military but also for overseas forces.
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He has been a Lion for 16 years and been involved in the organisation of the Highland Gathering for 16 years. “I’ve always been a civic-minded person,” he said. “My father was a charter member of the Wandsworth Rotary Club, and my mother was a member of Wandsworth Inner Wheel. They were both Paul Harris Fellows. I attended Rotary functions since I was 14 and I was brought up with the notion that we should help those less advantaged than ourselves.”
Besides his civic duties, John also finds time to enjoy photography. “I’m a member of the Highway Camera Club. My son is a professional photographer in England and in the distant past was on the staff of the South Coast Sun.”
Asked what he enjoys about being part of a social club, John said: “Probus is a social club of people of my own era who enjoy socialising and it widens my group of friends. People should join social clubs because it is enjoyable with monthly speakers and braais at our meetings in Umbogavango Nature Reserve, with occasional outings.”
If you are keen to join Probus, call Sharon-Ann Theron during working hours on 083-312-5360 for more information.
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