Very sadly, our first Minute Book has been lost and subsequent searches have failed to unearth it so the first 17 years of the life of Cupar Probus Club are no longer available and our records begin with an AGM on 28th January 1987.

However it seems we held an enrollment meeting on Thursday 29th October 1970 when 42 members were created Founders and, interesting to note, 8 of them went on to become Chairmen. There is one area where Cupar Probus Club excelled during the 80s and into the 90s and that is a deep interest in local affairs; we were never slow in making our feelings known to our local council, probably because we were blessed with Provost Andrew Scott as a club member.

As in all Minute Books, we regularly find something has been changed and not fully explained in writing but there is an area where our Minute Secretaries should be thanked and that is creating a complete record of our speakers and subjects since January 1987.

At the 1987 AGM we recorded our membership at 88 and two honorary members. During 1986 we achieved an average attendance of 54 per meeting. It’s also interesting to note that thanks were offered to our work party who set-up and put away the tables for each meeting. This was obviously before Age Concern served lunch and during the Treasurer’s report it was agreed our annual fee would remain at £1. They don’t make Treasurers like that anymore! It was also agreed that our seven surviving founder members be made honorary members. 

During this particular year it was observed that we spend much too much time discussing sport when we should be talking Probus business.

When discussing a proposed visit to Scone Palace our members insisted on a proper lunch rather than the usual sub-standard greasy-spoon cafe. Eventually 52 seats were booked for this outing. About this time we were reminded of a member, (remaining nameless) who tended to use the wrong words especially so when, he stated in his own defense “We can all make mistakes and no man is inflammable!” The following report was given re the outing to Scone Palace. “The weather was good, the gardens and Palace, the food was acceptable. Especially the peacocks!” During a June meeting of that year the Minute Secretary wrote a report on Bowling results by saying “Always the Bridesmaid, never the Bride” Very unfair on our gentlemen Bowlers I thought. During 1988 we were busy preparing for a visit to the Glasgow Garden Festival on June 1st. We had 101 members, wives and friends on our list to attend. About this time we were aware that our speakers were not always audible so were preparing to invest in a speaker system. (Gentlemen, this is a perfect example of the beginnings of our club and its early beginnings; the things we take for granted today.)

A very strange and unexplained snippet followed “What seemed a most suitable location for the top table on 27th April appeared not to be so on 11th May when the Chairman and Minute Secretary were left in isolation!”

In one of our talks the local head librarian spoke of the days before libraries when a local man, Mr Walter Bowman allowed the local men the use of his private library but first they had to wash their hands in a bucket of hot water outside his kitchen door, take off their boots and they were not allowed to use the toilet.

During the 1980s we record annual donations to various deserving cases. Age Concern, Cupar Disfigurement Centre and Alwyn House. Ceres each receiving £100. This was the time when we could regularly show the Minute of three meetings on one page,--handwritten and of course, very brief!

As we near the end of the 1980s our membership is on the maximum allowed by our Constitution at that time - 90. Our attendances  average around the 60 mark. During a talk on Western Highland Railway it was pointed out that at the railway station in Oban, its square tower only had a clock on three sides because a particular lady of high-standing in the town had no wish to be reminded of constant passing of time so the council gave the fourth clock to the local church! Now we hear of our bowling team’s success in beating Falkirk Probus who had an unbeaten record until they met our lads!

Our Treasurer announced he had £1 extra from our last meeting.  Applicants were advised to form an orderly queue after the meeting. After discussion, pensioners were divided into three grades, i.e. Elderly, Woopies and Wrinklies. Woopies were reckoned to be well-off and Wrinklies were over 85. Can’t imagine how they worked-out the Woopies!

Remaining in the late 1980s this was the grim time of the Lockerbie Disaster and under a scheme entitled Probus Assisting Lockerbie Scheme - PALS for short, we sent £25 as requested. Also at this time the members complained that we had too many speakers and we didn’t need one at every meeting. Also during this time, a member had noticed a sign at Markinch Station stating “Alight here for Glenrothes, Capital of Fife”. A strong letter was written to the Council, to which they replied “Administrative Centre of Fife” sounded less impressive and the word CAPITAL carried more clout - but we were having none of it and forwarded all correspondence to the Sunday Post. It was also suggested that this story be sent to the Scots Magazine but this story has a way to run and you will hear more.

In June 1989 we offer our congratulations to club member Jimmy Shand on receiving the Freedom of N.E.Fife. District and during a talk we hear that N.E.Fife has the highest age population in Scotland. This is very heartening to people of a certain age group.

The saga of Markinch Station continues with our letter having been printed by the Sunday Post, with a letter from the Council Legal department saying the sign would be renovated but not altered. This was not good enough for Cupar Probus Club and we viewed it as an insult. We were, at this time also in discussions with our Council regarding the time allowed on street crossings for the elderly and the necessary adjustments were made.

We continue to allocate funds to various local charities and give £300 this year. Our Annual Dinner this year will cost £7 (and I quote) “Females are not forbidden”. Within our correspondence I note invitations from other Probus Clubs to send two members to their next meeting; an excellent idea but this was when new Probus Clubs were springing up over Fife.

Another letter re Markinch Station but our Minute records “little content”. 

Dear old Markinch is with us again in the form of a letter stating they have nothing further to say but we still have plenty to say and the editor of the Fife Herald is interested in the presumptuous and unfounded claim that Glenrothes is the capital of Fife and will issue a voting slip on this matter in the next issue.

We are now in the 1990s and showing a full membership of 90 with a waiting list of 6. We have one speaker per month for the remainder of this year then we review our thinking at the AGM. At this meeting we have 65 members and 3 visitors, and we have a team allocated to set the tables and chairs, and tidy afterwards, because Age Concern still don’t do lunches. We hear we have 92 members and 9 on a waiting list. We also had 40 visitors during the year. We welcomed Mr Grant Balfour, the first life member of Cupar Probus Club and supplier of our early lapel badges. The year is 1990 and our Treasurer reports an interest of 10.5% in our main account.

No progress on the Markinch sign. A member warned against hope of a speedy solution as it had taken twelve months to get BR to move a sign at Ladybank reading “Trains for Edinburgh” off  the North-bound platform onto the southbound! During June 1990 we had a table in Cupar’s Crossgate and received over 1000 signatures against the “Glenrothes - Capital of Fife” sign. We are not letting go and our tenacity must be admired.

Our Robert Reid receives a knighthood and is congratulated by all present.

Still in 1990, we have a lady who serves tea and receives £5 for doing so. One of our speakers was Master Blender from a whisky distillery. Each member was given a miniature but our Chairman received a full bottle!

What looks like the final saga in our epic battle with the Markinch sign when Mr Alan Chalmers announced the sign board had been removed. Our grateful thanks to all who took part in this fight.

A talk by our member Donald Heggie on life in his shop in the Bonnygate told of delivering a wedding cake to Auchtermuchty when a wayward cyclist caused him to brake hard thereby causing much damage to the cake. Undaunted, Donald used some white glue to rebuild pillars and icing. The wedding went ahead as planned and Donald was pleased to report the couple were still sticking together! We are hearing complaints from Age Concern about the crumbs and mess we leave on the floor.

We heard the story of the Harold Wilson Memorial Statue and the problem of the Labour Party where to site it. With no speaker that day, the matter was discussed, and solved,  as follows: Not near George Washington because he never told a lie; not near Lloyd George, he never told the truth, whereas Harold Wilson didn’t know the difference. The statue had to be beside Christopher Columbus because they had much in common - he started out not knowing where he was going, he arrived not knowing where he was, and returned not knowing where he had been! (If you are a strong Labour man, please don’t take offence... it wisnae me!)  During the 1990’s we still enjoyed average attendance of over 65 with a membership in high 80’s. We also welcomed visitors to meetings including our AGM’s.

A Cupar Probus Luncheon Club has been launched - 3rd Wednesday of each month. Elmwood has supplied details and the first lunch will take place on November 20th 1996. At our Mince Pie Day that year our Minute informs us it was made much more enjoyable because the Treasurer failed to collect any money. Isn’t it strange how nobody reminded him, not even our Chairman!

According to the European Commission the word “Elderly” is no longer an acceptable description. Cupar Probus Club to the rescue once again - “Chronologically Disordered”. A more suitable title suggested for Age Concern would be “The Last Gasp Saloon”.

13th May 1998, (I quote from the Minute) “Loud cheers greeted the Treasurer’s  announcement there would be no charge for Coffee today” (I repeat myself - they don’t make  Treasurers like that anymore.)

We have had our first meeting of the Millennium Committee with thoughts on how we would celebrate this very special occasion.

During the late 1990 was when Valentine’s of Dundee closed leaving their Photographic and Postcard collection to St Andrews University, increasing their archives to approx 300,000.

1999 and we send two representatives to the Fife and District Probus Clubs Annual Conference. At our next meeting our Representatives reported on the activities and were very impressed by the Enthusiasm shown for this meeting. Our two reps felt that "Things needed stirring up in our club and we should be looking at regular outings." They also felt that our members were obsessed with having their own seat instead of mingling. (I’m into terrible writing at this stage and struggling to decipher - loosing lots of small detail.) Our Committee of 1999 suggested business meetings only for one meeting during March, May and October and if time permitted, members were asked to present short talks under the heading 20th Century Memories.

During that year we had a talk by our member James Michie on Vintage Cars, ending in a visit to the car park to view his 1924 Morris Oxford complete with original number plates and AA Badge.

We have finally reached the first meeting of the new Millennium and it’s interesting to note there isn’t a mention of it in the Minute of that meeting, in fact, the Secretary mistakenly entered January 1999, scored it out, inserted 2000! 

This led us to our first AGM of 2000 when Jack Cowieson retired and James Wilson took his place.

Having reached the year 2000, this is a tidy place to pause with my hope that I have been able to paint a picture of the earlier days of our club and implant a wee bit enthusiasm and loyalty within your minds for our future.

At our February meeting I note that orders for Millennium Plaques have been placed with installation expected late Spring.

There has been another meeting of Fife Probus Clubs Association and our representatives report two main subjects of discussion: The use of a Welfare Officer, tending the ill and needy; and the creation of interest groups within our clubs, gardening, walking, photography, etc. We have also agreed to support a Cupar Ladies Probus Club. At this time we had 76 paid members. It was also suggested that our Chairman’s collar should show previous Chairmen and our committee will discuss this.

A lady teacher spoke of her teaching in Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Haddington, and Kennoway. She taught English, French, Music and was the school football referee!  During April, we tried a new seating arrangement - to the pleasure of some, and the anger of others! Two meetings later we returned to the old seating system.

During May 2000 a meeting of Cupar Ladies Probus was held with 40 ladies in attendance, a committee was formed and Sept 19th was agreed for their first meeting. Rev Peter Gordon is still reporting on the progress of Millennium Plaques, stating £1700 has been raised including £500 from Cupar Probus. During October our Chairman reported a visit to the second meeting of Cupar Ladies Probus when 88 ladies were present. The ‘Loop’ part of our audio system is now unsafe and must not be used. A member suggested that we immediately disconnect it rather than waste time making announcements! February 2001 and we have our Past Chairman’s board on show for the first time.

At a March meeting, business only, it was agreed that time would be saved by members holding their own lapel badges, and that our Constitution should show that Secretary and Treasurer could only serve for three years. We are nearing the end of the Millennium Plaques with 13 on show and a suggestion that they be photographed to record our achievement on behalf of Cupar. About this time we are averaging an attendance of 50 but there is very little enthusiasm for outings and they are regularly cancelled because of lack of support. (Now here’s a mystery.) “The list of members was now complete for inclusion in the local Authority casket for burial!” - probably when the Cross was moved from the roadway to make it safer. October 2001, our new notice board has been installed and we won a Bridge contest in Kirkcaldy. At this stage we are still having irregular business-only meetings when it was noted that several of our new clip-on badges had not been uplifted and there seemed a determination with some lads not to wear the badge!

As we enter 2002 we have full agreement on donating £100 to the Jimmy Shand Memorial. During March, Alistair Scott was elected as Cupar Probus Club Bard. Our next meeting was opened with the Bard’s crowning when he sang two short odes. We have decided not to support Kinghorn’s Bonspiel, obviously a new venture. Also about this time a previous lady speaker has offered computer lessons - 12 members showed interest. Members have been asked to assist the tea-orderly by pushing their dishes to the end of their tables for collection.

This is 2002 and we have 89 members, 6 life members and 3 new lads joining at the next meeting and at this time it was a regular occurrence for Alistair Scott to open the meeting with a song, or poem, related to our previous speaker. He was obviously a very talented entertainer.

In discussing the annual dinner for November, our Treasurer suggested that the club should subsidise each ticket by £4; this was agreed unanimously!

Although we have a strong membership and attendance we continue to have small support for outings and the question is being asked whether it is an age-thing or too much mileage involved. At our April meeting we record the death of Alistair Scott, a very hard worker and stalwart of our club.

It is August and we receive an invitation to attend the unveiling of the Jimmy Shand memorial. We announce a plan to publish a book of Alistair Scott’s poems at a cost of £1700. Hopefully we’ll hear more about this later. Age Concern informs us they have a new computer and available to Cupar Probus Club - at a charge! Four months after the agreement on Alistair Scott’s book we have raised £1146. £54 short of the ‘break-even’ figure. At our 2004 AGM it is suggested we now require a waiting-list for new members and also an idea we should have an associate membership for those unable to attend regularly.

We had a wonderful member who talked on his wartime experiences in the RAF who, during a field exercise was sent from barracks to carry an urgent message to his group. Hopelessly lost, he had to be rescued. The exercise ended in a shambles and he was put on a charge. It’s 2004 and we agree to increase our rent to £12 per meeting. Also in this, it was decided to have an annual lunch instead of a dinner. Our Minute Secretary at that time wrote that a new member was indentured into the club, did he mean ‘inducted?’ and a speaker opened his talk by telling our Minute Secretary to “put his pen down" while he waffled-on, until the Chairman took pity on the members and called a halt. Our first annual lunch, in place of dinner, at the Rathcluan Hotel has been canceled because of their difficulties.

November 2004 and the Minute informs us “there was no interest in car-stickers!” At our early January 2005 meeting, there was no visiting speaker. Members recalled the great storm of 1953 when the MV Princess Victoria went down with 133 lives lost, Forfar Mart was demolished, and several henhouses in Orkney were blown out to sea. At this year’s AGM it was agreed to photograph the changeover of Chairmen. (Another example of developing ideas within the club). This was the year when our newly elected Chairman, Cowan Wilson died. Our attendance at this time continues in the mid-fifties and visiting Probians are regularly given a welcome. At a committee meeting we agreed to send polite letters to unpaid members asking if their intentions were 'honorable', and we were informed the audio system in Cupar Old Kirk was not suitable and we must seek other possibilities. One of our speakers said his father was a ‘stripper’ and when the laughter died down he explained he was a miner and stripped coal.

A speaker gave details about the Relief-of-Mafeking and the dreadful lies we received. Lord Baden Powell seemed to be heavily involved, but one truth was that after seven hours bombardment, a dog had been killed. Club member David Carstairs was congratulated on being named Citizen of the Year.

At this time we are having problems with our speaker system but the July 2005 Minutes record an improvement - costing £5! And we are still troubled with a lack of enthusiasm for club outings.

Towards the end of this year our own Bob McIntosh presented a talk on Dundee’s History and spoke of a well-known ‘Lady of the Night, Sophie McCracken, who gave her daughter half her clients, as a birthday present. 

At the 2006 AGM it was agreed to have no outings and review at our next AGM, and at the March meeting, a new sound system was being tested. A very interesting talk about the Forth Road Bridge. In 2006 it has a design load of 2.5 tons but is already carrying 5.6 tons and if this increase continues, the bridge will close before 2019. Our new sound system is approved at a cost of £1,169.13. I have now entered an age of typed Minutes and life is good!

During May, a proposal was made to allocate seats to members, thereby moving them to different places at each meeting and promoting a greater level of fellowship. (Interesting!) Also this month, we hold an emergency committee meeting regarding our new speaker system and its many problems.

The recent idea of moving members around the meetings has been ‘dumped’, and it was pointed out that no seat is reserved at any time.

It is 2007 and we propose to hold the AGM on our first meeting instead of the second to commence 2008. We are arranging an outing to the Scottish Liqueur Centre at Bankfoot, but to make it financially viable we must fill the bus with 40 persons. The outing did take place on our normal club meeting day, 9th May. 

During this year we regularly welcomed 60 members. It was a lovely day in August and our Chairman offered to open the meeting in song, but this was not pursued. Our speaker that day spoke on “Policing in Paradise” - The Caribbean. His first impression was a 12ft x 6ft poster proclaiming “Stay Healthy, use a condom every time.” The subject of speaker’s expenses is raised regularly and when a request for £50 was quoted, it was rapidly agreed not to benefit from this persons subject! A later talk on the RNLI told of the rescue of a four-year-old child in a plastic dinghy. The parents asked to meet with the crew, not to thank them but to ask what they did with the dinghy!

2008 AGM and our membership stand at 90 and our annual subscription is increased to £6. Cupar Old Parish Church requests the use of our speaker system during alterations, but after serious discussion it is refused, and agreed that our system is not for hire. During this early part of 2008 our speaker’s subject was “Let’s not try to shoot the leading lady again.” Gavin Drummond, tells the story, and our Bowlers win the indoor league championship cup for the second year with the trophy on show to our members. Our “B” team retained the outdoors trophy at Duffus Park.

After we had a talk on the life of Charles Dickens, the Minute  reads as follows, “Thanks to our speaker, he died in 1870!” It was in April of this year that our bowlers successfully defended their championship win of 2007. The team was David Anderson, Andy Glen, Andy Kirkwood and Jack McCubbin. The eternal cry is repeated, to please wear lapel badges. A very short note during June 2008 informs us that Cupar Probus Club now holds both indoor and outdoor championships in Fife. As we leave 2008 it must be said that it was a good year with attendances averaging 50 and a membership of 88. Later in the year we are pleased to hear that our Bowlers have won the Fife Championship for the third year. This was the time of a project to send gift boxes to the troops in Afghanistan, with 183 having gone and the hopes of 200 being reached by October, our club being in full support. Later we hear letters of thanks from the troops.   

The 2010 AGM records an average attendance of 45 with membership shown as 86. This was our 40th Anniversary year and our committee members are busy with early thoughts and plans. Commemorative pens will be distributed during April. Our speaker on 'Highland Park Whisky' during this month was marooned in Stockholm as a result of volcanic ash from Iceland, but the distillery sent four bottles of whisky as consolation, one bottle being labeled “Famous Cupar Probus Grouse” - raffled at a later date. Our retiring Chairman gave a special thanks to our Inter-club Quiz team for winning the trophy against strong odds.

Our Bowls team reported having traveled to Falkirk only to find the stadium had suffered a bad fire. (I suppose you could say, “all matches were cancelled”) This being our 40th Anniversary year, our committee busy themselves with ideas for the type of celebration necessary.

During  early 2010 we were treated to a talk entitled 'The Antonine Guard', when the speaker made a dramatic entrance in the full regalia of a Roman Legionaire, his helmet showing the feathers of his rank. In keeping with this excellent talk, David Cleland, (now past chairman) gave the vote-of-thanks in classical Latin! November saw us enjoying Annual Lunch and celebrating our 40th Anniversary. It was held at St Michael’s Inn. Chairman Ian Thomson welcomed all present with a special welcome to Mr & Mrs Grant Balfour, a founder member of Cupar Probus Club. 70 members etc enjoyed a meal and were later entertained by Billy Anderson.

Having enjoyed our successful 40th anniversary, we announce a plea for more entertainers within our club, followed by a talk on Tai Chi, when some members were made aware of their creaky old bones.

During our 2011 AGM we heard our bowling team had won the inter-club trophy for the fourth time in five years. During April 12 members enjoyed lunch at Age Concern - a new idea to give them more support.

During reports in June, Golf Convener Sandy Aitken stated someone stole his ball. It’s not reported if he managed to finish his game!

July 2011 was when club member Maurice Shepherd broached the subject of a club website, quickly setting a very high standard, envied by other Probus clubs. Our monthly lunch at Age Concern is not proving a success as we are now reduced to four club members.

We end 2011 with 81 members and average attendance of 45.

A speaker on Genealogy stated that one is quickly made aware that the family tree can show a variety of nuts, lemons and rotten apples!

The following year seemed to run in a very orderly fashion with regular meetings, good attendances and successful outings. Our website now displays a members list showing basic details. (An excellent step forward for our club.) During a talk on Nutrition for men of a certain age, it was pointed out that pie, chips, peas and beans washed down with two pints of beer was not the way forward.

During 2013 we presented Cupar Heritage Museum with a  display cabinet, suitably adorned with a named plaque. Mr Guthrie Hutton showed his appreciation.

Our attendance level maintains a healthy level of 46/50 but we still insist on our own seat at our own table and we are not for changing! We are now adding photographs to our members list. This will be progressive as the photos are taken and create another discipline to keep it updated.

During July we enjoyed a successful visit to Cupar Heritage Museum and are now taking numbers for Kirkcaldy Museum and Gallery next month. During August, club member Alex Strachan presented his talk entitled “On Guard” with no clue whether it was army life, railways or fencing! It was steam railways: an excellent and amusing talk, much appreciated by all. During this month we enjoy a well received visit to the Black Watch Museum. This year we held our annual lunch at the Fairways Restaurant, when 62 members and guests were present, and wined, dined and nicely entertained by club member George Wilson on his accordion. 

We close our year as usual with Mince-Pie Day and this year we welcomed Castlehill Primary school Choir with their selection of Christmas songs all presented with great enthusiasm - a good end to 2013.

AGM 2014 and we receive the usual reports: attendances averaging 47 per meeting, four successful outings, good and not- so-good news from golfers and bowlers. We thank Past Chairman, Tom Vickery for his term of office, and welcome John Topliss to carry on the good work.

During February our three long service members were presented with certificates and lapel badges. Andrew Philp 1985, Walter Ford 1986 and Eric Neish 1987 - Sam Anderson 1987 was presented at our next meeting. All lads giving good service to Cupar Probus Club. At our March meeting we enjoyed the following true quotes: the wee lad at Sunday School with very shiny shoes because of his misunderstanding of the Hymn “Jesus bids us shine.” The football manager who said “ My team has its second leg up its sleeve”, and one of our Councilors saying he could half the problem by 75%! He went on to say he wanted quarterly meetings twice a year.

It was in June that we enjoyed the luxury of new, very comfortable seats, hoping they did not induce sleep or snoring. A talk in August carried the title “A Load of Hot Air” and we were assured it had nothing to with politics or politicians.

At our 2015 AGM it was a very sad opening to hear the names of eleven members who died during 2014.

During February our speaker enthralled with us with his voyage of discovery to Antarctica aboard MV Fram. Safety precautions were taken seriously, and this was no ordinary cruise with Bull Seals, Whales and Penguins in plenty. In the same month we were thinking about having to create a waiting list for new members but it was never pursued.

It was during July that we were treated to a talk, “100 years of Scotts” by Hilda Scott - an unlikely subject for 45 old men but it was filled with changing fashions, plenty pictures and did include male fashion as well. Some of our members were actually wearing the same styles!!

At our Mince-Pie day this year we were entertained by 33 pupils from Castlehill Primary School. Their enthusiasm was hypnotic as they treated us to a Christmas singsong. George Wilson with his accordion provided a suitable ending to our year.

AGM of January 2016. We have a membership of 72 and last year’s average attendance of 44.

Following observations from members, this was the year when we abridged details of our speakers in the Minute book but still recorded fully in the local paper. Members were also asked to list their preference of club outings on paper and we formed a subcommittee to analyse the results which were announced at the next meeting; 24 votes for one outing, 18 for two and eight for no outings.

During April we are invited by Cupar Ladies Probus to help fill the bus for their outing to Floors Castle, Kelso. Because of their falling membership, an approach has been made by Howe of Fife Probus to consider amalgamation; after discussion with Age Concern we were unable to assist but they fully understood our problem of overcrowding.

At our meeting in June 2016 it was unanimously agreed that Past Chairman Ian Thomson be declared an Honorary Life Member. It was also at this time, member Maurice Shepherd, informed us we had reached our fifth year with the website and spoke of its success and at our July meeting it was announced by our Secretary that our speaker was the 175th presented to us by Colin Moore.An incredible achievement.

We are forever grateful to John Topliss for his perseverance in arranging club outings and during July we enjoyed a successful trip to Forfar Guide Dog Training Centre, and on to Glamis Castle. At our Mince-pie Day of this year we held a raffle to offer thanks to the Age Concern Staff, with a cheque for £168 being donated. (A very worthwhile venture indeed.)

At our 2017 AGM we record a membership of 75 and an average attendance of 49. After all business had been conducted we were entertained by Alistair McFarlane and his well known fiddle music.

To open our year, 2018, we were entertained by Muchty-Music-Makkers. Club member John Dewar giving a spirited rendering of “To a Haggis” and members enjoying haggis on oatcakes.

As we read through the Minute of our twice monthly meetings, it becomes obvious how orderly we have become, how our members are very comfortable with this arrangement and we continue to receive excellent service from the Age Concern ladies. It is also noticeable how we maintain a very high standard of speaker from outwith, and within our club, to say nothing of the range of subjects presented during our years as a club.

It was during our July meeting Past Chairman Rev Peter Gordon gave notice that his failing health would keep him from our meetings. He was accorded our sincere thanks for his 20 years service to Cupar Probus Club.

Mid-2017 and we are maintaining a healthy membership and this is the first year of our August holiday, returning again during September. November saw us being entertained by CUPALELE, a ukulele group from Cupar U3A and 14 of them entertained us with a superb range of old and new songs They really did get our feet tapping.

Our year ended with our traditional Mince-Pie Day when 10(?) club members provided a morning of excellent entertainment.

At the 2018 AGM we were pleased to hear the annual subscription would remain at £15. Our membership is 68. Past Chairman John Topliss gave a report on last year’s three outings and it is heartening to note a renewed interest in this part of Probus Club life. During March, Bowls Convener and Past Chairman, Tom Vickery, reported that his team showed great consistency and lost again, quoting "It’s not the winning - it’s the taking part".

This was the year we won the Fife and Kinross general knowledge competition and our three stalwarts, David Cleland, Ron Campbell and Malcolm Gerdes-Hansen were duly presented with the trophy. A collection for “Maggies” at our next meeting raised a very healthy £162.52.

At our meeting on 27th June we were honoured by a visit of six members of Cowdenbeath Probus Club. All Probus Clubs could benefit from more visitations.

We hear that 15 members enjoyed a good day at Amazon Supply at Dunfermline. A visit to East Fortune Museum was also a success.

Because of redecoration at Age Concern, our November meeting was held at Cupar Old Parish Hall and 45 members attended. During November we are happy to hear long-served member, John Kilpatrick, has been named Cupar Citizen of the Year.

A  very successful annual lunch was held at Rufflets Hotel, St Andrews, with thanks to all organisers.

And so we reach December and Mince-Pie Day again when we were royally entertained by U3A Ukelele Band, mainly celebrating the end of World War 1. Our members were invited to join in the singing, but our witty Secretary noted that their foot-tapping was better than their singing!

At our 2019 AGM we received the usual reports from Conveners, all speaking highly of the year that’s awa’, but already aware that next year we celebrate our 50th year as Cupar Probus Club and that early planning is necessary.

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