A SOCIAL club in Aberystwyth has passed a motion to allow the first female members to join in its 45-year history.

Founded in 1971, the Aberystwyth Probus Club - formally, the Aberystwyth and District Probus Club - is historically “a social club open to retired or semi-retired professional and business men of not less than 60 years of age”.

But at an AGM last month, members agreed to allow women to join its ranks for the first time.

The club’s minutes for the historic meeting said: “We have received an application for membership from a lady.

“If the club members agree to ladies joining the club, the same criteria for membership as at present will be applied.

“A change in the wording of the constitution will then be required.

“Discussion followed and it was agreed that the proposal to amend the constitution would be put before the AGM.

“The final wording proposed was that ‘men’ be changed to ‘persons’.”

The motion was passed at the club’s AGM last month.

While it is normal for the spouses of club members to join in activities and organised trips, up to now they have not been able to enjoy full membership status with the club.

There are around 2,000 Probus Clubs in the UK, with the vast majority still restricted to men only membership.

The Probus Teifiside club in Cardigan has been a mix of men and women for several years, along with just 34 others in the UK.

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