MEMBERS of an Ellesmere social club which brings together older people from all walks of life have elected a new president.

Veterinary surgeon Bill Ferries has donned the chain of office to lead the town's Probus Club for the next 12 months.

He succeeds Jeremy Stretton, who served a double term during pandemic restrictions when the club was forced to abandon regular face-to-face meetings because of Covid restrictions

The club managed to continue with get-togethers via Zoom and after an 18-month break, meetings have now resumed at the town's Comrades Club.

Membership has grown to 55 with more women being welcomed as members

Mr Ferries was elected at the club's annual general meeting together with Mike Grundy as vice-president, Paul Goulbourne, secretary, Michael Judge, treasurer, Jeremy Stretton, programme secretary, and committee members Frank Bailey, David Edgington, Jo Judson and John Shone.

Probus is an international organisation for retired and semi-retired business and professional people.

Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday in winter months and on the first Thursday of the month in summer.

All meetings start with coffee from 10.00 am and the club has lined up a full programme of guest speakers to deliver presentations on a wide variety of topics.

For more information visit the club's website, www.probusclubellesmere.org.uk/community/probus-club-ellesmere-13271/home