The Probus Club movement was formed in the United Kingdom in 1965. Often sponsored by Rotary International, Probus Clubs cater for the interests of retired or semi-retired professional or business people. The name Probus is a portmanteau of the words PROfessional and BUSinessman. Each club is autonomous. The movement is now world wide.
Since 1985, the Rotary International Board has encouraged Rotary clubs to initiate projects that address the needs of a growing senior (over 60) population.

In 1974, Probus expanded into New Zealand and by 1976 the idea had spread to Australia. The first Probus club for seniors in North America was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in in 1987.
Although Probus membership has its greatest concentrations in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, clubs today exist in all parts of the world, including US, Belgium, India, South Africa and several other countries in Africa and Asia.

Probus clubs have no central governing body but Probus Centres have been established internationally by country to disseminate information and assist clubs. Offices are staffed largely by volunteers and operating costs are met by member contributions.

By 2002, there were over 325,000 members in approximately 4,500 Probus clubs worldwide.

The Cromwell Probus Club of St Ives, Cambridgeshire was formed in 1984 and has 50 members.

COVID-19 - The Club was forced to stop meeting for Lunch in March 2020.

After the COVID-19 'group meetings inside' restrictions were relaxed in April 2021, the extant committee of 6 members met and chose to abandon the Club's formal, committee-based, subscription-funded, President-led male-only, 60+ structure and adopted a more casual, non-gender-specific, non-age-limited, pay-as-you-go environment for those ex-business people seeking a convivial luncheon in pleasant surroundings with partners. The first such lunch meeting is to be held on 19 August 2021.

Our Cromwell Prous Club's Artefacts are preserved at the Norris Museum See HERE