An introductory meeting for the formation of a Probus Club in Teesdale was held on the 15th October 1991. The meeting was hosted by the Rotary Club of Barnard Castle and was held at the Spring Lodge Hotel in Barnard Castle. 23 members were present and it was unanimously agreed that a Probus Club should be formed in Teesdale. The appointment of the officers were as follows:-
- Chairman – Mr. George Jopling (for one year)
- Vice Chairman – Mr. Freddie Ambrose
- Secretary/Treasurer – Mr. Kennedy Dinsmore
- Committee – Members would be nominated at the first meeting.
A preliminary committee of the Probus Club was held at 2 Dickens Road on the 14th November 1991 and the first formal meeting of the club was held at 10:00am on Thursday 21st November at the spring Lodge Hotel, Barnard Castle where the Chairman, Mr. George Jobling, welcomed everyone to the first meeting and gave thanks to the Rotary Club for supporting it. It was reported that there were approximately 40 members. It was proposed that subscriptions should be £2/annum per member. It was agreed that the name of the club would be “The Probus Club of Barnard Castle“.
Since the formation of the club it has met regularly on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Jersey Hotel in Barnard Castle. The Coronavirus in 2020 forced the club to cease meeting; which also coincided with a change of potential venue. The current venue is now the Cricket Club in Barnard Castle, again meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month. As of 17th May 2021, the relaxation of social gatherings meant that the club could again meet. The first meeting for over a year was the postponed AGM meeting, from last November, on 20th May 2021 where new officers were elected.