A CLUB which has been running for more than 40 years will accept women members tomorrow for the first time in its history.

Dunbar Probus Club took the decision to allow women to join at its last meeting.

A secret ballot was held at the meeting, which was attended by 32 of the 45 members.

That saw a near-unanimous verdict to welcome female members to the club, with only one dissenting voice.

Speaking following the decision Jack Wilson, secretary of Dunbar Probus Club, said: “The Probus has a magazine and it highlighted a number of clubs are falling in numbers.

"They recognised it might be an idea to include women in membership. There are quite a few [Probus clubs] locally that do it – North Berwick is one.

“We paid a visit to North Berwick Probus Club and spoke to the women who were there and asked why they joined the Probus, rather than the women’s guild.

"They said they go to [guild meetings] and talk about knitting, sewing and baking and are not interested in it.”

The club was formed in 1974.

Its next meeting, which is being billed as a ladies’ day until a formal change to the constitution is made at the AGM in December, is tomorrow in the town’s Castle Social Club from 10am.