It may be more than 100 years since the first women were granted the right to vote in the UK, but Colchester’s Probus Club has now voted to admit women into its organisation for the first time.

The Probus movement in the UK was founded in the 1960s.

Probus clubs are similar to Rotary clubs and are for retired people who want to come together and socialise on a regular basis.

But Colchester’s Probus Club, which has been going since 1977, only formally agreed to admit women at its annual general meeting.

The president of Colchester Probus Club is Jonathan Palmer.

Mr Palmer, 71, who lives on Land Lane, Colchester, said the issue had been under discussion for some time.

He said while there were still some members of the Probus Club who would have preferred it to remain a men’s only club, he said there was never any serious opposition to the vote being carried at annual general meeting.

He said: “We’ve been thinking about it for a long time.

“About three or four members said they would prefer not to have women, but they were never going to storm out over it.

“I’m delighted to have helped make the change come about.

“The Rotary club admitted women about 20 years ago, so we have been quite slow on the uptake by comparison.”

Even slower on the take-up of female members is Colchester Colne Probus Club, which voted against allowing female members to join the club earlier this year.

But Mr Palmer, who is optimistic about the future of Colchester Probus Club, added the general activities and get-togethers would feel just the same as they did before.

“The vote sailed through the AGM,” he said.

“I could have been the first person to have a vote of no confidence within months of election,” he joked.

“But in terms of the things we do for activities and socialising – there won’t be that much change.”

The membership of Colchester Probus currently sits at about 45, with the club meeting every second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Kinglsand Church Hall, Stanway, at 10.30am.