The club started in 1988 as "Newport Professionals" and was originally intended as a telephone contact network for professional people living in or around Newport. The idea was to put an advert in the County Press, meet once in a member's home and then exchange names, addresses and telephone numbers as a starting point for contact and support between its members. Two changes happened rapidly which were to set a more permanent direction for the group. One was that the information was held on a computer database, the other that an organised social emphasis started to develop and as this grew, "Island Professionals", known locally as IP, evolved and has grown to include around 300 members who for one reason or another are on their own. The club is run in a professional manner with a committee elected at an AGM each May.

Regular Events

Every Sunday afternoon Island Professionals hold a walk. This is better described as a "social in motion". There are often over thirty members on these walks which vary in difficulty covering almost every inch of the Island. It matters not what the weather is like as we don wet weather gear and accompanied by our dogs, we can be seen making our way over the downs or through the woods.

The highlights of our year are the dinner dances. These events, held twice a year at Christmas and mid-Summer are attended by the majority of IP members. With a four course meal at a local hotel followed by dancing into the small hours, we all put on our glad rags and let down our hair. Very special evenings to be long remembered.

We arrange trips to the cinema and theatre, pub nights when we meet for a meal or just a drink and a chat. Ten pin bowling is enjoyed once a month and badminton every Monday. We go to dancing classes, jazz nights and debate evenings, quiz nights, swimming, barbecues and picnics - or just a bicycle ride.

New Members