IN 1965 I was proudly accepted as a member of Coxhoe Working Men’s Club.

I was 18 years old at the time.

Clubs in those days were watering holes for thirsty miners and quarrymen.

On Sunday mornings we were entertained by the resident Jolly Boys. A fine time for hilarious laughter, it was good clean fun and dominoes were played in the bar. Pit work and pigeons were the topic of conversation. There were cuspidors filled with sand dust and Coxhoe Homing Society set the pigeon clocks in the club.

Happy days!

Today the club can boast wall-to-wall carpets with fine decor to match. The concert room upstairs can only be described as fabulous. We have a friendly bar and a lounge that sports television entertainment. They have a fine selection of beers and a hard-working committee, and a good club steward who is friendly and polite, but sadly something is missing in the club.

Young men of today do not seem interested in club life.

Without the influx if the younger generation, the club could cease to function. We must remember today’s youngsters are tomorrow’s committee men.

So come on you Coxhoe lads and lasses, be as proud as I was when I was 18 years old. Be a member of Coxhoe WMC and maybe this long established institution will be open for another 50 years.

James Taylor, Coxhoe.