REGULARS at Joe Walton's Youth and Community Centre celebrated its centenary year by gathering to wish happy birthday to a friend just seven years younger than the club.
The surprise party was for 93-year-old Marguerite Bellars, who is the oldest regular attender at the centre, in Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough.
Mrs Bellars never misses her weekly trip to the Joe Walton's lunch club, before settling down to a social afternoon with friends.
She said: "It was a wonderful surprise. I didn't know any of my family were coming, but they always try to do something special for me, and this was lovely."
Centre chairman Walter Crossman presented Mrs Bellars with a glass bowl, engraved with the club's crest, while charity busker Norman Evans provided the entertainment.
Centre manager Hazel Morris said: "This is the first event of many in our centenary year, and there'll be many opportunities for new and old members to meet and share the good times."
The Joe Walton's Boys' Club was founded in 1906, in Feversham Street, St Hilda's, by Joe Walton, a local barrister and philanthropist.
After several changes in location, the club moved to purpose-built premises in the Neptune Centre, Berwick Hills, in 1997, and now operates as the Joe Walton's Youth and Community Centre.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article