AN EMERGENCY meeting has been hailed a success as residents show passion to saving the 65 year-old Haydonian social club from closing.

Over 60 people attended the meeting on Saturday, January 27 , with 15 names coming forward to volunteer for a role on the committee.

The emergency meeting was held on January 27 this year after the announcement that the current Chairman and Treasurer will be retiring after 25 years’ service.

In a heartfelt plea before the meeting, Chairman Jimmy Carruthers said: "The club is an important part of the Community and is the social hub for many of it’s 300 members.

"For some of our members, playing Bingo once a week on a Sunday night, might be their only social interaction with other people.

"The club host darts and pool teams which play in local leagues and play an important social part in people’s lives.

"The future of the club is dependent on attracting a new chairman, treasurer, and active committee members. Without this, the club will face closure like many CIU clubs have across the country. At present the only paid members of the Haydonian are the bar staff and a cleaner."

The club has served the village since 1959 and will be celebrating 65 years’ service this year and the pleas for help to save it did not do unheard.

The premises provides the village with a large function room, a community bar and lounge, which includes a pool, darts and snooker, plus televising live sporting events.

The club also helps to raise money for local clubs and host monthly quiz nights and for the last 28 years the current treasurer has hosted children’s parties at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. 

Now pleased with the result of the meeting and the future is almost certain, Chairman Jimmy Carruthers adds:"At this stage it is positive news for the club.

"The current committee members will stay on board past September but elections for officers will be in September once new volunteers are up to speed.

"The first meeting for members is on February 13."