A Huddersfield luncheon club has celebrated its 100th anniversary – but could shut down at the end of March.

Huddersfield Women’s Luncheon Club has struggled to find a new treasurer or secretary so they will call it a day at their annual meeting at the end of the month unless volunteers step forward at the 11th hour.

The club was set up in 1924 and previously met at the former Whiteley’s café in Huddersfield town centre and then at the George Hotel.

In more recent times its lunches have been held at the YMCA at Salendine Nook and it now has 78 members.

The format is a lunch at 12 noon followed by a speaker. The caterer was Andrew Bradley from 2014 until last year when it changed to Edwards Catering Services.

Well-known speakers have included Margaret Thatcher’s press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham and outspoken MPs Edwina Currie and Ann Widdecombe.

Club president Wendy Linley, of Slaithwaite, said: “The club has known for two years it needed a new treasurer and secretary but no-one has stepped forward so we will put it to the members at the AGM at the end of March that the club will have to close. It’s so very sad.”

At the final luncheon to celebrate the centenary two ladies, Wendy Sugden and Susan Ellam – the longest serving members of the club – received a flower box and Betty Thornton received the club flowers for being the oldest member. Betty gave a talk to the club, expressing her sadness about its closure. 

Huddersfield Women’s Luncheon Club shouldn’t be confused with Huddersfield Ladies Luncheon Club which no longer exists.

Wendy thinks Huddersfield Women’s Luncheon Club has lasted so long because each member receives a number when they arrive and the numbers are then on the place settings. This means the members end up sitting with different people each time to encourage them to chat to one another and make new friends so no-one is isolated.

She said at other luncheon clubs friends tend to stick together all the time.

Anyone wanting to volunteer to be the secretary or treasurer should phone Wendy on 01484 844452.

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.

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