Ancaster ladies celebrate 50th year of club

The Ancaster Ladies Club recently held its 50th annual meeting where members marked the milestone with a special anniversary cake.

Committee member 
Merryl Day said at the meeting: “Thank you all for coming here tonight to celebrate 50 years of meetings. Firstly on Tuesday afternoons with our young children, then progressing to evening meetings with speakers and demonstrators.

“Fifty years is a real achievement. Incidentally some of the first committee members are part of the present committee!”

She added: “We have a full programme for the next 12 months so hopefully you will continue to support us through that too.”

The Ancaster club first started when the village suddenly grew with many new houses. Some of the new residents wanted to meet for a chat and get to know each other while their children could play together.

A Tuesday Club was formed and met in the Black Hut on the playing field. Mrs Marsden volunteered to look after the children while their mums had a cup of tea and 
a chat, meeting twice a 
month.

Eventually the club held evening meetings with guest speakers and had to change venue, also changing meetings times to a Thursday.

The Tuesday Club changed its name to Ancaster Ladies Club, welcoming ladies of all ages and of any religious denomination. A committee was formed and a more formal role was adopted in 1968.

Every year, eight meetings are held at The Centre, Angel Court, with a speaker or demonstrator. A cheese and wine annual meeting, a summer outing and a Christmas meal all complete the programme.

A committee of eight runs the club and there is an 
average attendance of 28 
ladies.

The club generates income with a small entrance charge together with a raffle at meetings.