The end of an era.

Ryecroft and Rawmarsh Working Mens Club is no more it is finished (bankrupt).
In the 1960's the club was so popular and wealthy new membership was restricted to family members only. I was a third generation Shaw to become a member and in turn made my two sons members on there 18th birthdays. It was a local club for local people a place where you could get to know the news and gossip that was going around. These places kept the community spirit going but went into decline with the closures of the Coal mines and Steelworks in the late 80s and early 90s
When I became a member in 1963 there were five Working Mens Clubs in Rawmarsh/Parkgate then in 1966 another WMC opened The Trades and Labour Club at Monkwood. Luckily I am also a member there, todate it is the only one still open.
These clubs were places of entertainment there were concerts nights and dance nights all week. During the shows bingo was played, raffles were held, tote tickets were sold and for the gamblers there was always the checks (the numbers game). One arm bandits (fruit machines) were very popular and probably made more money for the club then any other fund raiser.
Beer, Lager, Wines and Spirits were consumed in great quantities, food was also available.
There was a lounge were you could sit and talk if you needed a bit of quiet. There were rooms with snooker tables, pool tables, dart boards, domino tables and card tables.
TV rooms mainly for the horse racing and football matches.
A room which could be hired out for private functions.
This was the blueprint of all the clubs. Great times but sadly it is all over times have changed (but not for the better in my opinion).

Update 27/11/12.
The Club has reopened under new management it is no longer a WMC but instead it has become a private members club.