91-year history is over as Haslingden's Royal British Legion club closes

11:22am Friday 10th August 2012 in Rossendale Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

ONE of the first Royal British Legion clubs in the country has closed its doors for the final time – after a 91-year history.

The club officials at the Haslingden premises in Deardengate have staged a farewell karaoke night after struggling for some time with falling takings.

The town centre club was only the sixth to open its doors to ex-servicemen and women, after the Great War, in 1921.

Cheap booze from the supermarkets and also a gradual shift in caring for ex-service personnel have been blamed for the ven-ue’s demise.

The RBL branch wound down several years ago but the likes of former club steward Dave Taylor and standard bearer Len Riley ensure that the annual Remembrance parade still goes ahead.

Mr Riley, a former RBL branch secretary for 10 years, said: “There was not enough money going over the bar to help to pay the bills.

“I have put it down to the cheap beer that is sold in the supermarkets. Unless the government do some-thing about it then you will see a lot more closing.”

At the end of 2009 Has-lingden Conservative Club, in Bank Street, also shut down after 140 years.

Coun Gladys Sandiford, a former Rossendale mayor and Greenfield ward coun-cillor, said that the legion’s Haslingden branch had struggled for numbers for some time.

“And these days you have also the likes of Help for Heroes and Veterans In Action, both working in the same area, although the Royal British Legion still does an awful lot in the area,” Coun Sandiford added.

Comments (5)

1:13pm Fri 10 Aug 12

2 for 5p says...

Quote.

“I have put it down to the cheap beer that is sold in the supermarkets. Unless the government do some-thing about it then you will see a lot more closing.”
Good I'd rather see cheap beer, than some out of date crumy pub or club surviving.
Quote. “I have put it down to the cheap beer that is sold in the supermarkets. Unless the government do some-thing about it then you will see a lot more closing.” Good I'd rather see cheap beer, than some out of date crumy pub or club surviving. 2 for 5p

3:29pm Fri 10 Aug 12

HelmshoreMan2010 says...

If cheap supermarket beer is killing the pubs then offer something that can't be done at home.

Most of the pubs I go in don't put entertainment on. If you just want a room to stand in and drink in then you would be better off inviting a few friends round to your home.

Put an artist on or even a comedy night. There is plenty of aspiring comedians that would offer a night up free or cheap.

To put it another way, think outside the box or you will find nails in that box very soon!
If cheap supermarket beer is killing the pubs then offer something that can't be done at home. Most of the pubs I go in don't put entertainment on. If you just want a room to stand in and drink in then you would be better off inviting a few friends round to your home. Put an artist on or even a comedy night. There is plenty of aspiring comedians that would offer a night up free or cheap. To put it another way, think outside the box or you will find nails in that box very soon! HelmshoreMan2010

9:57am Sat 11 Aug 12

mavrick says...

I am afraid the RBL club has not moved with the times. It shows in the support at the local armistice day parade. It is the reducing number of old veterans carrying the flag, It is the same in the club. Time to move on.
I am afraid the RBL club has not moved with the times. It shows in the support at the local armistice day parade. It is the reducing number of old veterans carrying the flag, It is the same in the club. Time to move on. mavrick

11:08am Sat 11 Aug 12

Reality50 says...

These kind of clubs haven't moved with the times or attracted new members.The smoking ban has also killed the pub trade as well as high beer prices.Why pay 3quid a pint in a pub or club when it's miles cheaper to stay at home and buy from a supermarket instead?
These kind of clubs haven't moved with the times or attracted new members.The smoking ban has also killed the pub trade as well as high beer prices.Why pay 3quid a pint in a pub or club when it's miles cheaper to stay at home and buy from a supermarket instead? Reality50

5:56pm Sat 11 Aug 12

spendmymoneywisely says...

Although saddened at the closure I am not surprised. Whilst cheap supermarket beer and the smoking ban have, without doubt, hastened the demise of such places it is cultural changes which are the root cause. Society has changed radically over the last twenty years. Gone are the days when one went to a club or pub to chat with people and swop 'war stories'. Nowadays everyone expects to be entertained but no-one actually wants to make the actual arrangements and are unwilling to pay more than the bare minimum. The picture of Reality 50 sat in the house drinking his supermarket beer, probably in front of a TV, just about sums it up.
Although saddened at the closure I am not surprised. Whilst cheap supermarket beer and the smoking ban have, without doubt, hastened the demise of such places it is cultural changes which are the root cause. Society has changed radically over the last twenty years. Gone are the days when one went to a club or pub to chat with people and swop 'war stories'. Nowadays everyone expects to be entertained but no-one actually wants to make the actual arrangements and are unwilling to pay more than the bare minimum. The picture of Reality 50 sat in the house drinking his supermarket beer, probably in front of a TV, just about sums it up. spendmymoneywisely

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