THIS was the happy scene at the diamond jubilee celebrations at James Street Working Mens Club, Oswaldtwistle back in 1969.

Club members were seen with 82-year-old Jack Threlfall (first left at the table) and Joseph Thompson (82) second left seated and both had been members for 60 years.

George Roberts club secretary presented £10 to the pair who were the original members who helped set the club up.

Mr Roberts said: "You are two good staunch members, and you must have two of the longest records of loyalty to a club anywhere in the country."

Mr Roberts traced the history of the club formation in the little tin church in 1909 to the days in 1912 when a new club was built around the old church to having 1,100 members.