Bedale Sports Club and Community Centre marked its 50th anniversary with a wine and cheese celebration last Saturday.
The event brought together members past and present to celebrate half a century since the association was founded.
Club president and co-founder Adrian Grayson looked back on the early days, when a steering committee was formed to establish what became the association of sports clubs. The group, which included Dorothy Firby, Eddie Coward, Brian Ellis, Kath Stockdale, John Atkinson, Dick Hall and Joe Noone, went on to secure funding for the clubhouse.
Once the facilities were in place, new sports flourished, including squash, ladies’ cricket, table tennis and hockey. The clubhouse officially opened in August 1975, and in recent years has welcomed the Bedale and Aiskew Running Club and the Bedale and Dales Croquet Club.
Mr Grayson also paid tribute to volunteers who continue to support the association today, including Trish Melhuish, Althea Draper, Sue Cliffe, Carole Peirson, Rose Hart, Sheila Tipton, Andy Clapham and current chairman Martyn Coombs.
Speaking at the event, Mr Coombs highlighted the wide range of grants, donations and community funding that have supported the club over the years. He said the association had been able to carry out major improvements including new patios, refurbished facilities, solar panels, security upgrades, and the extension of the main hall, as well as creating a new function room thanks to donations from almost 200 benefactors.
He added that the club was proud to have raised funds for many charities, including the Injured Jockeys Association, Teenage Cancer Trust, Swaledale Mountain Rescue, Herriot Hospice Homecare, Prostate Cancer UK and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
A commemorative plaque was unveiled during the celebration to mark the milestone.
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