Village WMC is still at heart of the community after 100 years

It will be a weekend of celebration for one village Working Mens' Club, which has sat at the heart of the community for a century.
Newspaper: Wakefield Express. Story: Middlestown WMC is getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday. L to R) Cheryl Fyles - Stewardess, Michael Booth - Secretary and Sandra Gayford - Treasurer. Reporter: Laura Drysdale. Photographer: Andrew Bellis. Photo date: 20/04/16 Picture Ref: AB167a0416Newspaper: Wakefield Express. Story: Middlestown WMC is getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday. L to R) Cheryl Fyles - Stewardess, Michael Booth - Secretary and Sandra Gayford - Treasurer. Reporter: Laura Drysdale. Photographer: Andrew Bellis. Photo date: 20/04/16 Picture Ref: AB167a0416
Newspaper: Wakefield Express. Story: Middlestown WMC is getting ready to celebrate its 100th birthday. L to R) Cheryl Fyles - Stewardess, Michael Booth - Secretary and Sandra Gayford - Treasurer. Reporter: Laura Drysdale. Photographer: Andrew Bellis. Photo date: 20/04/16 Picture Ref: AB167a0416

Middlestown WMC was officially registered on July 24, 1916.

In May that year, a group of men decided they wanted to start the club as a place for people to socialise.

Twenty four people formed a committee to get it up and running and the club, on New Road, has been a part of the Middlestown and Overton community ever since.

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Today, the club has 300 members and also offers function room space for meetings, bingo and local community groups.

Sandra Gayford, treasurer and secretary, said: “The WMC is predominantly a social club and a place for local community groups to meet. But in the very early days it also helped to support people involved in the war.”

President Michael Booth runs the club with Ms Gayford, three committee members, two trustees and stewardess Cheryl Fyles.

And they have organised a weekend of celebrations to mark its centenary year.

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Mr Booth said: “I have been involved in the club since 1987 and we have been through some good times and bad but we have come through it all stable. We are now looking to move forward and build a new club.

“One hundred years is a big milestone for us to celebrate, for us to have lasted all this time. The committee are doing a sterling job to keep the club up and running.

“Everyone is looking forward to celebrating this weekend.

“We have pushed the boat out to get the best entertainment we can for people to enjoy. We hope more people come along to see the club and what it has to offer.”

The club’s centenary celebrations will commence at 1pm tomorrow with a children’s disco, balloon modelling and magic show by Silly Billy Jay Turner.

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Tomorrow evening, there will be a disco and free buffet as well as live music performances from Deb n Her.

The last of the celebrations will take place on Sunday with performances from Neon Dice and Del Monte and The Peaches beginning at 4.30pm, followed by a disco and karaoke.

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