Gretton club's future secured as residents rally support

‎Gretton residents have come to the support of their beleaguered sports and social club vowing to keep the village bar open.

More than 50 members and villagers packed the Kirby Road premises to formulate a plan to save the members-only club.

The annual general meeting heard a raft of ideas from the floor and people came with offers of help and donations.

Pat Butler, committee member said: "The club is going to carry on and we've got another meeting next week. We have appointed some more committee members and we are very happy.

"It was a very positive response and we even got some donations. We will make our plans public soon."

Gretton Sports and Social Club membership is currently £5 per person per year with a £10 fee for family membership but the fees are likely to be increased to help with the finaces.

A spokesman from the Gretton Sports and Social Club on the club's Facebook site said: "A huge thank you to all who attended last night’s meeting, it really was fantastic to see that there is such enthusiasm within the village towards achieving the same goal, the ongoing survival of our club.

"We are extremely grateful to those who came forward with the offer of donations or other means of support, you truly are helping to save our club.

"Throughout the evening a variety of new ideas were put forward which have provided our committee with further avenues for investigation, this will occur during the course of the next month following which we will hold an EGM in March to put a more detailed plan to our members, the date will be confirmed as soon as possible.

"We would also like to take this moment to extend our gratitude and recognition to our outgoing secretary Lynne Burnham who has provided many years of dedicated service to our club.

"Finally we'd like to welcome our new committee members Lisa Butler, Emma Nicholls, and Shay Shannon. Thank you for committing your time and efforts to supporting our club."

Gretton residents are being urged to financially support the village's sports and social club or it could be at risk of closure.

The facility, which is leased from Gretton parish council, has been kept afloat on a 'hand-to-mouth' basis and with loans from four committee members.

Members and interested parties have been invited to come up with ways of helping the club and bring them to the annual general meeting tonight at 7.30pm.