June 17, 2011 (From Durham Times)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting DURHAM TIMES to 80360 or email us
June 17, 2011
4:41pm Friday 17th June 2011 in Looking Back
From the Durham County Advertiser 50 years ago: Chairman of the newly-formed Belmont Workingmen’s Club, Mr R Clewes, hit out this week at those people who tried to “sabotage” the formation of a club at a recent public meeting.
It was at this meeting that he ordered six or seven objectors out of the hall. Mr Clewes admitted the meeting was “a bit noisy”.
“The purpose of the meeting,” explained Mr Clewes, “was to form a club, not to listen to objections.
Those people ordered out just shouted out against the idea. When other people in the audience pleaded with them to leave, I took the initiative and ordered them out,” he said. Mr Clewes, who is a prominent member of Hetton Social Club believes there is a need for a club in the area. “And so do many people living on the new private estates. In fact, several of these people have volunteered to serve on the committee”.
Most of the objectors ordered out were residents on the new private housing estate.
They feared, claimed Mr Clewes, that the proposed club would overshadow their houses.
