New life for an old Jesmond Legion

A Royal British Legion Club in Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is tackling its dwindling membership by opening up the club to the wider community.

The club approached The Suggestibles, a local improvisational comedy band and it played the club recently as part of a benefit weekend designed to breathe new life into the place.

Bev Fox, a founder member of the band, has lived virtually next door to the club for years but ‘felt it was a private members club that we couldn’t go into,’ she told journalalive. co.uk. Now that she and the band have been shown around, Bev is excited by what the club can offer the local community. Membership had dwindled from 2,000 to 200 and now committee member Chris Mabbott and others are keen to let the club play host to new events and activities. Local lawyer Jon Farthing has been helping to co-ordinate a series of new events that appeal to people from all walks of life.

The club needs some creative TLC, according to Fox, and a few slight technical additions, but it could become a busy entertainment venue as there is nothing to match it in the locality.

Plans are in progress to redevelop the upstairs function room, which can hold 200 people.

Other bands are scheduled to play the venue and a full programme of events will begin in September, one being a Sunday arts and crafts market.

• For further information on the club’s plans, email Jon Farthing on: jesmondlegion@googlemail.com