Anybody who turned on Granada News on Thursday, 17th May will have seen the pictures of the Duke of Gloucester coming to visit Salford Lads and Girls Club on Coronation Street in Ordsall.
However, that's all you will have seen.
The camera showed you the Duke entering the building. What happened next?
First, the Duke was introduced to the Officers of the Club - the Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The he met Leslie Holmes, the Club's Development Officer, who took the honoured guest on a tour of the Club. They looked at the Memorial Brass Plaque first, which lists the members of the Club who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Then, moving upstairs, the Duke was fascinated to see the wooden shields which record the winners of the Club's annual gynastic competitions going back to the 1920s.
Moving on, the Duke saw the Snooker Room, the Secretary's office, and was then ushered into the old Concert Room, and was shown the holes in the plaster and the crumbling roof which needs repairing. The guest sympathised with all the work that needs doing, and expressed support for the Club's current 'Million Pound Appeal', which hopes to raise enough funds to fix up the building for the 'next hundred years', as Leslie told him.
Also, on the first floor is the boxing gym. The Duke was keen to talk to all the young people training there and hear about their recent successes. Ushered down the back stairs, the Duke was then led into the Junior Games Room. He was offered a game of pool but seemed more keen to try the Air Hockey. He wasn't put off when the puck flew off the table, and insisted in pursuing the game until he scored enough points to win!
Next stop was the Senior Games Room which is where all the other guests were gathered, for a cup of tea and international buffet, prepared by Ray and Marie. The Duke was thanked by the President of the Greater Manchester Federation of Youth Clubs and made a short speech, before being led back out the front door and onto the coach for a short trip to the airport.
The visit had been organised by 'The Fed' to celebrate a hundred years of their existence. As most people know, our Club in Ordsall has been going even longer. Still, it was a great honour to see the Duke and a great pleasure to have him view the Club and see all the improvements that have been made in the last few years. Also, it was welcome to know he's supporting the Club in its improvement plans.
Watch this space.
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