Echo Woman
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Meet the first lady of working men’s club
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| Historic - Geraldine Evans takes her membership card from club secretary Peter Feltham who is holding a painting of founder member Len Salmon |
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WORKING men's clubs across Basildon have accepted their first ever woman member.
Former pub landlady Geraldine Evans, has become the first associate member of Bowers United Sports and Social Club, which was founded in the 1940s.
Under new regulations, Geraldine, 63, from Vange, will have the right to not only enter the club in Crown Avenue, but others across the district as well.
Club secretary Peter Feltham is thrilled Geraldine has become a member.
He said: "Before the rules were recently changed, women could come in here, but couldn't become full members of the Club and Institute Union like men.
"Now that's changed, we're overjoyed to be welcoming Geraldine as our first female member.
"Other women will hopefully follow in her footsteps very shortly.
"When the club was founded in the 1940s only men could be members.
"Over recent years the rules have changed, but it's only now women can join us and have exactly the same rights as the men."
Well-known ex-publican Geraldine worked behind the bar of the Barge Pub, in High Street, Vange, for 42 years and run it for 33 of those with her late husband Graham.
She said: "I'm thrilled at becoming a member.
"My family has an incredibly long association with the club.
"When I was young my mum and dad ran the Barge and on Sunday afternoons my dad would close up and we'd all pile on to a bus and drive to the social club to watch Bowers United play football.
"There was no Sky sports in those days. It was all about enjoying Sundays with your family.
"I have some wonderful childhood memories of going to the social club and I hope to make plenty of new ones in the future."
Geraldine, who retired in November when she sold the Barge, added: I'm looking forward to spending time at the club and socialising with friends."
9:22am Tuesday 29th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Cityboy, Southend on 10:10am Tue 29 Jan 08
About time we hit the Womens Institute,Weighwatch
ers,and pole dancing lessons eh ? I couldn't think of anything worse.....
About time we hit the Womens Institute,Weighwatch
ers,and pole dancing lessons eh ? I couldn't think of anything worse.....
Posted by: Gary Cruiser on 3:09pm Wed 30 Jan 08
For 63, she looks fit as a butchers dog!! Wouldn't mind her giving me a hand shandy!
For 63, she looks fit as a butchers dog!! Wouldn't mind her giving me a hand shandy!
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