Anniversary for Ipswich club

IT was founded when a Tory Prime Minister was in power and has seen famous Conservative leaders such as Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher come and go.

By Amanda Cresswell

IT was founded when a Tory Prime Minister was in power, and has seen famous Conservative leaders such as Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher come and go.

Now Newton Road Conservative Club in Ipswich, whose honorary president is Bob Taylor, is gearing up to celebrate its centenary with a grand weekend of music and entertainment.

The club was built for £1,165 on land owned by the Cobbold family, which formed part of the old Holywells estate.

The Cobbolds were presidents until the war years and major shareholders until 1972 when they donated their shares to the club, who then owned the building outright.

In 1994 a £300,000 refit took the club into the 21st century and membership grew from 300 to the current membership of 800. Among the members is Ada Fisher, who is the oldest at 94, and 89-year-old Kenny Sadler, the longest serving member and trustee.

Now the club boasts a fine bowls pavilion, a bar area, function room, offices, steward flat and large parking area.

Secretary David Hale said: "During the refit we still carried on trading, setting up a bar in the kitchen."

He said among the highlights of the year are the gentleman's outings, called Moon Shiners, which take place four times a year.

Famous families who have made up ex presidents of the Newton Road Conservative Club include Ransome, Cobbold and Ganzone.

Eleven Conservative prime ministers have been in power in the club's lifetime.