I FEEL that someone should respond to the letter about the alleged demise of Rudheath Social Club.

From the outset I have to say that the issues raised by the anonymous writer of the letter should have been made to the committee at the club and not whinged about through the columns of the Guardian.

I will try to respond to each part of the letter.

The club is still a fun place to be and the characters are still there. It is a place where you can go and let off some steam with friends and have a laugh, or you can sit quietly making notes on things to moan about.

The club has gone to great lengths to improve its role within the community and has been very successful in its efforts.

The pigeon fanciers, domino players, bowlers, dart throwers, pool and snooker players, horse racing enthusiasts, football watchers and players are still there, they haven’t gone away.

They still turn up every night of the week to play their preferred sport or watch the football, darts and horse racing on Saturday afternoons on the television.

I cannot argue that there are a small number of people who have been bringing children into the club on Saturday/Sunday afternoons but the committee have now taken the complaint on board and have stopped children going into the bar area of the club, thus keeping the fabric of the club and leaving it the amazing place it is.

On one occasion a racing fan asked for the TV channel to be changed from the music channel to the racing channel so they could see the last few races, and were told no.

However, what the writer of the letter forgot to mention was that the television was turned over to the racing channel, and I know this happened because I asked the person who had the remote control.

One area of the club’s success is the football team. It is just a pity that the parish council isn’t concerned about the continued success of the club’s football team and the efforts the club are making to be a major part of the community.

I have been going into Rudheath club for more than 40 years and times change and we have to live with that.

In times gone by the club was full five nights a week but those days have gone and the club has changed in many ways – some I have disagreed with – but it hasn’t stopped me going in there and enjoying myself.

Steve Gough