Sons of Rest sites saved from axe

Three Sons of Rest clubs in the Black Country have been saved from closure after a dramatic change of heart by council bosses at the eleventh-hour.

People were left furious when it was announced three clubs, which provide a meeting place and activities for retired people in the area, would be closed by November 1.

The clubs faxing the axe were the Britannia Sons of Rest Club in Blackheath, Hamstead in Broome Avenue, Great Barr, and Eli-Fletcher, in Oak Road, West Bromwich.

A campaign was immediately launced to save the clubs. Now after a meeting of Sandwell Council , the authority's cabinet member for leisure and culture Linda Horton changed her mind over closing the clubs.

She believes closure of the clubs would add to the burden of older people in the community and this was something she did not want to do.

The decision means four other Sons of Rest clubs, which were also facing the axe if they could not cover running costs, have also been given a reprieve.

Those clubs are Foley Street, in Wednesbury, Eli Corbett in West Bromwich, Lees Memorial in Great Bridge and Home Lea in Tipton.

Campaigners are celebrating the victory, insisting closure would have had catastrophic consequences for older people.

Councillor Dave Hosell, who represents the Newton ward which the Hamstead club falls into, said: "This is excellent news."

Secretary of Wednesbury Sons of Rest club Tony Hallam, 71, who is also chairman of Leisure Facilities for Retired People in Sandwell, believes the decision was a victory for compassion and kindness.

He said: "It is wonderful news. I would like to thank Linda Horton."

Pauline Hodgetts, chairwoman of Homelea in Tipton said: "Sandwell council has shown it does respect older people."