A FORMER Crosby resident has been in touch to share his fond memories of St Nicholas’ Boys’ Club.
During the 1960s, George Hare, who now lives in Bangor, started the club, with a few others, which operated from the church hall of St Nicholas Church in Harlech Road – premises which the club were able to use free of charge.
He told Memories: “I think it was the happiest ten years of my life.
“We started with virtually nothing except a vision of helping boys to enjoy themselves, give them some purpose in life and a competitive spirit and to get them off the streets, even if only for one night per week.”
The club would meet on a Friday night and welcomed boys aged seven to 14, split into two age categories to make juniors, seven to ten-year-olds and seniors, 11 to 14-year-olds.

Its popularity soon grew and membership had to be limited to 200.
Admission was sixpence for juniors and a little more for seniors with all subscriptions instantly ploughed back into the club.
Activities on offer included five-a-side football, table tennis, snooker, chess and draughts, while refreshments were also available.
The club later purchased several sets of football shirts.
George said: “To see the pride in the faces of the boys donning them was great.
“I made up league tables for each age group and the boys themselves made up their own team names.
“Rules of the game were posted up each week and positions carefully tabled and fixtures arranged.”
The club were also able to obtain the services of prominent sportsmen, including Liverpool and Everton players, boxer Johnie Cooke and George’s cousin from Australia, test cricketer Dave Renneberg.
Members also enjoyed various trips, the most popular a yearly trip to Colwyn Bay, and took part in a variety show and pantomime.
Because of business pressures, George left after ten years at the club which itself ended a few years later.
He moved home to live and work in Llanberis on the famous Snowdon mountain railway and has been living in North Wales ever since.

Now aged 75, George writes nostalgic poems which he reads to patients at his local hospital.
He has also recorded them onto CD – entitled Nostalgic Poems, The Thoughts of George Hare – which is on sale now.
Anyone who wants to share their Memories of the boys club with George, or would like a copy of his CD can contact him at 18a Caerhun, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4UG or call 01248 354 255.

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