Update

Development as of September 2009.

Family History:

We have had two very successful years tracing ancestors across Britain, Ireland and the world - and we're still going strong.

Our Family History group is in session again from October 8, 2009. and there will be an enrolment day on Thursday September 24. Times for both the enrolment and the classes are 10am-12noon and 2pm-4pm.

The sessions will cater for beginners, intermediate and advanced researchers.

Each of the four courses will last for ten weeks, and the fee for each ten-week course is £30. This can be paid in full at the start, or at £3 per week. Cheques should be made out to St. Mary's Social Club. If there is a demand, the courses will be extended.

Our tutor is once again Lynne Schofield, who has made a speciality of Irish family history because some of her own ancestors hail from County Roscommon, but she is equally skilled in all areas.

If you can't make it to the enrolment, just turn up first session.

Singing For Fun:

Our singing group now numbers more than 20 enthusiasts and is entering its third successful year.

Our charity concert was a great success, with ourselves and four other singing groups taking part, and an excellent contribution from the music students of St. John Fisher Catholic High School. Everybody, singers and audience alike, was keen to do it all again sometime soon.

The people we were helping live in a poverty-stricken township in the Capetown area of South Africa, called Kyalitcha. They have been in touch to say how grateful they were for our donation of more than £600, and to explain how it will be used.

We sing every Wednesday afternoon, from 2pm to 4pm. New members are welcome to come along at any time, including men! We have five at present, so you won't be on your own, guys!

If you've never sung with a group before, or you can't read music, or you think you're tone deaf, don't let any of that stop you. That's what most of us were like two years ago, and you should hear us now!

Irish Set dancing:

The year 2009 has seen this turn into yet another success story, with great progress being made during the past year, eight new members, making 18 altogether, lots of new dances learned, lots of new friendships made. The sessions are on Wednesday evenings, from 7.30 to 9pm, led by dance teacher Pat Howden. And by the way, you don't have to be Irish or of Irish descent to enjoy it. It's fun for everybody.

If you're not familiar with set dancing, it's rather like American square dancing, but quite a bit faster and livelier, with lots of intricate steps and formations. Don't let that word `intricate' put you off, though - it's easy to learn, great fun, certainly keeps you fit, and there are plenty of friendly people to show you the ropes.

The new Resource Suite.

We built the Resource Suite, with its accompanying two offices and kitchen, about 18 months ago, fitted it out with wireless broadband and an interactive smart board, and ran two very successful computer courses earlier this year. We hope to do more in the near future.

Have you got ideas for other activities you'd like to do? The Resource Suite seats a dozen people and is suitable for lots of other activities, either daytime or evening, which individuals or small groups might like to organise. There's also spare capacity in some of our other rooms - we have six - so if you have any ideas that you'd like to develop, do give us a call, on 01924503758 or Email at stmarysclubbatley@hotmail.com

A few ideas that have already been suggested:

Sewing and knitting.

Quilting.

Drawing and painting.

Calligraphy.

Decoupage,

If you woukd like us to organise something along these lines, or you have other suggestions, do let us know. We are in touch with Kirklees College, U3A, and the Workers' Education Association, and will do our best to work with them to meet your needs.

The Resource Suite includes a new kitchen, handy for refreshments, and two small offices. One of these is now occupied by All Saints Credit Union, and the other will be for club administration.

All Saints Credit Union is a thriving organisation now, and its main aim is to help people save. The organisers hold a collection night at the club every Thursday (early evening). They welcome new members, and would be glad to see you if you care to go along.

Community Room, lower ground floor

This room has recently been fitted with a new wooden floor, and new tables have been purchased. It's now looking very smart indeed. It has a sizeable modern kitchen and servery, and is ideal for meetings, craft activities, small family occasions etc.

The Melton Lounge and `Session' Room

Remember what your favourite bar used to be like, before the days of binge drinking and bouncers?

A place where you could meet your friends for a cosy chat and catch up on all the gossip.

A place where you didn't have to compete with the disco or the karaoke, or a noisy `turn' or a rackety fruit machine, and you didn't have to push through a crowd to make your way to the bar?

Well, that's what it's like in our Melton Lounge. We don't have any of the distractions mentioned above. There isn't even a television. It's just a good, typical, old fashioned bar, with a pleasantly lit, intimate ambience, where you can relax in good company just the way you used to be able to do in your local.

The only music you'll hear will be - as an old landlord of our acquaintance liked to put it - `the music of conversation'. And, should you prefer, there's always the chance of a game of cards or'dommies'.

Having said all that, there are, of course, occasions - like Sunday afternoons - when the Lounge is hired out for a private family party, when music will be required. Taking this into account, we have had a small dance area installed, just to help you let your hair down and really enjoy yourselves.

As for the `Session Room', mentioned in the headline, that's our latest development. It's a smaller room off the lounge, just like an old fashioned tap room.

We've taken up the carpet and varnished the floor, which makes it good for music, and installed some new furniture. We're talking here about fairly quiet, acoustic music, which wouldn't be heard in the lounge itself. The room is ideal for folk musicians and others who are looking for a room, free of charge, where they can gather for a practise session or a singaround. It's available every night of the week except Mondays. You don't need to book it, just turn up, order a refreshing glass at the lounge bar, pop in and play. You could maKe some useful music contacts.

Your help is needed...

Although the club is financially very successful, with plenty of social activities going on, we do need more committee members and volunteers to help organise new activities.

We are looking for people who've got plenty of enthusiasm and some creative ideas as to how the club, with its excellent facilities and amenities. might develop in the future. There's also an opportunityfor anyone who would just like to get out into friendly and relaxed company for a couple of hours during the afternoon or evening, to come along and help wuth our social dances.

We already have two volunteers from the parish, one helping with one of our afternoon dances. the other with gardening, and we're very appreciative of their efforts - but we do need more help and support. If you think you might be able to join in and support the club, We hope to hear from you, on any of the following:

Tel. 01924-503758
Email: stmarysclubbatley@hotmail.com

Or just call in to one of the dances and ask to speak to one of the committee members.