I HAVE been a member of West Auckland Working Men’s Club for 60 years but am dismayed by the way things are changing.

I understand that the club has a very healthy bank balance unlike some in the area but still see fit to charge more for the beer than others and fail to heat the club properly.

Having seen fit to cancel the children’s annual summer club trip for the last few years the committee has now decided to start charging the pensioners £7 per head for their Christmas dinner and £3 per head for the children’s Christmas party. The name Scrooge springs to mind.

No longer is the Working Men’s Club run for the benefit of the members who have been loyal for many years.

John Foster, Bishop Auckland