Home Guard Club in Chester under threat of closure after building falls into disrepair

CHESTER’S much-loved Home Guard Club could soon be forced to close its doors after falling into a state of disrepair.

The historic club on Canal Street, most commonly used as a social meeting place for young and old, has acted as a sanctuary for the people of Chester since it was founded in 1945 during the Second World War.

It has also served as a popular activity venue for its customers and hosted various functions, competitions and entertainment events over the years.

But now the building is in urgent need of vital maintenance to keep it from crumbling, and there are so many leaks in its roof that it has been described by the club’s volunteers as ‘a sieve’.

Its devoted volunteers, some of whom have worked at the non-profit-making club for more than four decades, say they are heartbroken to see the building falling apart but feel powerless, as membership funds alone do not cover the crucial costs needed to repair it.

Their only hope now is that some benefactor will come along to provide funds to restore the building to its former glory.

Pat Evans, club secretary, who has worked at the venue for more than 30 years, said she is ‘extremely upset’ that this could be the end for the Home Guard Club.

“It is just such a shame,” she said. “Even though lots of people have given up their time to try and patch it up, it’s just too badly damaged – the roof is flat and has so many holes in it it’s like a sieve.

“The building has been there for 43 years and has gradually got worse and worse.

“We have provided a service to so many people in Chester. There are people here that are the grandchildren of some of the people that use it now – the age groups range from 30s to one man in his mid-90s.”

Mrs Evans added: “It is one of those things, we are doing everything we can but unfortunately the place has been in a slow decline for ages and there’s only so much we can do really, we’re already cutting back on all the costs we can.

“The other volunteers and I are so distressed. Although it might not be the biggest club in the world, it is the social life of many people and will be a huge loss.”

Chester Home Guard Club was originally based in Lower Bridge Street during the war, before moving to Roodee House then Watergate House in 1964.

In 1969 it moved to Canal Street, where it has remained ever since.