Fond farewell to historic meeting hall

[Steve]

It has survived two world wars and countless air raids on the city. But now it looks like nothing is going to save Ailwyn Hall from the bulldozers because of the need for new homes in Norwich.
The historic hall in Lower Clarence Road, Thorpe Hamlet, is most widely known as the venue of the Norwich branch of the Federation of Railway Clubs.
For more than 80 years it has been a favourite haunt for past and present railway workers and their families and in its heyday had more than 800 members.
A year ago a row erupted between the social club and its new landlord following claims that the rent was to rise by 300 per cent to £22,500.
Although the landlord, as offshore company represented by estate agents called Urban Spectrum Property Management based in south London, insisted the price hike had never been confirmed, tensions have never been resolved.

Today, a club member, who did not want to be named, said the rent had continued to grow “sky high” and now the new owners wanted to knock it down and build flats.
To mark the closure, members last night enjoyed a big farewell party with a band, buffet, raffle and bingo before the hall is shut for the final time this weekend.
Retired train driver John Pipe has been a member of the club since moving to work in Norwich more than 50 years ago.
The grandfather of four said he was very sorry the old hall was being demolished.
“It was a beautiful place to go for the whole family,” he said. “Children got involved with the Christmas parties, and then there was the New Year's Eve dinner, as well as the snooker, the bowls, a strip club and bingo - it had everything.
“It's a sad to think that they are closing it down. And what for? To build houses and make money.”
Brian Ward, who worked as a locomotive fitter for nearly 50 years, said the closure represented an end of an era.
“I only ever go in there now for the pensioners' meeting on Tuesdays when you play cards and have a yarn about the old days with your pals,” said the 73-year-old grandfather. “But when the children were small they used to go there for parties. We have very fond memories of the place.”
However The Railway Club will survive - it will be moving to the Bakers Arms Pub in Angel Road.
Don't miss the special Evening News magazine, The Railways of Norfolk, now back in the shops.
It was so successful that every copy was sold within three days and it has now been re-printed.
Packed with hundreds of photographs - some never seen before - and stories, this 68-page publication celebrates the golden anniversary of the Norfolk Railway Society.
It charts the history of the railways, from steam to diesel and electric, and goes beyond the platform meeting many of the characters who devoted their lives to working on the railways.