Janet says goodbye, 25 years on!

Nov 4 2008 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

WHEN Janet Jobber helped form Slaithwaite Community Association in 1983 she could not have foreseen spending the next quarter of a century at the helm.

But 25 years on she retired as chairman of an organisation which continues to provide service to groups throughout the village.

Janet, 58, was given a send-off by fellow members at the association’s annual meeting.

She said: “I have learned a lot and feel like I have gained a lot more than I have given.

“I never meant to carry on as long as I did, but there’s always something else you think you should do.

“You meet a lot of people and you get a lot of reward from working together.

“It’s immensely rewarding, especially because we concentrate on working with young people.”

The group took over the old church infants’ school building on Radcliffe Road when the children were moved out in 1983.

Janet, who lives on the same street, said: “A group of us who probably should have been certified as insane took it over.

“The building was owned by the then Lord Dartmouth and he gave us a lease to run it for community purposes.

“We decided to go for it and 25 years on we’re still here, which I don’t think anyone would have predicted.”

The building became known as Slaithwaite Community Centre and has since been used for parties and community activities.

The Scouts, Brownies and Beavers are all based there and the building is used for the annual Moonraking festival.

Janet, who is a case worker for Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford, was given a bouquet and a ceramic plate decorated with a picture of the community association when she retired.

Ali Robson has taken over as chairman.