ONE of Huddersfield’s most historic clubs is to get a facelift.
The popular Longwood Bowling Club has been given £2,000 by Kirklees Council’s Colne Valley Area Committee to upgrade its interior.
The work – to take place as soon as possible – will involved a complete refurbishment of the lounge and toilets to make the building more inviting to the people and community groups that use it.
The sports and social club was set up in 1906 and is the last remaining of its kind in Longwood, as other social clubs in the area have long since closed or been converted for other use.
It has a successful bowling team, but also runs quiz, pool and domino teams and other entertainment events.
Over the years the club has also supported a number of local and charities.
It celebrated its centenary with a special exhibition commissioned by local sports historians Dr Peter Davies and Rob Light, which charted the club’s history.
The club has already upgraded its bowling green.
The refurbishment will be carried out in partnership with West Yorkshire Probation Service’s Working in the Community scheme.
This aims to equip people serving community sentences with new skills. The work is expected to take three months.
Golcar ward councillor Robert Iredale said: “This is what the area committee is for, to give money for local needs.
“We’ve spent a lot of money in Longwood. Longwood Mechanics Hall has recently been granted £50,000 for improvements and Nab End Tower – where the famous Longwood Sing takes place – has finally got some money.
“Longwood is becoming a vibrant area and the club improvements are just one part of the jigsaw.”
Clr Iredale added that the area committee didn’t usually give to clubs, but it decided to make an exception in this case because it was so important to the community.
He said: “The club’s members really put themselves out for the community and the club helps raise a lot of money for charity.
“After 100 years in operation it will benefit from refurbishment,” said Clr Iredale.
