A WALKING group which started life as a vegetarian society has celebrated its 80th anniversary.

About 90 members of Huddersfield Healthy Life Ramblers' Club attended a social event in St Paul's Church, Dalton.

It included a talk by president Betty Heppenstall on the history of the club, slide shows on previous walks, photo displays and a buffet lunch.

Mrs Heppenstall said the club started as an offshoot of the Healthy Life Society.

She said that in its infancy it was strictly vegetarian, but over the years people joined who were non-vegetarian.

The group adopted its present title in the 1930s, added Mrs Heppenstall.

As most people worked on Saturday mornings the walks started about 2pm. In the summer they finished about 7pm.

Members paid a penny a week, with a small charge for the syllabus.

They now pay £2 for the syllabus, plus travelling expenses.

Members walk an average of eight to 10 miles each week.

The club has 90 paid-up members, with between 20 and 35 walking regularly.

* The club, founded in 1924, originally catered for strict vegetarians

* The club's longest-serving member is John Roberts, who went on his first walk in 1958 and still walks regularly.

* Lily Hardcastle is the oldest member at the age of 96. She goes on the club's three- times-a-year coach trips.

* In the early days of the club members wore ordinary clothes and shoes for walking, with the men sporting trilby hats.

* People who want to walk with the club should phone Betty Heppenstall on 01484 661497.