The Willow Club is open to all retired men irrespective of age. The Club does not discriminate on racial, political or religious grounds and has no political or religious affiliations
Weekly meetings is the main business of the club; with a speaker whose talk usually lasts from 10.30 until midday, with an interval taking place at about 11 am when coffee / tea and biscuits are served.
Meetings begin at 10.30 am and close by 12.00 noon, and are held on Thursday mornings in the Wesley Hall, St John’s Methodist Church, Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE26 3ND. The Club’s relationship with St John’s Church is solely as a tenant of the Wesley Hall.
A free car parking area is available at the church and there is parking in nearby the streets. Access to the hall is from the car park with a ramp for the disabled, and thereafter everything is on the ground floor and level for wheelchair access.
There is no joining fee or annual membership fee; only a charge of £2 for each meeting attended.
Club membership is currently about 130, with weekly meeting attendances usually in the 60’s sometimes over 70. The average age of members is 78 (youngest 54, oldest in their early 90’s).
If you would like to give it a try, no notice is needed, just turn up any Thursday morning (except Maundy Thursday, the month of August and the Christmas/New Year period), arriving by 10.20 am. Enter via the car park entrance and make your way right along to the end of the corridor. You will be booked in as a visitor and be made most welcome and provided with a program card. No prior arrangement is necessary, and you do not need to be introduced or proposed by an existing member. Your first visit to the club is free of charge. Once booked in, take any vacant seat and have a chat with your neighbour until the talk begins.