The Telegraph & Argus celebrates it 150th anniversary this year and in honour of the occasion we are printing a story from our archives every day for 150 days.

Today we look at the Telegraph & Argus, Wednesday, December 6, 1978:

A letter sent to the Telegraph & Argus in 1978, highlighted just how news of the impending closure of the Telegraph & Argus NigNog Club and Yorkshire Observer Smilers would greatly affect the citizens of Bradford.

For nearly half a century the hugely popular club with more than 40,000 members, served the children of the city well, with its football league, cycling club, competitions and NigNog Revues held at the Alhambra, in which many stars like Ernest Wise started their careers.

The Nig-Nog Club started life in the North-East (where the terms were local dialect for 'boy' and 'girl') and spread to other newspapers across the country.

  • Read more about the etymology of the Nig-Nog Club here

The swimming club was also just as successful, teaching thousands of youngsters to swim for a small fee. According to the Secretary of the Bradford and District Amateur Swimming Association, many may recall its secretary from 1931, Uncle Eddie Lidgett, voluntary instructors John Barraclough and the Carter brothers Herbert and Billy, who organised the famous NigNog Floaters.