A club founded 124 years ago is to admit women as full members for the first time in its history.

Keighley Conservative Club is to officially drop its men-only ruling from January next year.

At present women are allowed only associate membership, which denies them the right to vote or serve on the 10-strong committee.

Club secretary Desmond Jackson, who has been a member for 30 years, says: "Women already make up a sizeable proportion of our total membership of about 300 and many play a major part in fundraising.

"Some expressed a desire to become full members. This has been widely welcomed by the club, and was agreed overwhelmingly by the membership at our annual meeting."

Women becoming full members of the North Street club will pay the same £10 annual subscription fee as their male counterparts, with concessions for OAPs. The associate membership fee is £4.

The move to equal rights has been welcomed by women at the club.

Sue Booth, who has been attending for about six years, says: "I am absolutely delighted. It has been talked about for around two years and I am pleased it is now happening."

Her comments are echoed by associate member Denise Ward. She says: "I fully agree with the decision. It is the year 2000 and you have got to move with the times."

Three weeks ago, the Keighley News revealed how the nearby St Anne's Social Club had lifted its men-only ruling, after 34 years.

But in contrast, the Sunnybank Social Club, at Silsden, has defied calls for ladies to be given full membership status.

l Secretary Desmond Jackson this week scotched rumours that Keighley Conservative Club faced closure.

He admits the club had suffered a cash-flow problem, but he says the issue has now been addressed and the future is bright.

"Half our building was sold last year to the Airedale Church, but we have still been paying a lot of money, for example, in water rates," he says.

"We have made cuts in some areas and an explanation of what has been done was given at a special meeting of members.

"There are a lot of positive things happening at the club in addition to the introduction of full membership for women.

"There is live entertainment on Friday nights, and on Saturdays once a month. "A number of organisations use the club for their meetings and the Churchill Lounge is available for hire.

"The club is also to enter a team in the Cross Hills Snooker League for the season starting in September."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.