Well earned rest for the Barclays

Peter and Linda Barclay bought the building in North Road, Ravensthorpe, in 1989 and called it the Barclays Club.

And over the past nine years, the couple have helped raise £169,000 for Kirkwood Hospice by sponsoring their charity Christmas cards.

Mr Barclay, 66, said it had been a difficult decision to retire, but that a health scare had him think about spending more time with his family. He added: “We’ll be able to spend more time with the grandchildren. We’ll have a few holidays and be able to relax on an evening. I’ll play a little bit of golf too.”

The Barclays Club was built in 1869 as the Railway Hotel, but never opened. It was bought by the Nevins family, who had a coal pit behind the club, and was turned into a gentleman’s club. It became Ravensthorpe and Northorpe Conservative Club in 1886, which celebrated its centenary in 1986 before being bought by the Barclays three years later.

The couple have sponsored Kirkwood Hospice’s Christmas cards, painted by artist Richard Gawthorpe, by organising walks, raffles and harvest festivals. The hospice, based in Huddersfield, provides care for terminally ill people and their families through Kirklees. Mr Barclay said: “We’ve had some great memories over the years. We had football, snooker, darts and dominoes teams at the club and we went on group holidays to Majorca, the Costa del Sol and Tenerife with up to 80 people at a time.

“Our manager Sue Wood has also been with us since the beginning.”

Marie Peacock, Kirkwood Hospice fundraising manager, said: “Linda and Peter have been wonderful supporters of the hospice, raising money through an annual sponsored walk to help cover the cost of our personalised Christmas cards..

“We we would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to them and all their regulars who put on their walking shoes too. We wish them all the best for their retirement.”

Mr Barclay said he hoped someone else would be able to support the hospice’s cards and added he and his wife would continue to support the hospice generally.