Woman, 90, helps save community club founded in 60s

Edna Stein, 90, has been running the club for six years

Members of the Helping Hands club were distraught when they found out the bus service which transported them to their meetings was closing down.

"I don't know what we're going to do," said Ann Jackson.

"It's going to be another day in the house looking at four walls. It's the only day we get out."

It looked like the club - which has operated in Clowne in Derbyshire for decades - would end, but now it has been saved.

Edna Stein, 90, who runs Helping Hands, has managed to organise taxis to transport members in, funded by the money they pay to attend.

"At the moment I've got it sorted out for them to be picked up and brought to the club, hopefully permanently," she said.

Club members participate in activities such as bingo and also go on trips

Edna joined the club in 2009 and has been running it for six years.

Members meet at Clowne Community Centre, but some of them travel from outside the town.

Joan Yates, one of the club's oldest members, believes the club was founded in 1966 and was originally called the Thursday Club.

"I've been coming here for about 54 years, with my mum first off and then I've carried it on," she said.

"The club's been going a long time. I enjoy the bingo, I just enjoy my time out."

She said the club made a big difference to the lives of the members.

"Some of them will just sit in their chairs all day and I think they need that goal, or something to look forward to," she added.

Rose Bannister (centre) said it would be a shame if the club closed

Rose Bannister is also pleased the club will continue.

"It would be a terrible shame if it folded up because there's very few places to go in Clowne," she said.

"Everybody is such a nice crowd, everybody knows everybody by name and we have a laugh and a bit of fun."

She is also very grateful to Edna.

"She does a wonderful job, and you don't get many people that will take that sort of thing on, so we've got to look after her because she's a treasure," she said.

"She does so much work for this club."