These likely-looking lads were among the first in the country to take part in Leamington's first 24-hour dance marathon.
The event took place at the Riverside Youth Centre in Leamington in the early 1960s, and the photograph was sent in by former member Carl ‘Chas’ Chamberlain.
The photograph shows the effect sustained dancing - and possibly caffeine abuse - was hav
ing on the members, but Mr Chamberlain (pictured seated in front) has fond memories of the club.
The 64-year-old, who now lives in Wales, said: “It was tremendous. We used to go down there pretty much every night and there was dancing there most weeks. We went rock climbing in north Wales and the Peak District and had our weekly dances. Because we had our own cafe we could go there any night and have something to eat or drink.”
The centre had its own dance hall with a disco, a games room where members could play snooker and table tennis, and a cafe. Its tiddlywinks team were the county youth club champions and would take on other clubs, competing for a trophy made from an old tea urn.
Mr Chamberlain added: “The Riverside Youth Centre was one of the first big clubs of its time. It came about because most of us used to hang around in a cafe that was in a precinct area by the town hall. The council decided to do something about it and took over the building that is now the Royal Naval Association.
“A marvellous guy called Harold Marchant was the leader. He always made us feel that we were making the decisions but in actual fact he was guiding us through it. We found out later he had degrees in sociology and psychology. It was only when I grew up that I realised how he did it.”
Mr Chamberlain would like to find out what has happened to club members and is considering organising a reunion at the Royal Naval Association. Call the newsdesk on 457720 if you have any memories of the Riverside Youth Centre.
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The full article contains 357 words and appears in Leamington Courier newspaper.
