Let us entertain you

ROCK the Rec's great run of bands in 2025 continued last Friday with the return of The Flukes. As usual their mix of new wave, punk, ska and soul resulted in a great night.

July's Rock the Rec is something of new venture as it features a very young group Vertigo made up of pupils from Temple Moor School. Vertigo were winners of the Leeds Battle of the Bands contest in January. Heavy rock may well be on the agenda when they appear on Friday, July 11. Tickets £5.

As is the case for all Rock the Rec and similar events, all under 18s must be accompanied by an adult and no under 16s. Bar staff will ask for proof of age when necessary.

Sadly, the local venues that provided opportunities for young bands just starting out are no longer with us. In this area alone we have lost The Fairway, The Courtier, Shaftesbury, Wykebeck, Staging Post and Fforde Greene, not to mention the youth clubs where many of the musicians who are still playing today cut their teeth. So come along and support the future.

In contrast on Saturday, August 2 the club presents a tribute night when Alan Beck returns with his soul and Motown and rock 'n' roll tribute. Alan is vastly experienced performer whose show sold out last year when he made his first appearance at the Rec. Tickets £10.

A week later is the now bi-monthly Artist Night on Saturday, August 9. The artist has yet to be confirmed - look out for posters in the club and on our Facebook page. JJ Benjamin gave us an excellent show at June's artist night. Unfortunately there was no improvement in attendance or bar takings. However, the new format of three half-hour sets and no bingo will be given another try. Once again, admission will be free.

Let's hope the good weather of recent weeks continues as there's a sunshine flavour to August's Rock the Rec with the first appearance here of Central Station on Friday, August 15 bringing a Jamaican feel with a mix of reggae, ska, blues and soul. Tickets £5.

There's another big date on Friday, September 26 with the return of The Pretend Beatles. Both their previous appearances have been sell-outs. It certainly looks like being the same this time as tickets went to sale on Friday night and were selling like the proverbial hot cakes. So don't delay in buying yours, a snip at £10.

Finally, another sell-out is expected on Friday, October 17 with the annual Michelle's Charity Night which has raised thousands of pounds for Leeds MIND in recent years. There's an added attraction this year with the return of the Gary Barlow/Robbie Williams tribute that went down an absolute storm on their last appearance. Once again, tickets are a great value £10.

We're already working on November and December's Rock the Recs and the
entertainment for Christmas and New Year's eves.

Break-in

ON a less positive note, as many members will be aware the club suffered a break-in in the early hours of Thursday, May 8.

All security measures were in place, the call from the alarm company's call centre came through with impressive speed. However, a small amount of cash was taken from the bar area.

Consequently, further security measures have been introduced and no loose cash is now left outside opening hours.

Roof work

THE recent dry weather has enabled some remedial work to be carried out on the worst affected part of the roof. We are hopeful this will give some respite from the leaks problem that has been such a problem this year.

In the meantime fundraising will continue to enable treatment to other parts of the roof. The obvious answer - a new pitched roof - is way beyond our means. But if anyone finds a spare £100,000 or so down the back of their sofa...

From the archives

WE'VE been having a major clear out of the changing room area of the concert room (hence the presence of a skip in recent weeks). In so doing we've also discovered a wealth of archive material giving a detailed history of the club. One of the most intriguing is letter from the Department of War, received in 1920 confirming £250 compensation to the club for the appropriation of land that was previously Crossgates Golf Course.

I stand to be corrected on this, but I believe there were detailed plans in around 1912-1913 for a golf course to be constructed at the bottom of Old Manston Lane. Come 1914 and the start of the First World War that land was taken over by the Ministry of War as the site of the original Barnbow ordnance factory.

Our club opened in 1908, with its bowling green, snooker tables and (on what is now the car park) tennis courts. So there is every likelihood that the individuals involved in the formation of the club would also be involved in the creation of a local golf course.

If anyone can shed any further light on this, or correct me if I've got this wrong, we'd be delighted to hear from them.

Also if anyone could do the sums and let us know how much £250 in 1920 would be worth today, we can enter the land of dreams.