A VILLAGE friends’ group has decided, reluctantly, to ‘end its days’ after a decline in membership.

Problems such as resignations of senior committee members and the increasing age and health of the group, meant Lawhitton Friends had to close down in December after 17 years.

Lawhitton Friends was formed after the village WI closed down in 1998 and some of its members decided to start a small local club.

Among the founder members of the new venture was Mrs Jean Cole, a retired teacher.

Membership was aimed at families living in and around Lawhitton and over the years it grew at one stage to a high of 30 people.

The idea of Lawhitton Friends was to meet once a month to enjoy an event together — a small committee was formed to organise and run events.

Members visited local garden centres, shops, restaurants, animal farms, and enjoyed games afternoons in the village hall.

They also welcomed speakers who gave many interesting talks and presentations.

Former acting chairman Dennis Howson said: “As happens everywhere these days, members grow older, and new and younger members are hard to find.?The committee looked for help and replacements in vain and age and ill-health takes its toll.

“At last we were faced with a very sad situation and reluctantly decided to wind up the Lawhitton Friends, in spite of lots of hard work by members such as Carol Wenden, Mary Fasham and Jim Wickens.

“We organised a final farewell lunch at Trethorne, which was a happy occasion enjoyed by members and a few guests.”

It was decided after the passing of both Jean Cole and her husband Bill in 2015, the group would use the remaining club funds held by treasurer Mary Fasham to purchase an award for Lawhitton Horticultural Society in the form of a cup to be given to the best children’s entry each year in memory of Jean and Bill, who was always a supporter of the show with his prizewinning vegetables.

Mr Howson added: “If Jean is watching over us, we hope she will smile and say ‘well done’ to that winner.”

The hope is that the group members will still find time to meet up occasionally even if it is no longer under the Lawitton Friends’ Group name.