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Historic social club has risen from the ashes
A SOCIAL club that was voted the best in the country weeks before it was gutted by fire has risen from the ashes and is open for business again.
Members of the Rawdon and Guiseley Conservative Club were celebrating last summer after they were presented with the Sir Marcus Fox MBE Award for being the best Tory club in the country.
However, just weeks later their happiness was turned to sadness after fire ripped through the Leeds Road building, which is nearly 100 years old.
The fire is thought to have started because of an electrical fault and it destroyed the club's interior, the steward's flat and wiped out all of the electrics.
Following a 200,000 refurbishment the club will be throwing open its doors with a special open night on Saturday, January 24.
Club secretary Jennifer Miller said: "It was such a blow to the club especially after winning the award. I just couldn't believe it.
"The whole building has now been refurbished but even when that was taking place we always did our best to stay open by operating out of our function room.
"Members have said how lovely the new facilities are but it was an old building and it needed a lot of TLC. We found a few structural problems along the way and a member of the club helped to paint the gold decorations around the room. It is just lovely."
The building was opened in 1911 by Mr JSR Phillips, the editor of the Yorkshire Post at the time, and there used to be a bowling green at the back of the club.
The open night will start at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
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