The billiards "A" team taken in 1987

The Billiards Team (formerly the Men's Club) play in the sports pavillion every other Monday evening at 7.30 pm, the alternate Monday the match being away from home. It is affiliated to the Croughton & District Billiards League.

The "A" Team is L to R; Chris Saunders, Tony "Tug" Wilson, Geoff Watson and Alan Watson. The current "B" Team is; John Watson, Mike Ayres, Jason Holt, Gerald Holt and Alan Carruthers.

Helmdon Working Men's Club was formed after the Reading Room was given by Charles Fairbrother for the men of the village to have newspapers and magazines to read. The trustees were the Rector and two Churchwardens, but the Officers of the Club were responsible for the running of the Reading Room.

Over the years, in addition to reading of papers, other interests such as cards and board games, darts, table tennis and billiards were added. Membership of the Club grew over these years and the Reading Room was widely available for general use. All bookings of events, the maintenance of the room and adjoining cottage were all carried out by the Club but, as further improvements was needed, the Club agreed to hand the Reading Room over to be run under the Village Hall scheme.

Membership of the Club has diminished in recent years until mainly billiards is played in the local leagues. As difficulty was found in putting up the table and frame each evening, the Club applied to the Reading Room to have the billiard table sited at the far end of the extension. It would have been fitted with a table top so that it could then be used as a table when needed and, if the full room was required for a larger activity, the table could have been put away. However, the Reading Room turned down the application so, after well over 100 years, the Working Men's Club had no alternative but to close in the Reading Room

Fortunately, Helmdon Sports Club has come to the rescue of the billiards teams and they now play all of their matches in the Sports pavilion on Wappenham Road. The billiard table is now fitted with a new top for use as a table when needed. Billiards will now continue in the village as the Billiards section of the Helmdon Sports Club.

Alan Watson.

The secretary of the club is Tony Wilson (01295 760231), and the treasurer is Chris Saunders.