The Harrogate Club Celebrates 140 Years at 36 Victoria Avenue
Members of The Harrogate Club came together on Saturday 28 March to mark a very special occasion, 140 years since the Club first opened the doors to its purpose-built home on Victoria Avenue.
Founded in 1857, it was on 25 March 1886 that the Club opened its new clubhouse, which remains its home today. More than 100 Members and guests attended the celebration, including local MP Tom Gordon.
Welcoming those gathered, President Fiona Movley MBE reflected on the significance of both the building and the life within it:
“Within these walls, and in the very fabric of this building, lies a rich tapestry of Harrogate’s history, of which we are immensely proud.”
She spoke about the Club’s heritage and the strong sense of community that sits at its heart.
Messages of congratulations were received from Members and guests who were unable to attend. During the evening, a message from the affiliated Royal Yorkshire Regiment was read out, sending congratulations on the anniversary and recognising the long-standing connection between the Regiment and The Club.
There was also a moment to remember the late Harrogate historian and Honorary Member Malcolm Neesam, whose words still resonate and raised a smile on the night:
“When I joined the Club, it was male-only and the conversation could be terrible. The quality has improved immeasurably since females joined!”
It was a reminder of how the Club has evolved over the years.
In her closing remarks, The President spoke of both pride in the Club’s past and real excitement for its future:
“As we celebrate 140 years of our home on Victoria Avenue, we do so with great pride in our past and real excitement for the future.”
A memorable evening and a fitting way to mark 140 years at Victoria Avenue.
