Pentre Legion, a century-old social club in the Rhondda Valleys, is thriving as a community hub, with 70 people attending weekly sessions, bucking the trend of declining traditional clubs. The club, officially called Comrades of the Great War Club but known locally as Pentre Legion, has undergone a transformation after facing flooding, a collapsed roof, and a downturn in regulars.
Managed by Helen Roderick and Denise Roberts, the club now runs a café during the week, offering toasties and sandwiches for £3 with unlimited tea and coffee. Community hub sessions take place every Tuesday and Wednesday, attracting people from across the valley.
Community hub sessions draw 70 weekly visitors
"We've got 70 people coming here now every week," said Helen, who has worked at the club for four decades. "It's like a family here now, it's lovely. We have craft classes, go on bus trips."
Helen's family connection to the club is deep: her father David was secretary, and her great-grandmother Sarah Slade founded a local Women's Guild in the club's back room. "It is like a second home to us," she added. "Everybody knows each other. Everybody's friendly. We try our best to accommodate everybody."
Diversification and funding support revival
The club has diversified with a village store, health-related sessions like hearing aid help, quizzes, festive markets, weddings in the upstairs event room, and regular live music and DJs. Two darts teams call the club home, and family movie nights and seasonal events like Halloween bingo appeal to younger audiences.
Denise sought help from schemes like Pub is the Hub and secured funding from the Community Ownership Fund and the Welsh Government's Community Facilities Programme, which funded new toilets, windows, doors, and a disabled ramp. Since reopening after the pandemic in 2022, the transformation has been remarkable.
Regulars praise the club as a lifeline
Morfydd Murphy, 88, who came dancing at the club years ago, now uses it as a community hub. "You know that you're wanted somewhere, you know, and you're welcomed, and that goes a long way," she said. Jennifer Picton, 77, a former barmaid at the Legion, called it "a lifeline." "You come in on your own and there's always someone here that you know. It's marvellous what they've done here now."
Helen concluded: "It was really, really hard [to flip the club]. And obviously, we offended some people because this was their club. But it wouldn't have been open today if we hadn't flipped it."
