Tyne Youth & Community Centre

Chirnside House - Mariners Lane - Tynemouth - NE30 4AT

Telephone - 0191 2578796

Registered Charity No 522148

Wednesday 23rd March 2005 - Ron died of a stroke at 10am

Tyne Boys' Club was the brainchild of one man back in 1949.

Ron Chirnside (pictured in 2002) started the Club in a basement room in Knotts' Flats, just off Mariners Lane in Tynemouth in 1949.

The first members were keen boxers and from the humble beginnings 'Tyne' soon blossomed into a thriving traditional Boys' Club.

By the  early 60's the premises  were too small to house the numbers of young men wanting to join 'The Club' (as all members past and present refer to 'Tyne') and a new site was acquired in Mariners Lane.   The new Club was built and opened in 1964 and was very soon the 'jewel in the crown' of the Northumberland Association of Boys' Clubs (NABC).

The success of 'Tyne' was all down to the efforts of one man, who by day was a civil servant and then 5 nights a week travelled from his Gosforth home and took on the role of Club Leader at 'Tyne'.

Ron never received any money by way of salary but in all of the years I have been a member (I joined in 1966) he never missed a session.   Ron won many awards in his time as Club Leader from the NABC and also at National level.   The highlight of his life, I know, was when he went to Buckingham Palace in 1974 to receive an M.B.E. from The Queen.

At that time Ron had given 25 years voluntary service to the institution that was Tyne Boys' Club.

Update 17th February 2005:-

I visited Ron today and can report he is in fine fettle, or as he might put it "Just the job".

Unfortunately, just before Christmas, Ron had to have his right leg amputated but he has come to terms with it and as he says himself  feels much better as a consequence.

If you would like to visit Ron he is a resident at 'Park House' residential home in Fawdon Lane, Fawdon.   It is adjacent to the Metro level crossing.   I can assure you that he would be delighted to see you and relive tales from Wiston Lodge and the Club.

Sadly, Ron died just 4 weeks after my visit.

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