Club slammed by pensioner (From Barry And District News)

Club slammed by pensioner

A BARRY pensioner has slammed a town centre social club, claming he was rudely thrown out just four days after Christmas.

But Derrick Williams, secretary of the Barry Services Social Club on Merthyr Street, maintains that 72-year-old Don Goodrich was'kindly' asked to leave, along with his visiting son and daughter, simply because he was not a member.

Mr Goodrich, of West Walk, said he had taken his son Tony and daughter Anita for a drink in town on Thursday, December 29. Tony had travelled from Abergavenny, and Anita had come from Brynmawr.

Following a stop at another town pub, the three arrived at the Barry Services Social Club, of which Mr Goodrich says he used to be a member.

Mr Goodrich, who lives alone following a four-year stay in hospital, said: "I was astonished when we went in, that the chairman asked me if we were members.

"I explained that my son and daughter had come to visit me and that as I am 72 and have been in hospital, I assumed that everyone in the club who knew me would vouch for me and sign us in.

"The pompous chairman said that he was not prepared to listen to my problems and to get out straight away."

Anita added: "It was a bit off. My dad had been going in there for years and years and he was quite upset that he wasn't allowed in on this instance."

In response to Mr Goodrich's claims, Mr Derrick told the Barry and District News: "The chairman of the club, Mr K Morris, recollects a gentleman entering the club with two others on Thursday, December 29.

"He asked if they were members, the response being in the negative.

"Since no-one was available to sign them in, he kindly asked them to leave, which they did.