IF you are looking for friendship, camaraderie, and some regular lively entertainment, then the Royal British Legion Club in Liskeard could be the venue for you.

Situated in Barn Street, near the town centre, all the members who had popped in for a lunchtime drink and a friendly chat on Wednesday, were full of nothing but praise for their 'local'. In fact for some of them, a visit to the 'Legion', has been an almost daily ritual since the club first opened.

The Club was officially opened in 1978, the premises formerly being the Ford and Lock Supermarket, and prior to that the Blamey and Morcom Agricultural store. The building was bought by the Liskeard branch of the Royal British Legion who had been meeting at the Barley Sheaf pub and had been looking for their own headquarters in the town for a long time. It is also used as a meeting place by the Royal Naval Association and the Royal Air Force Association.

All ages welcome

The club leases the property from the RBL, and is run by a management committee on a membership basis. To join, the criteria is that you are over 18, and that you join the RBL as well as the club. The fee, which covers both, is £9, and the club likes to remind people that you don't have to be ex service personnel to join. In fact it welcomes people from all walks of life and from all age groups.

The person who took up the role as new club steward this January, was Liskeard's Adrian Burrows, a popular host behind the bar, who knew a lot of the customers , as he was already a club member himself.

'I was working for Grahams at Looe when the club stewardship job came up' said Adrian. 'I wanted a change of direction and was pleased when I got the job. There are nice people here and they are good company'.

Adrian says that the main customers during the day time are the retired members who enjoy meeting up with their friends. 'A lot of them were in the services and this is a comfortable place for them to meet up with their 'comrades' he said. 'But things change again in the evenings and particularly at the weekends, when most of the younger members mix in to enjoy a drink, and the friendly atmosphere. They also like the live entertainment, mainly bands, which Pat Crabb organises every fortnight'.

The senior bar staff person is Mary Wyatt who has been at the club for 10 years. 'Ive made lots of friends over the years, and you get used to people coming in at certain times of the day and what they like to drink' she said. As her husband Robert (Herbie) is a member of the darts team she said it was also nice that he is sometimes around when she is working. Other staff members include Teresa Bishop and Carmella Kurn behind the bar, and Janet James who has kept the club spic and span for the last 10 years.

Adrian says the good choice and reasonable price of the drinks is also a draw. There are ten beers on tap, including the top seller, 'Legion Best Bitter' at only £1.40 a pint, and real ales - Timothy Taylors Landlord Bitter and Bass - are just £1.65. Carling Black Label, the most called for lager is a mere £1.55 per pint. The bar also offers tea and coffee and daily fresh filled rolls which are only 60p, and there are plans afoot to start providing hot food sometime in the near future.

Second to none

Club president for the third year is Vivian Dennis. 'I am really proud of the Legion Club' he said, 'we have facilities here which are second to none. In the last few years the club has spent almost £60,000 which have provided improvements such as the skittles alley, the kitchen upstairs next to the functions room, and the provision of two extra rooms which can be used for conferences or small meetings, or for laying out food when an event is taking place'. Vivian said the function room, available for hire, is used a great deal. He was also very pleased with the special stair lift installed by the RBL so that disabled members can easily access both floors of the club.

'I would very much like more people to come and use the facilities we have to offer and the club' said Vivian.

Enjoying their drinks around the large bar when the Cornish Times called were a group of regulars who greatly enjoy meeting up with friends at the club, and being able to relax in the smart and comfortable environment.

Mr Don Harris is 81 and has been a member since 1978. A Liskeard man who is well known through his 46 years behind the counters at the town's former International Stores, he says he enjoys chatting to others about their days in the services.

Another member who enjoys the company is Tom Fyfe, who was the club's first steward, remaining in the job for six years. But after his retirement he still continued to be an almost daily visitor, and now serves on the committees of both the club and RBL.

Lewis Gilbert says he has been a member since six months before the club's official opening. 'I used to drink at The Railway further down the road' he said, 'but as soon as the club opened its doors I changed my 'allegiance'. 'Being an ex serviceman and member of the RBL I was delighted to have a new headquarters with a club as well. Like service life we are all in it together'.

At a young 81, Frank Biddle is one of the club's liveliest of members, and once a month on a Sunday afternoon he can be found in the function room, singing and dancing to the karaoke which forms part of the tea dance and bingo event he puts on with his wife Eda. 'I am an all round entertainer and I greatly enjoy myself here' he said. Frank moved to Liskeard from Birmingham in 1985 and said he received a warm welcome at the club and felt at home right away. Unfortunately his wife died within a year of the move, and he feels fortunate to have found happiness with Eda, whom he met at the Manley Close Coffee mornings, of which she is now chairman. Frank serves on the club's finance committee and is vice chairman of the RBL branch.

Enjoyable company

George Crocker, another long term member says he likes to pop in the club whenever he gets the chance. 'It's nice and friendly and there is always someone to talk to, but the only thing wrong with the place is when the steward rings the bell for time' he laughed.

A daily visitor is Andy Maslen who enjoys the company, although his only tipple is orange juice due to health reasons. However, he enjoys playing in the club's euchre tournament, and pointed to an array of trophies won by the various sports teams. The club has no less than five skittles teams, two darts sides and two mixed euchre teams, all playing in leagues. The club also has an excellent pool table and gaming machines.

On top of all this there is a popular quiz night on the third Thursday of the month, and during the summer months treasure hunts and barbecues are organised. They certainly know how to enjoy themselves down at the Legion.