A popular club among York locals is celebrating its 65th anniversary this weekend.
Guppy’s Enterprise Club has entertained its members in York since 1961.
From dance to choir, chess and kung fu, there’s plenty to do with an array of groups meeting every week.
Owner Neal Guppy has 17 different groups meeting regularly at the club where he teaches jive dancing and hosts classical music concerts – and the 87-year-old has no plans to stop.
He told GB News: “I have targets at my age, I had cancer in 2008 and then recovered and now for one or two operations, but I keep coming out and keep getting better every time.
“So I’m 87 now, so my next target is to keep going until I’m 90. But then two years later that will mean I’ve reached 70 years [of the club], so that really is what I’m after is getting to that.
“Then if I’m still fit enough, I’ll keep doing it, and jiving is one of the healthiest ways.
“Once the music comes on, I can be walking down the street and there’s a piece of music coming on from the shop, I’m moving to it. It’s just so natural, and it’s not learned, it’s just felt.”
The jive and ballroom dance classes are always well attended at Guppy’s Enterprise Club, and for those taking part, there’s no better venue.
The owner of the social club is celebrating 65 years of business
|
GB NEWS
Member Steve Holme said: “I haven’t quite been coming here for 65 years, but when I joined it was quite a little nightclub for the over 16s, and then it’s gradually evolved to where it is today for older people and some younger ones as well, but particularly older people, it’s just keeps it going.
“When we’ve lost so many social clubs and things like that, this is a breath of fresh air that it keeps going with jive.”
Moira, who loves all forms of dance, finds jive a lot of fun. She said: “You’re dependent on your man, every man is different, they have a different style, they have a different body tension.
“So you get a different dance, a different feel with whoever you dance with. It’s very sad if people haven’t realised how wonderful dance is.
Neal Guppy is now an honorary Freeman of York
|
GB NEWS
“If there’s not the clubs, they’re not going to. You might think you’ve got two left feet, you might have two left feet. You can still dance.”
Doorman, barman, bookkeeper and dance teacher, Neal Guppy shows no signs of retiring and is an honorary Freeman of York for his efforts in helping clubs and societies to thrive.
He brought the first disco to York in the early 1960s, and since he began organising dances in that decade, Neal has been a prominent and much-loved figure of the York social scene.
Neal gave up a career in teaching to concentrate on the club and his first venues were the Clifton cinema and the Woolpack where he set up regular jive parties and played records for people to listen and dance to.
He later moved to Dixon’s Yard, Walmgate, where he opened a coffee lounge and a dance and music space in the basement.
Since 1975, Guppy’s Enterprise Club has been based at 17 Nunnery Lane, York – more information can be found here – https://guppysenterpriseclub.co.uk/