A party atmosphere prevailed at the Joans Club at Augustus Place, Tenby, last Thursday afternoon, as they celebrated the retirement of Mrs. Clarice Upham, after 37 years service to the WRVS and the club - 25 of those years as organiser and leader. Mrs. Upham said that she would miss all the happy chatter of the ladies each week as they caught up on all the happenings, and the laughter as jokes were retold. The numbers attending, she said, had dwindled over the last few years. In 1970, when she first joined the club, there were over 70 members. The members then were all Tenby born, and she loved to listen to them telling how it was in their younger days! Mrs. Upham said she would like to thank all the ladies who had helped her over the years, in particular Mrs. Betty Lloyd and Mrs. Nancy Overend; also all the members who had provided food for the party. Mrs. Mary Lovatt, area organiser, had travelled from Carmarthen to present Mrs. Upham with a large bouquet of flowers; also a diploma from WRVS, thanking her for her many years of service. Joans Club members had made a sizeable collection and also presented her with a plaque of an owl, for her garden, knowing her love of gardening and flower growing. "I can now leave the club in the very capable hands of Mrs. Jean John, of Cold Inn, who has been with the club for over 20 years, and Mrs. Mair Poole, of Penally," she said. "Miss Ridpath would have been very proud of you both." The Joans Club was formed in 1946, by the late Miss Joan Ridpath, well known for her work with the WRVS in the town. She ran the club for 40 years, until arthritis made it impossible for her to carry on. The Joans Club, with the co-operation of Pembrokeshire District Council, will have a commemorative bench placed on Castle Hill this summer to remember this grand old lady who did so much for Tenby and its people: the town she was proud to call home.