SORRY SIGHT
A staggering £100,000 repair bill brought a tragic start to the new year for a popular Paisley social club.
The highly-ornamented building, formerly known as the Half-time School – which had been the home for the past seven years to members of the Ciba-Geigy Club – closed because of a dangerous roof, we reported in January 1985.
Mr Jim Hamilton, club president, revealed:“We have almost 400 members here and it’s a real blow to us.
“We all love meeting at this beautiful building, which is almost 100 years old...but there is no way we can raise the kind of cash needed to carry out the vital repair work.”
The first signs of roof trouble were spotted early in 1984.
Since then fundraising activities had been mounted by the membership.
And two grants had been promised – one around £30,000 from Historical Buildings Council and another for £9,000 from Renfrew District Council.
“But we are nowhere near out £100,000 target,” stressed Mr Hamilton.
“We have to get the repair job done in one and not in stages.
“Also, regarding the Historical Buildings Council grant, there are things attached.
“The problem is serious dry rot to the inside section of the roof.
“It’s in a dangerous state and that’s why the building has been closed.
“Meanwhile, we are homeless but are searching for new premises on a let basis.”