THE owner of a popular social club says it will be the "end of an era" when he pulls down the shutters for the final time this weekend.
John Sant is closing Cleethorpes Social Club, in Grimsby Road, after 31 years because of a rapidly-deteriorating lung condition, which means he has to rely on an oxygen tank to breathe.
The 71-year-old says he will feel "very sad" on Saturday, but that he has fond memories of his three decades at the helm of the club.
He added: "They say it's the people that make a place and there have been some cracking people at the club over the years and the atmosphere has always been brilliant.
"We've had some great times and met some wonderful people but now is the right time to go.
"The club is on the first floor and I just can't make it up the stairs anymore. It's going to be tough making it up there on Saturday, but I wouldn't miss the last night there for the world.
"I've spent almost every day and night at that place for the past 30 years and it's going to be very sad to leave it behind."
Born and raised in Newcastle, John moved to Grimsby as a civil servant in 1972.
He was a keen footballer, having played for Wolverhampton Wanderers before moving to the area, and was involved in playing for, and managing, a number of local teams over the years, including Malvern Driving School, Boston Fish, Grimsby & Cleethorpes Transport, Legbourne and Seven Seas.
The hobby led him to spend a lot of time in local pubs and John decided to look into becoming a licensee after a friend and former Grimsby Town player suggested it to him.
He took over Cleethorpes Social Club – which had opened shortly after the Second World War and was located in the former Royal Naval Association premises – on September 6, 1983.
John added: "I worked hard to get the club established and build up the membership.
"At our peak we had 350 members and I used to hope they wouldn't all turn up at once because our maximum capacity was 105!"
Ten years after taking over the club, the building it was located in went up for sale and John decided to buy it outright, becoming landlord for a car garage and finance company, which were located on the ground floor.
After hanging up his football boots at 40, John launched the social club football team, which he ran for 12 years. He also launched pool, darts and dominoes teams, and established a popular Saturday night disco with live entertainment.
Club members enjoyed trips to France, Wembley, Market Rasen Racecourse and Skegness, among others, over the years.
But it hasn't all be plain sailing, with a number of challenges leading the club's membership to dwindle.
John added: "The smoking ban in 2007 caused us real problems because people didn't want to have to go downstairs to smoke.
"Then the big supermarkets opened up in the area and people could get crates of beer for a couple of quid and drink them at home where they could smoke.
"We've also had the recession, which meant people had less money to spend on enjoying themselves."
Past members and their families are invited to head to the club on Saturday evening for a farewell party. There will be a buffet and live entertainment from singer Ian Marshall.
John's wife, Carol Sant, added: "John is very well known and very well respected in the town.
"He's never taken his customers for granted and has always done what he can for them. He even used to drive the older members home when we closed on a Saturday night.
"It's been a difficult decision for him to close but it's time for him to put his health first."
John was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2004 and his condition has deteriorated rapidly in the past three years.
