Good question!

My information suggests that the club first started by a group of walkers and an artist/teacher who had been at teacher training in Wales and is still alive ~ his name Tony Heald!

Early days gave rise to Dave Burland, Dorothy (now Elliott) and Derek Elliott in the Alhambra Hotel. John Booker was around in those early days and folk figured at The Wheatsheaf, Townened. The King George and the local authority run Civic Hall Centenary Rooms (which has a lot to answer for) and John Simmons the Manager

JIm Potter was certainly there in the Civic and Wheatsheaf

All still alive!
Ray