Received the sad news from Doreen and Brian Henderson last night that in December Birtley Folk Club will close after 52 years of continuous service. Birtley was an essential part of my growing up in the folk world from 1966 until moving away in 1978. In my early days Birtley was one of the folk clubs known Nationwide as was The Elliott Family who ran the club, Doreen and Brian being the last ones to keep it going.