A WOMEN’S club, which formed in 1947 and has helped charities across Welwyn Hatfield, has been forced to close.

The Inner Wheel Club of WGC has announced with “great regret” that the group has held its final meeting, as members have grown older and some activities have had to be curtailed.

The local circle was part of the international association of Inner Wheels, running since 1924.

All groups aim to fulfil three main objectives: “to promote true friendship, to encourage the ideals of personal service and to foster international understanding”.

Welwyn Garden City club secretary Enid Oakes told the Welwyn Hatfield Times they were sad to finish the club and said it was the “end of an era”.

She added: “Over the years WGC members supported many local, national and international charities, raising funds with music halls, jumble sales, bazaars, harvest suppers, coffee mornings, fish and chip lunches and on World Inner Wheel Day on January 10, providing tea for some of the patients at Danesbury hospital.

“Charities supported down the years include Isabel Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Herts Air Ambulance, Parkinson’s UK, Disaster Relief, Water Aid, to mention but a few.

“Our Inner Wheel has always worked closely with the Rotary Club of WGC, which continues to flourish today.”

She said: “All the ladies remain good friends and we will continue to meet, just not officially.”