Derby’s West End Boys’ Club: Blakey’s club was a haven for West End youngsters

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Correspondent Steve Wetton wrote about Derby’s West End Boys’ Club, or Blakey’s as it was popularly known in the 1950s. Run by the much-loved Captain Blake, it offered youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at everything from boxing and table tennis to film shows and football. The article brought back happy memories for many readers. Here are a couple of them.

GEOFF Harvey, of Mickleover, told Bygones: “Reading the article by Steve Wetton (When the West End was the Best End for Blackey’s Club, February 9) sent me scurrying to search out a photograph published in the Evening Telegraph in June 1955.

“It features lads who represented the West End Boys Club at football at an end-of-season dinner generously put on by the benefactors of the club.

“While I did not live in the area known as the West End, I lived very close to it and, through football, school and other connections, was a member of the football team. So, naturally, I knew most of the lads in the photo.

“Some of the lads in the picture accompanying Steve’s article could be the same ones, only a little older, as those in this photo.

“In 1955, the majority of us were about to change out civilian clothes for brown or blue as we were called up for National Service.

“Among those on the front row that I can recall are Mr Barker who, I believe, was the brother of the then Derby County manager, Jack Barker. He helped run the teams on Saturday afternoons.

“Next to him is Mr McArthur, who was the manager of the Labour Exchange (now named the Job Centre).

“The other two people I recollect are Mr Jackson, who had a baker’s and confectioner’s shop in Green Lane and, finally, Mr Bird, who seemed to help generally with most things around the club.

“As Steve intimated, you never realised what time and effort and, in some cases, finance these people gave to provide all the facilities. There was no lottery funding in those days.”

Mr C E Lockley, of Derby, also recalls Blakey’s Club in the West End.

He writes: “I was the lad who came from school and picked up the keys to open the club on Agard Street.

“If ever there was an angel, Captain Blake was it. He used to get boys out of trouble with the police whenever they did anything wrong.

“Yes, sir, he was an angel and a gentleman.

“I don’t know if anyone has seen the film called Angels With Dirty Faces starring Pat O’Brien. Well, it was just like the boys from the West End.

“When the day came that the boys were told Captain Blake had passed away, it broke all our hearts. There will never be another Captain Blake. He is still sadly missed. God bless him.”

Do you have fond memories of Blakey’s Club? Click on the discussion link at the top of the page to share your memories.

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