As we head towards their 30th anniversary celebration at Broadway Cinema & Theatre, we spoke to George Barnes, LALG’s recently appointed chairman, looking back at what has changed since the group’s inception in 1987 their his plans for the future.
How long have you been involved with LALG?
I have been involved for 25 years now, and became the chairman in November last year.
What do you remember about the early days of the LALG?
I wasn’t involved with the group back in the very early years, but there are still a few members that were part of the original group that are still involved today. Some of the groups that were set up at the start are also still going strong, including the Letchworth Film Group, now Letchworth Film Club, with whom we are sharing our anniversary at the Broadway Cinema.
Since that time we’ve seen the membership continue to grow and flourish, now totalling around 1,600 households.
Why do you think the LALG is so popular?
The reasons are varied. One of the main factors is the enormous range of activities now offered by the more than 100 groups comprising LALG. These cover everything from food and drink and arts and crafts through to language groups and physical activities for all abilities.
However, to me, the main reason for the popularity is the enthusiasm and dedication of everybody involved with the organisation, all of whom are volunteers. Nobody at any level is paid for their role and the organisation is entirely self-financing, and I think that the passion and commitment of those involved keeps the group so popular with our members.
Which groups attract the most members?
It has to be the walking groups! Not only are there 11 different groups ranging from the “Wild Walkers”, whose walks can cover two or three days, to the groups that cover just a couple of miles. I think the opportunity for people of all levels of fitness to be active attracts a lot of members and helps keep these groups very popular.
What are your hopes for the future of LALG?
I hope that we can continue to expand our membership in a systematic way and to develop new groups under the LALG. To this end, we have established a group of committee members to examine our future strategy.
In particular, I would like to see an increase in the number of younger people involved in LALG and especially those taking on responsibility for running groups and the organisation as a whole, which should see the organisation continue to be a success for years to come.
To find out more about LALG, visit their website at lalg.org.uk
Tickets are still available for the screening of Raising Arizona on 14 Septemeber. To book, visit the Broadway website or call the box office on 01462 681088.
