DURSLEY Karate Club is celebrating 50 years.

Instructor Tim Cale explained how the club began in 1973 and went from strength to strength.

Tim said: "The club originally started in North Nibley Village Hall in late August 1973. A small advert had appeared in the Dursley Gazette. Three men and a lady started the club. They came from Gloucester and one from Uley.

"The demonstration included some basics and ended with some tile breaking. The hall was packed and after the demonstration you could leave your name to be contacted if you were interested.

"A postcard arrived two weeks later with an invitation to start training at North Nibley. The hall was very full and after a time we moved to Dursley, then onto Wotton-under-Edge.

"The club then split and some students went back to Dursley with the others staying in Wotton."

The original instructors found it hard with travelling three times a week, so left the club to Tim Cale and Secretary Peter Hall. Both of them worked at the Gazette and gradually the club grew and grew.

"Peter unfortunately died and the club stayed in the hands of Tim. to run it.

Tim continued running the club through the rest of the 70s, 80s, 90s up to the present day, The club now trains at Stinchcombe Village Hall.

The club has had its ups and downs, but has continued.

During Covid the club had to close down, but we could train outside after the initial outbreak subsided.

Stinchcombe Village Hall played host to the 50 years of training and invitations were sent out to some of the original students. The celebration was well attended with students from Devon, Nailsea, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the local surrounding areas attending.