Ex-services club to vote on female members

The United Services Club in Motherwell has moved a step closer to accepting female members.
Catherine PhilipCatherine Philip
Catherine Philip

Earlier this month the Times & Speaker reported that Catherine Philip, a 13-year army veteran who had served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Angola, was outraged to learn she wasn’t allow to join the Mabel Street club because she is a woman.

The club explained their constitution had been written 90 years ago and had never been requested to change it.

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However, things might be about to change as the club’s committee has now written to Catherine to tell her that having discussed the matter they will recommend the membership change the constitution and accept female members at next month’s annual general meeting.

Catherine has called on as many members as possible who believe in equality to attend the meeting and vote for change.

She said: “I know several members who told me they were going to resign when they found out that women were banned from joining the club.

“That’s really not what I want, I want the club to continue and thrive and be a place to help ex-service personnel come together for the next 90 years and beyond.

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“I really do urge them not to resign their membership, but to use it to go along to next month’s AGM and use their voice to vote for change.

“If all those unhappy at the situation resigned then those happy to keep the ban on women will win, or worse, there may be no club at all.”