ONCE, the welcoming signs of the Club and Institute Union (CIU) shone like beacons on our streets – and people literally queued around the block to attend their dance nights and enjoy a cheap beer with their fellow workers.

But these days, “working men’s clubs” as they are commonly known, are in national decline and many of their welcoming lights are going out for good.

The Club and Institute Union was founded by the Rev Henry Solly in 1862.

The CIU was originally a middle class-led organisation aimed at education and non-alcoholic recreation, but working men themselves soon took over the running and cheap pints, social nights and daytrips became the order of the day.

Today, the CIU is the largest non-profit making social, entertainment and leisure organisation in the country.

But clubs have been in decline since the 1970s. And while 4,000 were once affiliated to the CIU, the remaining 2,500 have seen membership halved in the last 20 years.

Here in Oxfordshire, many CIU clubs have also seen their membership decline. But some are managing to hold on to their members, who say they appreciate the feeling of a friendly members only ‘club’ and the opportunity to join thriving sports teams.

Donald Cross, 86, has been a member of West Oxford Democrats Club in North Street, Osney Island, Oxford, for the last 30 years.

His daughter Dorraine Brown-John, 58, visited the club with him as a child and is now secretary.

Dorraine’s son Lee, 33, plays in the club pool team.

And his son, Kyle, aged five, is now the fourth generation of the family to enjoy the club.

Mr Cross, a former printer, then postal worker, said: “On Saturday nights people queued early to get in before the ‘full’ sign went up.”

Nowadays the membership is probably less than half what it was back then, but is still relatively healthy at 400, Mr Cross said: “In the beginning there were separate rooms for men and women. But everyone loved club life.”

Lee Brown-John, is a train driver – one of the very ‘trades’ which would have filled CIU clubs in years gone by.

He said: “I think people really enjoy being able to play things like billiards and Aunt Sally and those sports are being kept strong by clubs like this one.

“And now I’m getting older I like that you can enjoy a pint and spend time with your family.”

Club steward Marcus Cornish, 52, said: “Like everything, we need to work to make it successful and we are lucky that we have a great committee who give up their time to make sure it survives.”

John Tobin, the CIU’s national vice president, is confident they will survive. He said: “It is still a major part of the social life within our communities and with good management committees and staff it will succeed although with some difficulties.”

In December 2007 a poll by the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers’ Associations found that revenue was 7.3 per cent down as more men opted to drink at home where they could also smoke.

Annie Birchall is club secretary of the Didcot and District Labour Club in Station Road.

She said: “The club began in the 40s and occupies a former Co-op depot. It was very strong in days gone by, when I’m told you couldn’t get a seat after 8pm most evenings.

“A lot of its members were obviously employed by the power station and during the miners’ strike in the 80s it became a focal point for picketers.

“But in recent years trade has really dropped off, especially at lunchtimes, when workers would traditionally come in for a beer.

“What the future holds, I can’t say.

“All we can do is keep our prices competitive and hopefully more people will come and join us.”