Robin Wight is honouring his family's legacy by joining the fight to keep the institution in business
Salford Lads Club is in his blood. His great grandfather was one of the founders who stumped up £10,000 - the equivalent of £1.5m today - for it to open in 1903.The much needed community facility is in urgent need of £250,000 before the end of November to survive.Robin travelled 200 miles from his home in Exmoor, Somerset, to visit Salford Lads Club in Coronation Street, Ordsall, after the Manchester Evening News broke the story of its financial crisis.
"I would like every school in Manchester to get a module where pupils can do work and see all that Salford Lads Club has done. We need to keep this memorial to the creativity and enthusiasm of young people. It is important in keeping young people away from the route of gangs and street violence but equally important is that the club now welcomes girls too.
Robin inherited the entrepreneurial gene, and founded one of the most prestigious advertising agencies in the UK, WCRS, in 1979 with clients like BMW, Land Rover, and Orange. He has the sartorial style of Willy Wonka fused with the finest Savile Row tailoring. He also has authentic Mancunian roots and a determination to make sure his ancestor's legacy does not go under.
His secret for looking so fit, well, and alive at 80? "Don't ever get grown up", he said. "I have some energy left and for the sake of my great grandfather I cannot let this club go."The club is in a serious financial crisis and its reserves are expected to dwindle to nothing by the end of November. Leslie Holmes, projects manager at the club, said: "Brexit had a massive impact. We normally had so many visitors from Europe.
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