LUNCHEON Club ladies have been served their last orders after being told falling numbers has forced their gatherings to end.

The Preston Women's Luncheon Club, based in Fulwood, Preston, is soon to come to a close, putting an end to more than half-of-a-century of meeting, eating and listening to guest speakers from around the country.

Now, after 62 years, the club members have decided to split up the coiffeurs between three worthy Preston causes as a final good will gesture to the people of the town.

On December 4, the club will present a £500 cheque to St Catherine's Hospice, in Lostock Hall, in memory of Susan Crabtree, the club's members' secretary for 48-years until her death in September. A further two cheques of £500 will be handed over to other charitable concerns including the Lancashire and South Lakes Cancer Unit at the Royal Preston Hospital and the Preston and North West Kidney Unit.

Chairman of the club Mary Aspden explained why the historic group had to close.

"Unfortunately it was due to falling numbers," she said.

"At the end there were 43 members, most of whom attended the final meeting on October 3 at Ashlar House." The club was founded in 1938 and held its first luncheon at the Victoria and Station Hotel, where the speaker was a Mrs Victor Bruce -- the famous motorcyclist and aviator.

"As the club's popularity grew, membership spouted to 250 and a waiting list began to grow.

"The club has always been famous for attracting famous speakers, such as renowned after dinner speaker Lady Violet Bonham Carter, the Duke of Bedford and Arthur Negus.

"And in 1988 on the club's 50th anniversary the members were visited by former tennis champion Christine Trueman.

"And, at the last meeting in October, the Reverend Canon Dobb gave a talk titled "Embroidering the Truth.

"I've been a member since 1970," said Mrs Aspden, "but some of the ladies have been members for 30 years or more. Now it's very sad because it's like a little piece of Preston's history coming to an end."