COLCHESTER Ladies Auxiliary has been disbanded after 91 years and raising an estimated £100,000 for charity.

The group, formed in July 1924, held meetings every two months and organised lunches at pubs across Colchester.

The remaining members were Kath Parker, Jean Lay, Frankie Higgins, Shirley Jerome, Pam Reynolds, Brian Cook and secretary Anita Cook.

A lack of new members and costs of organising fundraising events has led to the end of the auxiliary.

Mrs Cook said: “We are very successful with our lunches and always raise about £300.

“After 91 yearsIthink we have done our stint.

“It is very sad because there would have been 100 all over the country and I think there are onlyahandful left.”

The group believes it has raised about £100,000.

Charities which have benefitted from the auxiliary’s lunches, events, raffles and talks include EACH, Shop Mobility, Help for Heroes, the Stroke Association, Alzheimer’s Society and St Helena Hospice.

Other charities who benefitted were Evergreen, Breathe Easy, scout groups and hospital groups. Colchester Ladies Auxiliary used to give around £3,000 or £4,000 a year to charities but in the last eight years it has reduced to closer to £2,000.

Mrs Cook said: “We have given nearly £100,000 over the 90 years.

“It was only during the war they didn’t do anything. We have supported a lot of charities over the years.”

Ladies Auxiliary groups are traditionally made up of pub landladies or women connected with the licensed trade.

Mrs Cook said: “The public have been very supportive, but getting new members is hard.

“If we could have got new members–some younger members–and pubs to support our lunches, we would have continued.

“We wanted to make it to the century.”