THE closure of the Gunnislake Dog Training Club, which has been in existence for 27 years, will be 'the end of an era' said trainer Bill Humphrey.

The club has changed venues over the years, including Metherell and Harrowbarrow, and is currently held at Duchy College in Stoke Climsland. Members come from as far as Okehampton, Lifton, Plymouth and Tavistock.

Bill, now 82, started the club in 1975 after moving to the area. 'I'd been in dog clubs since 1954, but there was nothing down here. After putting an advert in the papers 23 people with dogs were waiting outside the doors of the Gunnislake Public Hall,' he said.

For the first six or seven years Bill ran the club single-handed, with his wife Vera providing the teas and helping clear up. Then two members — 'Illy and Ruth' — completed training to join in the running of the club. Ruth subsequently moved to Bath. But in the past year a further member, Carol, has joined Illy and Bill as an additional trainer. 'I couldn't have run it without them,' Bill said.

Around 800 dogs have gone through the club, and Bill said he never thought it would get this far.

'It began with gentle beginnings and achieved quite a lot. I am very proud of the club — not for my achievement, but for what members have achieved,' he said.

'But at 82 it's time to call it a day. You can't alter the progress of time and it's a very hard job,' said Bill.

He said his maxim had always been that people were coming for a reason.

'For the first month you are more interested in the person, training them, then watch them transfer the skills to the dog.

'It's been very rewarding and worthwhile at the end of the day. When people lose a dog they come back with their new one. We've had a lot of friendships,' said Bill.

Until the move to Duchy College there had always been a Christmas party for the dogs, 'with never a scrap'.

The club has raised a considerable amount of money for various charities, including Guide Dogs for the Blind, Woodside Animal Shelter and Plymouth Cats and Dogs Home. Bill said that when his wife died members held a sponsored 'Sit, Stay' in aid of the Renal Ward at Derriford Hospital which raised £797. 'That was one of the most rewarding things that ever happened,' he said.

The last meeting will be today (August 15) and Bill would like news of the closure to be passed on to all past, present and potential members, as it would be difficult to contact them all personally.