Lonely Joans try to entice a Darby or two
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Desperate moves are afoot to persuade a Welsh town's macho menfolk to embrace the local Darby and Joan club, writes Richard Smith.
The group currently boasts 25 Joans and not a single Darby -only two men have turned up at the club in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, since it was founded in 1954. Now its organisers are to introduce darts and pool at the Monday afternoon get-togethers to try to entice men in.
"Its the Joan club at the moment," said Sandra Havard, its co-ordinator. "Certainly in the three years I've been responsible for the group I have never seen any men - and I wish I knew why."
Richard Booth, 57, who owns a bookshop in Hay, believes he has the answer to why men have snubbed the club. "I think its probably rural resistance to a suburban institution," he said.
"A lot of the old men in Hay prefer to just sit in the pub - they sip their beer and die. Many of them were highly esteemed manual workers living in a male world. They would lose their role and identity in a Darby and Joan club. I wouldn't go, so I suppose I'm typical."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments