After hours down the pit or in heavy industry, the working men’s club was a refuge of relaxation, banter, cheap beer – and where women knew their place.

But times have changed. Most of those hard, physical jobs have gone and the clubs are in decline.

It’s a sign of the times that Parkhill Social Club in Firbeck has had to give women full membership to keep numbers up.

Steward Rob McCartney is the man with the uphill task of attracting new customers.

”This year we’ve included women as full members, which gets them equal rights with the men,” he said.

”It used to be that their husbands would pay £2 membership and then they could pay 20p to become a member, but they weren’t allowed on the committee and couldn’t vote. Anyone can be a member now for £2.50.”

Last year Parkhill had 116 members, and Rob is expecting to top that this year. But it’s a far cry from the club’s heyday when there were 350 members packing the place to the rafters.

Karaoke has proved to be a lifesaver for the club. Every Thursday night it is full of wannabe singers, many of whom take it seriously enough to bring their own discs.

Rob, of Maltby, said: ”Thursday is our busiest night. It’s really popular and we’ve got some excellent singers. We’re doing karaoke on Saturday nights as well now and that’s building up.”

The venue has a committee with chairman and treasurer, but Rob says their roles are on paper only. In the three years since he became steward he has virtually lived at the club, taking just four weeks off in all that time.

But he readily acknowledges the tremendous help and support he’s had from members.

”One member decorated the club inside and out for just £33 and one of our karaoke singers, Kath Schuller, is also a clairvoyant and did a night for us and donated the money to club funds.”

”We’ve had curtains and mirrors donated by members and Nicola Williams helps me behind the bar on a Thursday night.”

The club is moving with the times. Member Geoff Booker, of Throapham, has produced a website and organised a Facebook group. He has been going to Parkhill for 25 years with his wife Janice and family.

As a retired management consultant, he’s perhaps not your typical club member.

He said: ”It’s somewhere you can bring your family. I’ve got three daughters and now I bring my grandkids along.”

”In all the time I’ve been coming here I think I’ve only seen one argument, and that was nothing. It’s a great atmosphere.”

Most of the club members are retired and Geoff said that the lack of younger people was partly because they tend to move away from Firbeck when they get older.

He and Rob both agreed that the closure of Firbeck Hall as a rehabilitation centre for South Yorkshire Miners in the 1990s had a seriously damaging effect on Parkhill membership numbers.

Rob said: ”We used to get a lot of people who worked there coming in, and patients.”

“There aren’t enough people in Firbeck to keep the club going.