This is as important to British culture as the Cavern Club TO AND

SALFORD Lads Club is in his blood. His great-grandfather was one of the founders who stumped up £10,000 - the equivalent of £1.5m today-for it to open in 1903.

- NEAL KEELING

And now Robin Wight is honouring his family's legacy by joining the fight to keep it in business.

The much needed community facility is in urgent need of £250,000 before the end of November to survive.

Robin travelled 200 miles from his home in Exmoor, Somerset, to visit Salford Lads Club in Coronation Street, Ordsall, after the Manchester Evening News broke the story of its financial crisis.

His great-grandfather James Grimble Groves and great-uncle William Grimble Groves, who were partners in the Groves Whitnall Brewery in nearby Regent Road, founded the club over 120 years ago. The brewery was a major employer in the area, employing around 2,000 people.

Robin, an energetic 80-year-old who sports a purple shiny raincoat and matching hat, said: "I am a Mancunian in my gene pool. My mother was the daughter of RM Groves one of my grandparents and he was the son of James Groves who set up the club with his brother, William Groves in 1903.

"Now I really want to help to save Salford Lads Club, which is an extraordinary memorial to the many members who have come through it and done well. I am going to do all that I can to help.

"I think it is so important, not just because it supports so many young people, but it is also a living cultural heritage. We have top musicians (Graham Nash) giving £10,000 to help it because they know how important it is. This is as important to British culture as The Cavern in Liverpool was for The Beatles.