CONQUEST SOCIAL CLUBS SCOOPS NATIONAL HONOURS

The club, which boasts 1,300 staff members, won the Committee of the Year award and came runner up in the Most Improved Club of the Year category '“ coming second to the BBC.

Club Manager Paul Jones, known as P.J, took over the club 10 months ago and has been instrumental in turning its fortunes around.

He said, "The committee award looks at what we've achieved in the past year and we're thrilled to win this. Hopefully next year we'll win the most improved category too."

In the past year, the club has made savings of 20,000 by employing bank staff '“ money which will be re-invested into the club to further improve the surroundings for staff.

Last year, the outside of the club was given a re-vamp and flowers and trees were planted immediately outside. The Friends of Conquest Hospital also gave 800 for a projector TV to screen Sky Sports amongst other channels.

Next year, PJ hopes the inside will also be re-decorated.

Paul said, "At the end of the day, we provide a service for staff at Conquest and we want to make the club as good as possible to them, in order to give something back for all their hard work.

"We organise theatre and coach trips and we are also holding a free Christmas party with a magician for children of staff in January. This is the hub of the Conquest's social life '“ the Friends of Conquest Hospitals have their meetings here and the Christmas show hold their rehearsals here."

The Lifeboat organisation and Cancer Research UK (Hastings) also hire out the club '“ together with the occasional stag and hen do.

The club already has 600 staff bookings for Christmas dinner.

PJ said, "We are hoping that next year will be even better for us and that the club will continue to improve."

The awards were held in Manchester at the Palace Hotel on November 16.