A church held a youth club reunion as part of an ongoing celebration of its 140-year history.

Abbots Langley Methodist Youth Club was formed in 1946, and on September 29 more than 40 former members attended from as far as Scotland and Ireland to reminisce and share stories.

The club, which was one of the founding Methodist Association of Youth Clubs, catered to young people between 12 and 21 years old through to the 1980s.

It was initially run by George and Nora Dunn, with help from Gladys Staines and strong support from the minister at the time, the Reverend Joe Stratton.

Members recalled past trips to Norfolk and the Channel Isles, summer hikes to the Ivinghoe Beacon and visits to the Royal Albert Hall.

Back then, youth clubbers made friends from across the UK through ‘Operation Friendship’ by inviting other members who wanted to attend London events to stay in their homes.

The youth club met every Monday and Friday evening with a Sunday evening fellowship meeting after the 6.30pm service.

A spokesperson for the church said: “It was wonderful to meet up again, reminisce, share photos and learn what has happened in our lives since our teenage years. Thank you to those who came along and to those who organised it all.”