Members of the Wanganui East Club chartered club celebrated its 40 years of existence on Sunday.

The club laid on free hot roast beef sandwiches and entertainment by its barman, Willy Matthews. His LGW group was a runner-up in Maori TV's Homai Te Pakipaki musical contest show last year.

Sisters Susan Hunt and Jenni Murphy were two who responded to the invitation to wear 70s costumes. Both were at boarding school in New Plymouth when the club opened on its Wakefield St site in 1976.

They are now members of the club. They like the food in its restaurant and have dinner together there every Thursday night.

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Stories and photographs of the club's beginning were on hand, and one past and present neighbour even remembered the house on the section before the club rooms were built.