John MacPherson, of Laburnum Place in Mayfield, has vowed never to hold another event in Easthouses Miners Welfare Club after up to 200 friends and family members invited to a 21st birthday party for stepsons Sean and Barry Dilon were each charged £1 to get in.

He said: "I know it's not a lot of money but it's the principal of the thing. I disagree with it altogether.
"While I am not opposed to donating money into the charity box, my view is a simple view – that such a decision should be left to the individual."

Mr MacPherson said no mention was made of the fee when the venue was being booked, and that he has never heard of other clubs charging individual guests at a private function in this way.

Easthouses Miners Welfare Club secretary Robert Conlon said he could not comment on an individual case, but told the Advertiser: "People who access the club would normally have to sign in. Normal practice is when you come in as a non-member you would be asked to sign the book and give a donation."

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