"I'm one of those people who doesn't throw anything away," said Bath resident Bob White.

And it's a good thing too, as if it were not for Bob's collecting newspapers clippings and photographs, memories of the once thriving Bath Hospitals Social Club may have been long forgotten.

"It was back in the late 90s that I got a huge scrap book and I started putting together all the information on the club," said Bob who presented the book to about 40 former members of the club at the Walcot Rugby Club last week.

The Bath Hospitals Social and Sports Club was formed in 1951 and lasted 56 years.

"At that time there was a government directive that hospitals should have a social club."

In his early 20s Bob was working at St Martin's Hospital in Combe Down in the medical records department and was instrumental in getting the club started.

For the next 56 years, he served as treasurer, secretary and on and off as president and chairman for the social club.

"There were two social clubs – one at St Martin's and the other at the RUH and four hospitals all together in Bath. So there was a bit of rivalry with the RUH."

"Before the war, Combe Park Hospital has been a workhouse, and had a huge farm and garden which were turned into playing fields."

With space for football, hockey and cricket pitches, complete with changing rooms, it's no wonder the RUH club was keen to merge with St Martin's in 1952.

During the 60s the club was located at St Martin's and billiards, snooker and table tennis attracted members as did a newly added television room.

Unfortunately that site was taken over by the hospital and the club had no premises of its own but carried on its social events at the Spa Hotel, which the health service had bought and turned into a home for nurses.

"There was a huge ballroom there, which we could use." said Bob.

The 70s also saw a boom in membership. "That's when the nurses were living on site and we had lots of people using the club."

However, the club was without a home until 1987.

"We persuaded the Bath Health District to put money in for a proper building and we also got funding from a brewery.

"Cutting the sod for our first clubhouse at the RUH was probably the most memorable moment," said Bob.

The honour went to Alfie Lock, who was 90 years old at the time.

"He was head porter at the hospital and we gave the commerative spade to his daughter, who attended the book dedication on Tuesday."

Named the Oasis, the club was open to all hospital staff and associate members.

People who lived nearby could belong as could the recruits for the football and cricket teams.

There was some controversy over patients using the facility due to health and safety issues.

"There was one patient who wandered into the club and ordered a beer. We later found out her was in hospital being treated for alcohol addiction. So the club was off limits to patients . . . though occasionally a nurse would bring a patient in for a coffee and a chat."

There was a decline in membership as in the 90s when nurses were trained at university rather than on site and, but the club carried on and the site was used for social events and let out for private parties and in 1992 squash courts and a gym was added.

"We had a few problems up to 1997 with the site losing money but after that we had two stewards who ran it successfully. "

The hospital eventually took over the running of the facility and leased it to the social club for a peppercorn rent over a 20-year lease.

"In 2006 we were give a year's notice. A few wanted to carry on but it was decided to close the social club down.

"At the final committee meeting we had £15,000 which we had to dispose of and it was decided to give it to several charities."

However, the friendships that we made are still continuing, as is the cricket team, and a few of the committee members get together now and again.

"We had a good turn out on Tuesday, and a lot of people had a look at the book and all wanted to take it home."

After the book has gets a good viewing from the members Bob intends to donate it to the Bath Archives, who helped him in accumulating photos and information for the book.