Hartley House Social Club: Tributes following death of president Peter Turton who helped save Sheffield club

By David Kessen

Published 5th Oct 2022, 14:40 BST

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Tributes have been paid after the death of Peter Turton, president of one of Sheffield’s best known social clubs.

Peter was president of Hartley House Social Club, on Bellhouse Road, Shiregreen, which was threatened with closure in 2012, when it was thousands of pounds in debt and with the taxman wanting money.

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But a major fundraising operation by Peter and others who came in to try to save the venue, turned things around, and also led to a major refurbishment of the Shiregreen site.

Tributes have been paid after the death of Peter Turton, president of one of Sheffield’s best known social clubs, Hartley House Social Club, in Shiregreen

Tributes have been paid after the death of Peter Turton, president of one of Sheffield’s best known social clubs, Hartley House Social Club, in Shiregreen

Club member Ted Fowler announced the death to club members at the venue on Sunday.

He said: “Peter was president of the club. Back in 2012, the club was in £100,000 debt and looking set to close. Peter was among a number of people who rallied to save it.

“Announcing his death was hard, because he was a good friend, and he was a big part of keeping the club going. He was a very well liked man.”

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Janet Robinson organised a fund raiser for Weston Park Hospital’s cancer charity at Hartley House Social Club, Shiregreen. The event is pictured

Janet Robinson organised a fund raiser for Weston Park Hospital’s cancer charity at Hartley House Social Club, Shiregreen. The event is pictured

He said he had only spoken to him shortly before his death.

Peter was a former steelworker and had been ill. He was aged 76.

The sad news comes at a time when another of those who helped save the club after its problems 10 years ago, Janet Robinson, has been raising money for Weston Park Hospital’s cancer charity.

Janet, who has been receiving treatment for breast cancer, organised a fundraiser at Hartley House, which included a raffle and a collection.

Everyone at the event wore pink. It raised £800 for the hospital’s charity ahead of breast cancer awareness month.

Mr Fowler said: “It is going to be an annual fundraiser in the future.”

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