Life-long Salford Lads Club devotee Archie Swift MBE dies aged 88

Archie Swift MBE, who was a valued member of the Salford Lads’ Club community for more than three quarters of a century, has died aged 88.

Archie was awarded the ‘Salford Citizen of the Month’ in April 2004 for his lifetime work as a volunteer at the club, before being awarded an MBE for his work with young people in 2006.

Since joining the club aged 12, Archie has been an avid member of the club’s team, running sports games and becoming a trustee of the club. His first camp was in 1946, where he became life-long friends with fellow volunteer, Eric Salthouse.

As insisted by Archie, his memorial stone will be embossed with the Salford Lads’ Club logo.

In a statement on behalf of the club, Leslie Holmes, Project Manager said: “The club are sad to announce that Archie Swift MBE who was involved the club for 76 years has died aged 88. Archie was born just 30 yards away on what was then Huddart Street and is now Huddart Close.

“For many of us who keep this amazing place going Archie was a very special character who will be missed and always remembered.

“He joined the club in 1946 aged 12, this was a life changing event for Archie, one of eight children brought up by his father when his mother died. He attended his first Salford Lads Club camp in 1946 and his final camp in 2010. Archie was a key figure at the club throughout all this time.

“Archie’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the club has affected the lives of many local young people, including a young Graham Nash who was one of Archies group on the 1956 camp.

“I remember Archie telling me stories about the club when I first came here in 2002: one that I always remember is “I brought a priest in here one day, a cracking fella I used to do a lot of work for him at the church, and I said now father this is my church””

Online tributes for Archie have poured in, with ex-club members sharing fond memories of him. Jan Winstanley wrote: “Met him once when the Salford lads club had pictures of Central Mission when it closed . Dedicated and loyal to a wonderful club xx r.i.p.”