THE final whistle has blown for an organisation which has been helping sports enthusiasts for more than 30 years. Numbers attending the meetings of North Herts Sports Council had been dwindling recently and when long-term secretary Norman Thompson retired

THE final whistle has blown for an organisation which has been helping sports enthusiasts for more than 30 years.

Numbers attending the meetings of North Herts Sports Council had been dwindling recently and when long-term secretary Norman Thompson retired, the decision was made to disband the organisation.

NHSC was set up in 1972, taking over from Letchworth Sports Council, which had been around since the late 1950s.

The council helped run sporting activities in the area and was also responsible for handing out grants.

Mr Thompson, now 82, had been involved with the council since it began, initially as its chairman and then as its secretary.

A lot of the work done by NHSC had already been taken over by Hertfordshire Sports Partnership, and Mr Thompson was quick to sing the partnership's praises.

"It's very good. They do a hell of a lot of work brilliantly," he said.

However, the local, personal touch may be missing now NHSC has gone, he said.

"People might lose out a little bit in that the big organisation can't take the time to get in the car and go and see them, which I used to do.

"We were local people in local sport."

The council held its last meeting in September and Mr Thompson used the opportunity to thank those who had helped over the years.

"As I said at the time of the meeting when I retired, I would thank everybody who worked with me.

"North Herts District Council have been very good. I can't think of anybody who hasn't co-operated," he said.