It was the first club of its kind in the world which almost wiped out juvenile crime in Norwich a century ago - an extraordinary achievement in what was a rough and tumble city.
From 1913 to 1919 around 100 young people below the age of 16 were brought before the courts. By 1922 the figure was down to just 12. There had also been scores of boys in reformatories, but that number had dropped to just five.
And that was down to the visionary Chief Constable of Norwich, John Henry Dain, who set about opening the lads club in the city, reaching out to the boys of Norwich and giving them a second home.
Apart from offering a range of activities at the club in St George's he even arranged for the boys to go on holiday for the first time.
He asked the city fathers to back them and Dain, appointed Chief Constable 100 years ago, was not the kind of man who took no for an answer.
They could also see the good work he was doing, and it was F H Cooper and A V George who offered Warren Farm on the cliffs at Gorleston rent free. Hundreds of boys enjoyed seaside holidays for the first time.
By the early 1920s the club had formed its own band and the displays put on by the boxers and gymnasts at St Andrew's Hall attracted around 1,500 people. The boys were turning into local heroes and were given a purpose in life.
Trouble was, they were running out of room at St George's and in 1925 they took over premises in King Street formerly occupied by Boulton & Paul who had moved to Riverside.
The people backed the call to convert the old building.
Jewson's provided timber at cost price; the brewers Youngs, Crawshay & Youngs gave a refreshment bar, the British Light Gas Co. provided a floor for the gym and a host of volunteer policemen again weighed in.
More than 22,000 people dug deep into their pockets to raise around £4,000. The result was an impressive club which was opened in 1925 by the Duke of Gloucester.
The 1930s were the golden years which included a visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, an extension was opened and the club received publicity across the world – where Norwich went, others followed.
A large range of activities took place, Dain's son, Edgar, then a police inspector, was appointed assistant secretary and went on to give 40 years of service.
When the Home Secretary J R Clynes came to the city to visit the club in 1931, more than 8,000 boys had been members.
There was a Junior Police Force along with a host of teams and local heroes emerging such as Arthur 'Ginger' Sadd - one of the best boxers in the land.
Tragedy struck in 1943 when a fire ravaged the building and claimed the life of fireman Albert Read. He was married with a small daughter.
The club was rebuilt and was buzzing again by the 1950s. The club survived one crisis after another to play a leading role in so many lives.
Female 'lads' arrived in the 1970s. Great characters such as Ronnie Brooks ran the club before it eventually left King Street in the 1990s.
The boxing continued and earlier this month it was announced that the brilliant double act, Graham Everett and Jon Thaxton, were moving their Kickstop Gym to the Hewett Academy where they have joined forces with Norwich Lads Club.
The lads live on....
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