The remaining members of Britain's foremost trade clubs met to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its creation yesterday - and to bid it a fond farewell.

Since 1905 bright sparks in the electrical trade across the region have joined together under the banner of the Birmingham Electric Club to share their knowledge and build essential contacts.

But the decline of manufacturing and electrical industries in the region has led to a dwindling and ageing membership.

At its zenith the BEC had 825 members. Yesterday 50 members got together from all over the country to say goodbye to the club and, over the traditional fare of roast loin of lamb and summer pudding, raise a toast to it.

"In one way it is sad that it is coming to an end," said Clive Houlson, current president and owner of Mr Electric in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. "But it's like a top athlete - it's best to stop while it's still successful."

The Birmingham Electric Club was founded in 1905 by a group of enthusiastic engineers from the post office and railways.

They met every week in the winter months and held visits to works to share information as well as participating in social functions.

Visits included a trip to Birmingham International Airport, to look at the new rail link and luggage handling systems, and less recently, an outing to Bartley power station.

Many of the remaining members joined the club in the days when GEC and ICI had major industrial headquarters in Birmingham.

"At one time there were 27 branches all over the country. Birmingham was the largest and the mother of them all," said Bob Frost, one of the two life-time vice presidents of the club and a member for 55 years.

"Our members are now dispersed all over the country. The 50 people today have come from places like Stroud and Manchester and we are meeting for the first time in 25 years.

"Who wants to come to a meeting in the middle of Birmingham for an evening meeting?

"It has been declining since the mid 1960s and we've come to say cheerio."

The club held its farewell luncheon at Highbury Hall in Moseley, where a cheque for £10,000 was presented to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust for the development of an interactive gallery for school parties, which the museum is planning with the University of Birmingham.

Mr Houlson said: "When I started in the electrical industry in 1971, joining the BEC was one of the things, if you wanted to really be a part of the industry in the Midlands, that you had to do.

"I worked for the MEB and when I left there to run my own company it became more important than ever to maintain those links.

"Now the electric industry has moved away from the inner city environment, jobs have moved abroad, and the pace of technology has meant you need less people to do the work.

"In addition, Birmingham is ceasing to be a major manufacturing centre. The decline of the car industry has an impact on clubs like ours, and the relationships and social circles that have been built up.

He added: "This is a sad occasion on one hand because the club will be greatly missed. But it is joyous as well, because we are celebrating 100 years of its success and we are giving something back."