ONE of the legends of York’s social scene is to receive the highest honour the city can bestow.

Neal Guppy, who brought the disco to York and has devoted almost 50 years of his life to providing opportunities for people to enjoy themselves, will be made an Honorary Freeman of the City next week.

Neal’s venue, Guppy’s Enterprise Club, has been a local institution and a base for countless clubs, societies and groups since it was set up in 1961, moving to its current Nunnery Lane premises 35 years ago.

It now has about 400 members, and Neal, who successfully battled cancer two years ago, still works round the clock to provide a home for everything from dance, language and creative writing classes to kung fu, war games sessions and classical music events.

Neal, 72, was nominated by Coun Ian Gillies for the honour, which will be confirmed at a full meeting of City of York Council next week.

Neal said: “York and its people are what I am about, so this honour is absolutely wonderful.

“It was only when I came back here after deciding not to pursue a career as an aircraft engineer in Bristol that I realised the difference between York and other cities.

What I’m doing is 100 per cent what I wanted to do, working with people, and it has always been that way.

“It’s a surprise and a delight to have such appreciation from people who have known me and I’m very, very grateful. I couldn’t think of a better honour.”

Neal, who operated York’s first mobile disco unit and still teaches rock’n’roll jive classes, estimates 20,000 people have passed through the doors of Guppy’s over the last 49 years.

He said: “I was lucky to be around in the 1960s, when there wasn’t much for young people to do, and I was able to start running things.”

Coun Gillies said: “Neal has done so many good things for York and given a home to so many embryonic societies.

“People like him are the backbone of the city and, while they don’t seek recognition, they deserve it because they have had such an impact on more than one generation.”

Among the others who have been awarded the status of Honorary Freedom of the City are Sir Winston Churchill, John Barry and Dame Judi Dench.