Westerham Literary Institution was formed in 1853. The reading room for many years was a restored former builders store and office situated adjacent to Stratton House off the High Street beside the Public Hall.
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An annual occasion for the men’s section of the RBL branch.
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members of the ‘Senior’ Youth Club in 1952 L-R back Roger Mills, Bob Draper, Derek Crouch, John Pickett, Jim Morgan, Donald Gibbs, Arthur Abbot L-R front Jane Gill, Mary Benson, Betty Carey, Audrey Taylor, Derek Taylor, Kathleen Barnes, Doris Jarrett Peter Myhill “…much against my better judgement I was made secretary of the Youth Club in the last ...
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a keen camera group from the Senior Youth Club in 1952 – gaberdine raincoats a ‘must’ for the boys standing L-R Harold Cuckow, not known, Brenda Austin, Doris Jarrett and Mick Griffiths front Donald Gibbs and Len Jupp
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Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11th to remember the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany for the cessation of hostilities at the Western Front of WWI. This took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning, signified by ‘…the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918’ Westerham has always ...
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The senior youth club was opened on September 22nd 1951 in an old hut behind the fire station in Croydon Road. Gwen Smith (née Fuller) remembers joining the Westerham Youth Association “…I belonged to the Senior Youth Group which was held in what is now the Fire Station yard – there was a hut which had ...
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Dec 9 1872 saw the opening of a reading room ‘for the free use of working men’ at the Public Hall in the High Street, initiated by the patroness, Mrs Lucy Deane Streatfeild. By the following year, ‘The Westerham Recreation and Sports Club’ was held there most evenings from 7 until 10 whenever the Hall ...
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Dec 9 1872 saw the opening of a reading room ‘for the free use of working men’ at the Public Hall in the High Street, initiated by the patroness, Mrs Lucy Deane Streatfeild. By the following year, ‘The Westerham Recreation and Sports Club’ was held there most evenings from 7 until 10 whenever the Hall ...
Reference: 0072
From the outset, the Constitution and Rules of the Men’s Club was very clear about its objects and purposes: The Club is established to afford its members the opportunity of social intercourse and recreation, and with this view the Club is supplied with literature, billiards tables, chess and draughts boards, dominoes and cards, etc. All monies ...
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The Westerham Fanciers Association was founded in 1912, as one of a few Associations and Societies devoted to smallholdings including the Cottagers’ and Allotments Association. The 1921 catalogue was for an Open Show, so not just for Association members. On 30th April 1924, a letter was returned from Clarice Fisher (Chartwell staff) to G S H ...
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The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor (Y.P.S.C.E.) was formed as an interdenominational Christian youth society which provided a structure for church youth to work together to know God in Jesus Christ. Started in Portland, Maine in the U.S. in 1882 the Society spread throughout the British Empire and beyond by the early 1890s. Christian Endeavor is ...
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Westerham Country Dance Society was started by Mr and Mrs Granville Streatfeild. Minute books have yet to surface for the society, so at this time (2018) it is not known who they competed against. Seated in the centre front-row left to right are Lucy Streatfeild, her husband Granville Streatfeild and the then President of the ...
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Odd fellows and Foresters were two ‘Friendly Societies’ workers could save with. By joining a Friendly Society, workers could protect themselves and their families against financial ruin and destitution brought about by illness, injury or death. The government initially declared Friendly Societies to be illegal organisations. They went ‘underground’ but continued to grow and offer the provision ...
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With more than a nod to the Women’s Suffrage movement in the UK, Female Branches (Lodges) were introduced to the Friendly Societies in 1893 as this 1912 poster reveals. P.P.G.M. stands for ‘Past Provincial Grand Master’ which was the post Edward Evenden held until he stood down to take the position of Secretary which would ...
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