A Crescent of Diamondsww Club Journal July 2012 The magazine for all CIU members 75p SPIRIT OF SOLLY CAN GIVE US ANOTHER 150 YEARS Last month saw the 150th anniversary of the Union and if we can fi nd again the spirit of our founder Henry Solly the CIU and Howard’s Day our clubs will be here for another 150 years. Union President Solly was a man with a mission; he wanted an alternative to George Dawson was the way working people spent their leisure time and to fi nd an the guest of the alternative to the unregulated drinking and gambling of 150 Cleveland years ago. There are parallels today with recent Governments Branch when they loosening controls on both drink and gambling but refusing to celebrated their acknowledge the civilising effect of drinking in the supervised centenary with a environment of clubs, particularly on young people. special lunch at Clubs are not an outdated irrelevance because people will Saltburn House. always want to gather together to socialise, mark special He also presented occasions and enjoy themselves. And as people mourn the Branch President loss of community our clubs are a beacon of light providing Howard Instone with communities of their own where people can meet, make friends the bar to his Union and help each other to deal with adversity. Gold Medal watched by Branch Secretary A recent study in the United States — which we reported on Arthur Souter. Full last year — found the health benefi ts of being part of a club, story — Page 4 in the widest sense of the word, was equivalent to giving up cigarettes. While clubs suffer the effects of Government policies and Five thousand thanks continue to close there are plenty of good ones remaining to sustain a national organisation of clubs as Solly envisaged back in 1862. The anniversary was marked with a visit to Solly’s grave in Oxfordshire by former General Secretary Kevin Smyth (left), who was accompanied by his wife Yvonne and Dr Ruth Cherrington, the founder of the Club Historians website. Appropriately it was Kevin’s tireless research in the 1980s that led to the founder’s fi nal resting place being located in the village of Childrey. The grave was restored by the Union in 1984 and the then President Derek Dormer laid a wreath on behalf of all club members. The wording on the grave Welsh staff members at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham reads: “To the memory of Henry are pictured with a cheque for more than £5,000 presented to the Solly Minister of Religion and hospital by Robert Markey from Caerphilly Municipal Club after the founder of the Working Men’s hospital saved his daughter Karen’s life. Club and Institute Union Karen and Robert (right) are pictured with (left to right) Jo Potter Born November 17, 1813 (from Cardiff), David Morgan (from Abertridwr), Huw Jones (from Died February 27, 1903 Senghenydd) and Dr John Miles (from Bedwas). Full story — Double This grave was restored by the Your Money, Page 3. Working Men’s Club and institute • Kent Branch Vice-President Colin Lewing used his fi rst aid skills to Union August 1984” save a pensioner’s life. See Page 12. CJ July 2012.indd 1 21/06/2012 14:09 Derbyshire Branch Secretary John Batchelor (left) Proud and presents Branch Executive member Malcolm Piper with the Bar to his Gold Honoured Medal to mark 31 years’ service to the Branch. Trustee Fred Chapman got a big surprise when he turned up for a The whole Branch Sunday pint at Rushden Athletic Club in Northamptonshire. Executive are His son Lloyd, who is the club’s Secretary, had organised a surprise pictured at the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to mark his 40 presentation night. years’ service to the club. (Back row, left to Fred’s family has been associated with the club for three right): Branch generations as his father William was also a life member of the club. President Norman Barnett, John Batchelor, Roy Marriott, Malcolm “It was a wonderful surprise and I was a bit taken aback,” he said. Piper, Bob Sheldon and Joe Flint. Front row Don Mackfall and Vice- “I’ve held several different offices and I’m still a serving committee President Ron Wells. member and trustee. Many clubs are struggling but, at the moment, ours is doing well. I’ve seen good times and times when we have struggled but we’ve always been a place where families can come and enjoy themselves. “I’ve really enjoyed being involved with the club and providing something for the community.” Committee members Henry Spring and Mel Smith also received the Certificate of Merit for 10 years’ service. HAYES WORKING MEN’S CLUB LATE NIGHT Pictured (left to right) are: Mel Smith, Fred Chapman and Henry Spring. The presentations were made by Club President Trevor “Dinny” Brown and former National President Derek Dormer, who is CABARET a member of the club. September 29th ‘THE PIGGIES’ (60s TRIBUTE BAND) PLUS SUPPORT October 27th ‘BROTHERS OF SOUL’ (TEMPTATIONS AND MOTOWN TRIBUTE) PLUS SUPPORT November 24th ‘RATS IN THE KITCHEN’ (UB40 TRIBUTE) PLUS SUPPORT Northumberland Branch Secretary Dave Richardson visited PUMP LANE, HAYES, MIDDLESEX UB3 3NB Throckley & District Social Club, better known as Throckley Bank SHOW £10 PER TICKET Top Club, and presented a Certificate of Merit to Committee member ( OVER 18 ONLY ) Bar open until 1.00 am – Doors open 7.00 pm Michael Barron. Coach parties welcome by prior Pictured (back row, left to right) are: National Executive member arrangement – please contact Secretary Sid Hicks and Branch Executive members Rob Yeats and Peter for information and tickets on: Scorer. Front row: Club Treasurer George Miller, Dave Richardson, 020-8573-1721 Michael Barron, Branch Executive member Steve Kell and Club Secretary John Oliver. 2 Club Journal CJ July 2012.indd 2 21/06/2012 14:09 Committee tells grateful father we’ll: DOUBLE YOUR MONEY! A Welsh club has matched its members’ fundraising and handed over a cheque for more than £5,000 to a hospital that saved a Committee Queen member’s daughter’s life. Elizabeth Caerphilly Municipal Club Entertainment Secretary Robert Markey was asked to plan a concert in aid of Help for Heroes but instead Hospital chose the QEHB (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham) Charity Birmingham Military Patients Fund. The QEHB is an NHS Hospital that also Charity accommodates the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine caring for injured forces personnel. Ali Delgado from Spain’s Basque A few days after giving birth last year his daughter Karen Tandler Country was one of the collapsed with a life-threatening form of fasciitis and although she performers at the fund-raising has no military connections was taken into the hospital, which is concert. near her home in Birmingham. After more than 20 operations and several months in the Critical Care and Burns Unit Karen is now back home with her husband military personnel injured in the Tim and two sons. service of our country. I hope we “The hospital have can make them better known.” been fantastic and have The money was raised with a special concert organised with the saved my daughter’s help of the FareDeal agency. life,” said Robert. “Until Club members Peter Kemp and Dianne Beacham organised a raffle then I wasn’t aware of for Cardiff City match tickets and a team shirt, and another member the existence of this Chris Field organised a different raffle on the night with the top prize charity but now I have being an Amazon Kindle. A signed picture of the Welsh Rugby World witnessed first hand Cup Squad was the star item in a charity auction, raising £260. the amazing work that The total raised was then doubled by the club to make a total Chris Field (left), Dianne Beacham and they do providing care of £5,109.20. “It’s a fantastic gesture from the Committee,” said Peter Kemp, who organised two separate and items that the NHS Robert. “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to such an raffles to raise money at the club. cannot provide for our outstanding success.” FUNDRAISING IS DIVIDED BY THREE Battersea Labour Club in London have “We would like to thank raised more than £4,500 for three separate our members who in charities. Club President Stephen Willmett the current economic presented a cheque for £1500 to Help for climate really dug deep.” Heroes representative Joanna Armandias The club has also (centre) along with £107 in cash raised on the raised £1500 each for night with the sale of cupcakes. Cancer Research and The club raised the money by selling the local Trinity Hospice football cards, holding a raffle and having in Clapham, Britain’s a Fun Day with all proceeds going to the oldest. cause. Club Secretary Tracey Summers said: The Labour Club, like many clubs up and down the country, held a party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Also pictured are Jubilee celebrations at Walderslade Club in Chatham, which celebrates its centenary this year. Appropriately the club held a party for 60 children organised by Social Secretary Mick Gyatt, with help from the club’s lady members and food and gifts organised by Mac and Maureen Mills. “To me this is what club life is about,” said Secretary Dave Butcher. “it’s great that in times of hardship events like this can still happen.” Club Journal 3 CJ July 2012.indd 3 21/06/2012 14:09 Branch brings the President for lunch Union President George Dawson was guest of honour when the Cleveland Branch celebrated its centenary with a special lunch at Saltburn House.