The Henfield Club - a cornerstone of local history

- continued from BN5 in touch article.....

THE HENFIELD CLUB

The Great War was over, the 1914-18 conflict was the biggest, bloodiest, and most evil war in our history to that date. The men that fought in the battlefield were, as in all wars, just boys.

Eighteen years old, and early twenties, when they went to war, but they came back as men, having made the transition in the most frightening way possible. Sadly of course, so many did not come back at all. These young men in rural areas like ours came mostly from a feudal way of life enjoying few privileges.

When they returned they felt they had earned a better way of life, and had learned the value of comradeship. Meetings were held to find a way in which they may band together to achieve their ambitions.

At a General Meeting on 2nd May 1919 held at The George Hotel, it was decided to form a Post of The Comrades of The Great War, an association which was forming across the country for similar reasons.

Captain Miller was elected Chairman of the Branch with a committee of twelve, and Mr. T. Clarkson, Secretary. Captain Miller was asked to act as representative of the Post at a Divisional Meeting to be held at Brighton on the 3rd of May, which perhaps demonstrates the speed at which things were happening.

Fifty four members were elected at the meeting on the 2nd May, but this number increased rapidly at frequent regular meetings. On the 9th of May a letter was sent to the Henfield Parish Council asking them to call a Parish Meeting to discuss Peace Celebrations. All of their meetings were being held at The George Hotel which was fine as far as it went, but it rapidly became clear that they needed a home of their own where they could meet on a daily or nightly basis. Approaches were made at various places in the village, none were successful at this stage.

Entertainment, and sport were very much in the minds of these young men, and it has to be remembered that there was no radio, television, or any means of mass communication. So entertainment was very much a thing that they had to provide for themselves. It is probably true that many more were able to stand up and sing, or to play a musical instrument in front of their fellows.

So it was that frequent “Smokings” or “Smoking Concerts” were held where members and other local people entertained each other. “The Comrades of the Great War” was strictly men only of course, but for these events ladies were very welcome, and often provided part of the entertainment. Eventually “The Henfield Comrades Concert Party” was formed to entertain members and other local groups, and in fact travelled to places like Steyning and Brighton. Similarly visits from other travelling concert parties from places like Brighton were organised and well attended.

Cricket had been played in Henfield from very early days, but it is clear that this had ceased to happen during the war, obviously because the players were involved in a much more deadly game.

At a meeting on the 9th of May a sub-committee was formed for the purpose of forming a Cricket Club, and to inspect the Common as to its suitability as a Ground. In this respect it should be remembered that the Common was being grazed by farmers holding Common rights, a practise which continued until the 1950’s.

A Club was formed, and it was decided to hold a Cricket match on Whit Monday, two members being asked to form the teams. So it becomes clear that Cricket Club which we know today was started by the “Comrades of The Great War”.

Similarly Football had ceased during the war for the same reasons, and this was re-started by the “Comrades” who arranged with a friendly local farmer for one of his grazing fields to be used for the purpose, and this arrangement continued until the War Memorial Playing Field on the Common was made after the Second War.

Whist Drives were another popular and well attended activity organised by “The Comrades”, and so it was that much of the social life of the Village was promoted by the organisation.

All the while attempts were being made to find themselves a permanent home, even considerations being given to building one, but all to no avail until at a meeting on the 9th January 1920 it was announced that negotiations were underway to purchase, and adapt, “The Scout House”. This is the building which we continue to occupy today, and it would seem that it had been the home of the Boy Scouts, presumably until they obtained the space they use today.

This building had previously been our first Post Office, and then our first Chemists. The Owners were the Pattenden family who were then using the front of the building as a Tea Shop selling sweets, etcetera, and was probably the place where they ran their Carriers business from. They wanted £750 for the premises, and so the “Comrades”
set about ways to raise the money.

It was resolved to send an appeal to Principle Residents in the District, and Captain Miller reported that he had commenced negotiations with Barclays Bank of Hove to raise a mortgage for the purchase.

However building work would be required to alter the building to make it suitable for the Comrades use, and tenders were invited for this work, but when they came in they varied from £686 to £585, all of which were considered too expensive, and ways were sought to reduce the work required to make it affordable.

The purchase of the new Headquarters continued to be discussed at all subsequent meetings, and various problems overcome. One of the problems was that Barclays Bank could not make the loan to a body like the “Comrades of The Great War”, but only to individuals. As a result Captain Miller of Blackstone Grange, Captain Stebbing of Chestham Park, and Mr. Warner of East Kentwyns, Woodmancote could be guarantors for the loan, and hold the building in Trust for the “Comrades of The Great War”.

So it was that a Conveyance transferring the ownership of the building to these three gentlemen for the price of £775 was signed on the 15th of July 1920. Captain Stebbing and Mr. Warner were both invited, and agreed, to become members of the Committee of “The Comrades of The Great War”, and as a result the building continues to be held in trust by its three Trustees to this day.

It is clear from the minutes of the General Meeting held on the 16th June 1920, that a generous financial contribution had been received from Captain Miller, Captain Stebbing, Mr. Warner and Mrs. Davis of Woodmancote Place, but the amount is not recorded. Mrs. Davis was the sister of Mr. Warner and the wife of General Davis who lost his life in the War. Mr. Warner and his sister were American.

The matter of holding a Carnival had been discussed for some time, and The Henfield Women’s Club had expressed their willingness to assist with the venture, so it was resolved at a meeting on the 18th of June 1920 that a Grand Carnival would be held on the Common on August Bank Holiday, the 2nd of August 1920.
The Carnival took place, and seems to have been a great success, but there is some hint that the weather was not as kind as it might have been. A Committee meeting on September the 9th shows that the profit from the Carnival was £119 15sh 2d. Not a bad sum in those days.

At a Committee Meeting on 17th September 1920, a sub-committee reported that the estimated cost of furnishing the Club premises was about £150, exclusive of providing a Billiard table, and they were instructed to proceed with the purchase.

A number of applications were received for the position of Steward of the new Club, and at a Committee meeting on the 24th September 1920, Albert Vallier and his Wife were awarded the position. The salary would be £1.00 per week, with living accommodation, gas and firing in addition.

At a Committee Meeting on the 22nd October it was announced that Mrs.
Miller had presented the Club with a Billiard Table, and was sent a hearty note of thanks for her generous gift.

At a Committee Meeting on the 22nd October, it was agreed that a Church Parade, including all other organisations, and led by a Band should take place on Sunday the 7th of November to celebrate the Armistice. It was also resolved that the official opening of “The Club” should take place at 7.30pm on the 11th of November and that the Club would be open from 10.00am till 10.00pm on weekdays, and 6.00pm till 9.00pm on Sundays. It was also resolved that Committee members should be on duty at the Club every night and rota lists were prepared for that. It was also resolved that Single Billiards would be priced at six pence per game and Doubles at eight pence per game.

A sub-committee had been set up to prepare a list of rules for the Club, and these had been approved. This list of Rules is the basis of what we still have today, but there have of course been a few amendments over time.

Membership of “The Comrades of The Great War” was naturally restricted to those who had served in The War, and it was realised to make the Club more financially viable other people would be needed to boost its income. So it was decided that other Gentlemen approved by the Committee would be allowed to become associate members of The Henfield Club, but not members of “The Comrades of The Great War”. At a Committee meeting on 3rd November, prices were set for purchases in the Canteen, these included Mild Ale at six pence per pint, and Bitter at eight pence per pint. Spirits were seven pence per shot.

It was reported that discussions were taking place with other ex Servicemen’s organisations, with a view to possible amalgamation. A meeting on the 20th October to discuss this further, and The Branch would send Delegates.

At a Committee meeting on 10th December it was decided to hold a church parade on the 19th December to attend the Dedication of the War Memorial at the Church (this is a board on the wall inside the Church where the two minutes silence at eleven o’clock on 11th November is still observed).

It was reported at a Committee meeting on the 4th January 1921 that the Christmas Party held for all of the Widows and Orphans of The Great War held at The Club had been a great success.

It is perhaps at this point appropriate to detail a little of The Club premises at that time. The bar in what was then called “The Canteen”, was immediately inside the door to the room on the left hand side, and extended to where the stud wall projects into the room. There was no running water to the bar at that time.

The floor to all of the building was covered with oil cloth, a cheaper alternative to linoleum. Darts were played at the end of the room where the bar now is. There was a Table Tennis table and card tables, where cards and board games were played. Where the Pool room now is was a rather narrower room where ladies were allowed to sit if invited for a special occasion, and a passageway across the end of this room gained access to the Billiard Room.

The upstairs meeting room and office were as at present except that it was one room with no dividing wall, the flat was similar to the present but no bathroom.

All of the building was heated by open fires which it was part of The Stewards job to service, and there was gas lighting to all of the rooms.

The first Annual General Meeting was held on the 21st of January 1921, and the Officers and Committee were re-elected without change. Whist Drives, dances, concerts and dinner nights were being organised on a fairly frequent basis, and were well attended. At a Committee Meeting on the 30th March 1921, the Secretary read a letter from the headquarters of The Comrades of The Great War” informing them that discussions with other ex-service organisations were taking place with a view to amalgamation.

At an Extraordinary Meeting on the 28th June 1921 the meeting was informed that “The Comrades of The Great War”, “The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers”, “The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors” and “Soldiers”, and “The Officers Association” had amalgamated under the name of “The British Legion”. (This became The Royal British Legion after the Second World
War.)

The Henfield Branch then voted to wind up the affairs of “Comrades of The Great War” and to become the “Henfield Branch of Tthe British Legion” and to transfer all funds to the new name.

It must now be remembered that the building was not owned by “The Comrades of The Great War” but was held in Trust by the Trustees. Therefore it could not be transferred to the ownership of The British Legion, something we were to be very grateful for many years later when The Henfield Branch of The British Legion was disbanded.

However, The Club continued to be the Headquarters of The British Legion until it disbanded many years later and the Committee of the Sussex Weald Branch of The Royal British Legion continue to meet at The Club several times a year.

It should be made clear now that there was a separate Committee which dealt only with the affairs and finances of The British Legion and another Committee which ran The Henfield Club. It is true that in the early days these were the same men, with different hats on, and one meeting took place immediately after the other, but of course this changed with the passage of time.

This then is a brief outline of how The Club started.

 

The Club continues today with much the same aims as it founders, to provide a place of comfort and comradeship for its members, to remember those that gave their lives for their country and to promote the social wellbeing of our village.

The building has been altered and improved many times over the years as needs have changed and of course now 88 years later, none of our first war members remain. Frank Skilton, our longest serving member, is one of the very small number that served in the Second World War and only a few of us served in later conflicts.

One of the most important, and beneficial, changes that took place 20-40 years ago was that ladies were accepted first as associate members, and then full members of The Club. Today they form very important roles in the administration, both as Committee members and Officers, equally with men.

There is much more to be written about the life of The Club over the years, but this is a brief description of its beginnings. Long may it last.

Any questions regarding this account should be to Don Scutt on 492454.

 

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