The 81st Club

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click The 81st Club Committee for officials

3rd June 1958. signed by Mesdames Rutland, Ferris, WIlliams, Clayton and Oakford. Taken from the 81st Club Album (archived in the Village Hall)

On Tuesday 3rd June the first meeting of this proposed club was held in the Village Hall, Lacey Green. About forty old people came along and transport was provided for those too frail or who lived too far away to walk to the club.

It has been felt for some time that a club was needed in the district and it is hoped that members will come from the surrounding villages if they would care to do so.

A group of helpers and under the leadership of Mrs Isdell-Carpenter has been formed to start the club and it is proposed that a proper Old Peoples' Welfare Committee will be speedily elected from this group and others in the village interested in this project.

The District Nurse, Miss ?, Miss M Straffon and Miss M L Blyth were there to help with preparations and to get the club started. Mrs Rutland has agreed to undertake the task of treasurer.

Some local fund-raising will be necessary and the old people are very keen to help with this and also with the running of the club as much as possible themselves.

1958 From the Bucks Free Press. The 81s Club was the name chosen by Loosley Row, Lacey Green and district Darby and Joan Club at its first general meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was held in Lacey Green Village Hall and the chairman was the wife of the Member of Parliament for the Wycombe Division, Mrs John Hall. The club is the 81st to be formed in Buckinghamshire.

The club was formed in June and on Tuesday a committee and officers were elected. The committee will be known as The Loosley Row, Lacey Green and District Old Peoples' Welfare Committee.

Mrs Hall congratulated the villages for starting a club and thanked the chairman, Mrs R I Carpenter for her preliminary work and Mrs P M Jourdan, who has agreed to become president of the club.

Mrs Hall welcomed the members, and said that it was encouraging to see so many. The club now has about 75 members and will be meeting monthly.

On Tuesday the afternoon started with a progamme of films which included a cartoon, a film about flower arrangement and another about boats.

A bring and buy stall raised 30shillings.

The officers elected were - Chairman Mrs R I Carpenter, Secretary Mrs K S Pickup, Treasurer Mrs F E Rutland. Committee - Mesdames N Ferris, W Oakford, M L Williams, M Claydon, M Rice, and Miss M Straffon. co-opted members of the committee - Mrs Shuttleworth district nurse, Miss Campbell health visitor, Miss M Blyth welfare worker and the Rev S H Keene. Tea helpers will include Mrs H Rixon, Mrs H Hawes and Mrs E B Cox.

1958 From the Bucks Free Press. 81st Club First Christmas Party. One feature that contributed to the "wonderful success" in the words of the chairman Mrs R E Carpenter at the 81st Club party on Saturday was that each member was able to take a guest.

More than 140 old people from Lacey Green, Loosley Row, North Dean and Speen went to the First Christmas party for members.

Mr John Hall, MP for Wycombe Division who also described the party a success and said he liked going to Lacey Green because everyone was so happy and friendly there. His wife and the vicar Rev S Keene were also among guests.

For the old people there was entertainment by a conjurer and tea, dominated by an outsize cake with 81 candles, made by a member of e committee and cut by the oldest member.

After tea they sang with West Wycombe Derby & Joan Club choir and percussion band.

Committee members were given presents off a Christmas tree and the drivers who take members to the meetings were at the party.

June 1960. From the Bucks Free Press. Second Birthday Party of the 81st Club. Dressed in their uniforms with scarlet coats, 28 Chelsea Pensioners attended the second birthday party of the 81st Club on Saturday. The party was held in Lacey Green Village Hall and there were about 145 people present

Tea was served by members of the 81st Club committee and helpers and an iced cake was made by Mrs N Ferris. This was cut by the eldest member present Mrs R Gomme and the eldest Chelsea Pensioner there.

An entertainment variety show was given by members of the Monks Risborough St John's Ambulance Brigade. As they left the party the old folk were given presents of cigarettes, tobacco and flowers.

June 1961. From the Bucks Free Press. Third Birthday Party of the 81st Club. Eighteen Chelsea Pensioners were among the guests at the third birthday party of the 81st Club held at Lacey Green Village Hall on Saturday. The committee gave a tea of ham and salad to the 90 members and other guests.

An iced cake was made by Mrs N Ferris. The Womens Institute Drama Group gave an entertainment which was produced by Mrs A Waite (Arthur & Joyce Waite) The choir from Monks Risborough St John's Ambulance Brigade also entertained.

Mrs B Higgins won the cup at the handicrafts exhibition for members of the club.

1961 From the Bucks Free Press. 81st Club 4th Christmas Party. Special guests at the fourth annual Christmas party of Loosley Row and Lacey Green 81st Club on Saturday were the MP for Wycombe Division John Hall and his wife.

About 94 old folk went to the party at Lacey Green Village Hall. The function was originally planned for Jan 6th, but had had to be put off because of sickness and bad weather.

Entertainers were Mr Bill Meredith and his friends. Mr Colin Fawcett also sang.

Oldest member at the party was 85 year old Mrs Lillah Gomme of Loosley Row.

An iced cake made by Mrs N Ferris was cut by Mr & Mrs H Benning of Picts Lane, Princes Risborough who celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary recently.

Members were sorry to learn recently that their chairman for the past four years Mrs R Isdell-Carpenter, is about to leave them on moving to Surrey.

1963 From the Bucks Free Press. 81st Club 5th Annual General Meeting. Th 81st Club had its fifth Annual General Meeting on Tuesday. Mrs Nugent Young who has attended all five meetings, gave a talk about the running of different clubs and also spoke on Hampton Court where members will be going on a free outing next week. They will also visit Kingston-on-Thames.

After the general business, a tea party was given for Mr and Mrs W H Benning of Princes Risborough, who recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Joining in the celebration were Mr and Mrs F Plumridge of Speen, who celebrated their golden wedding in April, and Mr and Mrs B Stallwood who celebrated their diamond wedding.

Mr and Mrs Benning who cut a cake which was made by Mrs N Ferris were presented with a basket of fruit and bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers. Their daughter Mrs M Baker thanked the club for their kind wishes, and Mr and Mrs Benning gave the helpers a bottle of sherry.

The president, Mrs P Jourdan welcomed members and their friends and thanked the committee for their work. The balance sheet was said to be satisfactoy by the treasurer and secretary, Mrs F E Rutland.

Officers elected were - secretary Mrs M Probert, treasurer Mrs Rutland, chairman Mrs Rutland. Committee - Mrs J Chance, Mrs N Ferris, Mrs I Weller, Mrs M Rixon, Mrs Browning, Mr Jack Fawcett and Rev. Houghton.

1965 From the Bucks Free Press. 81st Club 7th Birthday Party. Scottish dancing by a group of children from Little Missenden, under the direction of Miss E Hobbs, delighted the 110 members and guests at the seventh birthday party of Lacey Green's 81st Club in Lacey Green Village Hall on Saturday.

There was a lavish tea and equally lavish entertainment and a cake to commemorate the seventh birthday of the club, made by Mrs N Ferris, was cut by the club's oldest member Mrs Sarah Rixon of Speen.

Members were entertained by Mrs B Sell with monologues and comedy sketchesanf greetings were read by Mrs F E Rutland, club chairman.

1975 From the Bucks Free Press. 81st Club 17th Birthday Party. .

In 1978 Lillian Williams reported to Hallmark for the 81st Club.

from June 1985 Harold Seymour reported in 37 editions until May 1996. Lilian Curnow reported the next 5, then Pat Brooks the next 2.

48th anniversary party

The 81st Club was founded in 1958 by Mrs Isdell-Carpenter, Mrs Frances Rutland and Mrs Ferris. It would normally have been called a 'Derby & Joan', but it was decided to call it the 81st Club because it was the 81st in the county.

In 1959 Mrs Rutland became the chairman.

Report by Bob Sanders, son of Wilf & 'Rene Sanders who moved into Stocken Cottage no 4 in 1966.

Rene became involved in the 81^st club and eventually became Secretary working with the other ladies involved. I remember her involved in so many day trips and of course there was always the hugely popular Christmas dinner cooked by Irene and the other willing ladies.

Doris Oliver cuts the cake. click Andrew & Doris Oliver for more about Doris

In 1974 Mrs Frances Rutland was still the Chairman of the 81st club

1979 The 81st Club Mrs. Williams reporting

We held our Harvest Festival in October. The tables were laden with Produce and Flowers brought by members. Mrs. K. Church conducted the service of Hymns, Readings and Remarks. I am sure everyone enjoyed the afternoon. Many thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Williams at the Whip who kindly lent us the organ, not forgetting Mr. Bert Dell who transported it and Mr. Harold Williams the organist.

It was nice to be back in the Village Hall for our November meeting, with plenty of room to spread ourselves. Mr. Stuart King gave us a very interesting talk with films on the history of chairmaking. He showed us some beautiful models.

The Annual Bazaar was held later this year and it was a great success. We greatly appreciate all the donations of prizes and goods for sale, and are also most grateful to those who bought tickets for our Draw.

February 1989. Extract from report by Harold Seymour. We started the year on a sad note. Three of our mebers passed away. Mrs T Stevens on 18 December, Mr Fred Ginger (click Fred & Madge Ginger for more) and Mrs Beatrice Dormer (click Fred & Beatrice Dormer) on 8 January.

1986 Hallmark. Report by Harold Seymour. "At the AGM on 4th November the President put forward a new constitution to members and that was accepted, being proposed by was M Adams and seconded by Mr L Williams and carried.

It was then announced that Mr Seymore, Mrs Spurry and Mrs Franklin would be retiring and three new members were co-opted onto the the committee. At the next meeting the following officers were approved :- President - Mr H Seymore; Chairperson - Mrs V Webster; Secretary - Mrs P Brooks; Treasurer and Transport Secretary - Mrs U Glyn-Jones; Entertainment Secretary - Mrs M Rodes; Outings Secretary - Mr J Blackwell.

I would like to thank Mrs W Carter for the grand job she has done as Secretary.

September 1991 Harold Seymour reported in Hallmark, the following: - "The 81st over 60 club. For our August meeting we were to have had a flower arranging demonstration by Ursula and Lilian, but owing to illness this was not possible, so we had to fall back on the old faithful bingo.

September 3rd was Harvest Festival, and this year the service was conducted by the Rev. Williams from the Methodist Church, not many members were present only 36 so that by the end of the afternoon the result of the sale of produce only came to £23.10p which is to be donated to a local charity.

I wish we could attract new members to join our club, as it is becoming more and more difficult to finance our programme. Perhaps someone would tell me why my constant appeals for new members has so far failed."

Don't forget our Coffee Morning and the usual bring and buy, at the Village Hall on Tuesday, October 29th.

Hallmark February 1998. Message from Pat Brooks. The members of the 81st Over 60's Club would like to thank Lynne from The Black Horse for the splendid Christmas Lunch she provided for them in the Village Hall on 9th December. The meal was delicious as too was the wine and everyone wishes to thank her for her kindness and generosity. Thank you Lynne.