Youth Club 1955

click Organisations for Children for others

click Wyndham & Diane Bradley for their new Youth Club started about 1955

Hallmark. Extract from the Obituary of Ted Tanes. (click Ted & Jean Janes) :-

"As like many people, Ted and Jean`s lives were also directed by the wellbeing of their family.   (About 1958) when their daughter was about 12 years old, she, together with a number of her friends, appealed to them to take over the “Youth Club” which was going to close for lack of a leader.   They then held this position for 8 years to (about 1964). They cannot speak highly enough of this great bunch of youngsters and today see some of them as grandparents.   They feel pleased and privileged that perhaps they helped them a little along life`s way.

From the mid 1960’s there were for a while 2 clubs, one a Junior club led by Vera Griffiths who lived with her husband Vic in Roundlands (Vic & Vera Griffiths) and a senior club led by Peter Barnard who lived at the bottom of Little Lane, Loosley Row (Peter & Ellie Barnard) Both clubs were very successful at that time attended mostly by local teenagers. There were lots of things organised for the clubs, on one occasion the late Sir John and Lady Hall at the time the local member of parliament coming to the club to explain the internal workings of the House of Commons.

25 MILE WALK

On one occasion a sponsored walk was arranged over 25 miles,   it involved the whole village with the likes of Gordon Turner actually completing the walk and then going back to work straight after.   Of course the junior section by nature of the distance involved had so much sponsorship money riding on them.   Great care and encouragement was needed to get them home to complete the 25 miles on what was a very hot day, as a result of everyone’s hard work a large amount of money raised for charity.

CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME

On occasions the 2 clubs combined, particularly when it came to the Christmas pantomime.   This was usually performed over a couple of nights and on at least one occasion went on the road!   Ok it did one performance in Speen.   Vera Griffiths was one of the producers and as you would expect in the early weeks rehearsals were taken somewhat lightly by the cast, that is until the final couple of weeks when reality struck home, the costumes were being tried on made by parents and helpers, the scenery and lighting was taking shape and all the panic and nerves and of course fun that go with a village production.

AD-LIBBING

The performances were always fully booked and really enjoyed by the village folk, this was helped in part by some ad-libbing by the cast which of course got more laughs than the actual script.

BONFIRE NIGHT

Another joint event was the bonfire night celebrations.   It was here that Wilf brought in some external experience.   Born and bred up in Brockham, Surrey, a village that was hugely famous for its massif annual 5^th of November celebration.   It was the blue print used so successfully there that Wilf brought to Lacey Green.

A large bonfire was built in a very short time for security reasons as it wasn’t unusual for bonfires to mysteriously catch light prior to the actual day.   It was located in the field behind the village hall. The material collected by tractor, trailer, youth club members and willing helpers from around the village.

FLAMING TORCH PARADE

A parade, made up of the youth club members and probably a few responsible adults started at the Whip.   Led by a tractor and trailer carrying the Guy, the procession, most carrying flaming torches, which had been made by Wilf using green sticks with sacking wrapped around one end, held in place with wire then dipped in old engine oil.  The parade wound its way down through the village, in those days it was possible to get a road closure for a village function, indeed the local policeman was always in attendance along with one or two St Johns ambulance volunteers.

THE GUY & FIREWORKS

The guy stuffed with the usual filling and several Crow Scarers (these were very loud agricultural bangers used to frighten birds etc off the crops) was placed atop the bonfire and the torches thrown by the parade members onto the fire.   Once fully alight there was an excellent fireworks display set off by more youth club members and helpers.   This was of course in the days before firework specialists were employed.

HOT DOGS & BAKED POTATOES

All the usual catering was available, hot dogs, baked potatoes coffee tea etc again organised by the youth club members, parents and helpers.