7. Social Committee
Social Committee 1
Once
the decision to form a village society was made, the social committee
wasted no time, holding their first meeting on 5th February 1970. Their
starting brief was to investigate the use of the Mechanics Institute as a
village hall, to discuss with the village churches any plans they might
have for a community centre if tentative plans for uniting the churches
should materialise and to start a youth club as soon as possible.
The
Central Methodist chapel had been demolished in 1962 and they were
worshipping in their Sunday School. The old St. Matthew’s Church in Lane
Side had also been demolished in 1962 and the Church of England was
using the former Salvation Army building in Royd Street. The
Congregationalists had moved into their Sunday School following a
disastrous fire at their chapel in October 1969. For a time there was a
possibility worth exploring of the denominations coming together into
one new building. However the ‘window of opportunity’ was a few decades
ahead of church thinking, and their situations not quite difficult
enough to force the issue, so it was quickly apparent that this would
not be the source of a new community centre.
Provision of a village hall would rest with the village society.
Members
of the social committee visited Eldwick village hall to learn about its
use and running costs and also talked to those responsible for raising
money for the very new hall at Cullingworth. This group had raised £1250
in three years, mainly by dances held in a marquee and sponsored walks.
To
get a youth club up and running, the social committee sought advice
from Mr. Casey, the Area Youth Leader, who was willing to appoint a part
time leader for a Wilsden club. Negotiations with Mr. & Mrs. Tommy
Hargreaves who occupied part of the Mechanics Institute, led to the
formation of a successful club there. A rota of village society
volunteers cleaned and decorated part of the premises. The society made
£15 available for preparation and equipment and Mr. Hargreaves paid
£12-8-9 for paint. Peter Booth gave material for curtains which various
ladies on the committee made. There were other donations of materials
and equipment from within the village. At the beginning of July the
first youth leader was appointed and a group from the social committee,
chaired by Ronnie Hamer with Dr. Michael Lloyd as treasurer, became a
management committee for the youth club.
A
rota of village society members served refreshments on club nights. By
October the club had a membership of 45. Later, difficulties about
management and ownership of the building arose and the question of
whether an extension to Royd House might prove a better venue. This was
looked at in some detail when the time came to make decisions about a
village hall.
At
first, regular reports about the progress and activities of the club
were given at social committee meetings, some of which were held at the
Mechanics, but eventually this was not thought to be necessary unless
there was some major change to be discussed. The continued success of
the club demonstrated a need for youth facilities in Wilsden and this
was an important factor in eventually getting provision incorporated in
the village hall.
The
committee’s remit also included exploring what other activities might
improve the social life of the village without needing to wait for a
decision about a community centre, and organising fund raising events to
support the whole of the society’s work. They put out a circular to ask
what sort of things were wanted. There was a disappointing response,
but a few suggestions, some of which led to a later policy of
encouraging new interest groups to start, with advice and financial help
from WVS if needed.
They
put on a Folk Evening at the Mechanics and in October 1970 started a
series of weekly whist drives there. The whist was very successful but
moved to St. Matthew’s church hall in Royd Street, which was slightly
warmer and available for a lower rent than Mr. Hargreaves was asking.
Even this was not warm enough for the coldest weeks of winter. They
tried Royd House but gave up meeting in the worst weather. This
illustrated how running any regular weekly or monthly activities was
hampered through lack of a warm and attractive centre. The whist players
moved back to the church hall later and whist at St. Matthews continued
for many years, moving with the church when the new St. Matthew’s in
Main Street was opened in 1975.
The
social committee’s biggest event in their first year was a Carnival and
Dance held in the primary school on September 19th 1970. The children’s
carnival ran from 5.30 to 7.30pm, with a puppet show, games and fancy
dress competition. Village businesses were then, and for many years to
come, generous in providing prizes for events. The carnival was followed
by a disco dance in the school from 8 to 11.30pm. The Carnival and
Dance was such a success that it started people wondering whether a full
scale Wilsden Gala could be revived. This led to the formation of a
gala committee whose activities are covered separately although the
social committee continued to run the gala dances.
In
December they organised the first of many Christmas parties for
Wilsden’s senior citizens. Members divided up the village, door-knocking
to deliver invitations and to arrange transport to the school if
needed. A tea of chicken pie, chips and peas, followed by trifle and
cake was served to over 200 guests and Harden Ladies’ Choir entertained.
This party became a fixture in the village calendar. The format was
gradually improved, changing from early evening to afternoon and adding
more entertainment including choirs, comedians and eventually Wilsden
Band. After the first few years, the menu changed from a bought in
cooked meal to sandwiches, scones, cakes and trifle made by society
members. A free raffle with lots of prizes was included and of course
the event was moved to the village hall as soon as that was available.
For several years, teas were taken out to those housebound senior
citizens who could not get to the party even with help. The committee
also organised summer outings and teas for housebound people, using
members’ cars to take as many as twenty people to St. Ives, Myrtle Park
and Lister Park, and also to see the village hall shortly after it
opened, and the new St. Matthew’s Church.