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.
