WHITFIELD CLUB Clubs of Whitfield

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Paul Skelton

Whitfield Club

14 Napchester Road

Whitfield

Above shows Whitfield Club 2005.

Above shows Whitfield Club 2007 before the smoking ban.

Above shows Whitfield Club 2008 with covered smoking area outside.

Above pictures shows the Whitfield Club Google shot 2005.

Arial shot from the 80s.

Above shows the bar area 2008.

Above shows the function room 2005.

Information from John Marsh of Nursery says:- "The Whitfield Club was founded in 1946 by a group of local Gentlemen in The Old Village Hall, then located in The Drove which has now been demolished.

"The Founder Members all paid £10 membership for two ‘Nissen Huts’ to be built on land located in Napchester Road which was donated by a local woman in the understanding that it would not be sold on for a profit.

"Later a Prefabricated Dance Hall was added next to the huts. A list of the founder members is given below."

George PALMER, Tim PALMER, Miss RICHARDS, Mr LINCOLN, Charlie ASHBY, Bert HAMBROOK, Mr HARROW, Sid REBBEGK, Jim BIGGS, Mr SLARKES, Jack COLLARD, Bill COLLARD, Capt.Bill SPENCER, Bert SUTTON, Capt Dick ROBERTS, Charlie ASHBY, Gilbert BARTLET, Vic WHITEHOUSE, Steve BINEAS, Dave JOYCE, Cyril TRAYNOR, George WEEKS, Bert COCKS, Tooty ASHDOWN, Arthur MOAT, Bert OLDHAM, Bert MARTIN, John HINMAN, William BROADLEY, Ben TAYLOR, Pat WALL, Vernon WALL, Len TANTON, Ted HOPPER, John MARSH,

Steve Bineas and John Marsh are the only surviving founder members today (9/2/2010). Below is shown one of the first receipts for membership.

The main building was built in 1964 by Barwicks and won awards for it's innovative design.

The club today is run as a non profit making private members club and has been in operation since at least the 1970s in its present building. In 2005 profits mainly through the sports facilities were low and so extensive renovations were carried out to allow it to include private functions as well as sports. Today, no sports are played in the function hall, only Yoga and Keep-fit but Snooker still being played in its renovated upper floor area.

Above photographs by kind permission Mark Jennings, Whitfield Club.

In 2007 the smaller hall was renovated to cater for families and smaller functions.

Above photographs by kind permission Mark Jennings, Whitfield Club.

Above photo showing the people celebrating the opening of its extension in the early 80s.

Left to right Dave Ivory (Whitbread Rep.) Jim Butler (Sec.) Tom Baldwin (Chairman) Chris King (Whitbread Snr. Agent) Jim Biggs (Snr. Life Member) Wally Heart (Steward).

Later Tom Baldwin went on to become licensee of the "Fox" at Temple Ewell.

The club also houses an indoor skittle alley in a separate building to the right of the main club and currently have a Pétanque (Boules) area and operate a summer league, quite unique in this area at present.