From albums loaned by Mrs Barbara Mee who with husband Mel manage the club activities today, it has been possible to put together this brief note on the origins of Newton and District Old People’s Club.
The first meeting was December 1st 1952, and was held in the School Room opposite the Methodist Church. The club met there until 1964, with the last meeting there on 30th November.
From December 7th 1964 until February 4th 1991, the venue for the meetings was the Church Hall, until the rebuilding of the hall necessitated a move to Blackwell Community Centre, beginning February 18th 1991 until April 18th 1994, returning to the new Newton Community Centre on April 25th.
At some time before 1977 the name of the club became The Newton & District OAPs Club, as named in a letter from Buckingham Palace congratulating the club on their 25th Anniversary.
A Club House?
Mrs Barbara Mee has also kindly loaned us some documents concerning the Newton and District Old People’s Club’s wish to erect their own Club House. Although not complete, the correspondence saved by the secretary at the time, Mrs E Andrews, describes developments during the 1960s and 1970s.
Initially it appears that the Club approached the Estate Office of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth enquiring about buying a piece of land. Initially this looked hopeful but the location seems to have been rejected by the Planning Authority in November 1963. However, an application had been received by Derbyshire County Council in May 1964 for a club building in concrete on a plot directly opposite The New Inn on Main Street. Various letters were exchanged including one from the secretary to the Planning Officer. Mrs Andrews wrote: “The committee at our last meeting said it was absurd to have parking for 25 cars. At the most we only have two cars, or one coach.”
In November 1964 the application was granted conditionally, and one month later the plot of land 13 yards wide and 43 yards long was purchased from a Mr Thomas Moss for £225. At the time of the conveyance, Mr Moss was living at Station Road Pilsley, and the purchasers were Trustee of the Club, David Ackley of South St, Gladys Eileen Brown of Sherwood St and Emily Evelyn Andrews of Tibshelf Road Heath.
There is nothing to tell us how the project progressed until 1975 when Miss Walker of Littlemoor had taken over as secretary. The 1970s letters show that no building had been commenced and that Mr Moss, now in Guernsey, was to buy back the plot for the same price, as required in the event of no building.
In January 1977 the transaction raised the interest of the Charities Commission, as the Club was not registered, and so the process dragged on until finally in July 1978 a hand written letter from Mr Moss confirms: “Thank you for your kind letters of appreciation of the sum remitted, although it has been somewhat whittled down by solicitor’s fees etc.” and continues “ May I take this opportunity to thank your good selves for the good and unselfish work for what must give many people a little enjoyment”
In addition to these photos from the early days, the album shows the club members enjoying birthday teas, lunches and dinners, and holidays in Folkestone and Torquay throughout the long history of the club.
Tony Mellors October 2024