Golcar Conservative Club
The Working Men's Conservative Association of Golcar was in existence from around 1861 and although they had no premises they held regular meetings to promote political though and education in Golcar. These meetings began with usual routine business but the main focus would be a talk or discussion afterwards. The association membership was 130 members in June 1867 and at a meeting held in the National School an attendance of 100 members was reported.
A meeting in the same schoolroom in July 1867 again gathered a large attendance of members to listen and take part in a discussion on the subject of “The church and her assailants from without,” was led by B. Whitwam who read “lengthy quotations” from the Churchman. The following week the debate was on the subject of “The Commercial Policy of
Conservative” led by Joseph Webster.
A similar meeting in December considered the "Irish Church"and this was delivered by John Ainley. It apparently was a continuation of a previously adjourned debate.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 13 & 20 July & 11 December 1867; Yorkshire Post 24 June 1867)
When the Conservative Association of Golcar held a meeting in the National School, in January 1868, the main purpose of the meeting was not debate but was to discuss the forthcoming banquet which was be the inaugural event for the of the Colne Valley Working Men’s Conservative Associations which comprised of Marsden, Slaithwaite, Linthwaite as well as Golcar. Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope and W. B. Denison, the defeated Conservative candidates for the southern division of the West Riding, had been invited to attend and it was intended to take place at the end of the month. The meeting was of the opinion that the proposed banquet would be well attended.
Another meeting held in the National School, saw the Golcar Working Men's Conservative Association get together with the Amalgamated Banquet Committee. It was reported that there was a good attendance at the meeting and after routine business had been done, letters were read from a variety of prominent local Conservatives accepting the invitation of the committee to attend the banquet. The banquet was to be held in the Golcar schoolroom with the intended main guests being Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope and W. B. Denison.
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| Kirklees Image Archive |
The two men stayed with George Armitage, of Milnsbridge House (above) for the duration of their visit to the neighbourhood. Great preparations were made by the committee to ensure that the event would be “worthy of the cause.” A large number of tickets had already been sold prior to the event.
The banquet went ahead successfully on 31 January
in the National Schoolroom at
Golcar. Where the room was “gaily
decorated and presented a most animated appearance.”
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| The Rose & Crown, 1960s. (K024332 Kirklees Image Archive) |
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| Rose & Crown, 2012 |
Joseph
Hall of the Rose and Crown provided the dinner for the event which was
enjoyed by over 300 people. However when
the room was cleared of tables for the meeting that followed the crowd increased
to over 500 including
“a select company of ladies who occupied a balcony at one
end of the room.”
The schoolroom was a large room, shields and heraldic insignia adorned the corbels holding the roof and banners dropped from the roof beams. The speaker’s platform and the surrounding walls were hung with banners emblazoned with Conservative mottoes and the names of prominent Conservative statesmen. Festoons of holly were also suspended across the room.
Joseph Webster, President of the Association, chaired the meeting and on either side of him on the platform were Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope and W. B. Dennison. It was said that the meeting was of a “most enthusiastic and convivial character.” This lively atmosphere would have been added to by the “company of glee singers” who were also present to entertain during the evening.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 11 & 25 January, 1 February 1868; Yorkshire Post 1 February 1868)
The Golcar Conservative Club was established in 1878 and held its inaugural meeting in November of that year, with Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope once again amongst the speakers. (See Sheffield Independent 2 November 1878)
A new meeting place
In October 1879 the club held its first annual meeting in its own building which had been opened in the July of that year. It had been erected at a cost of £1300, towards which the club had just £450. The new club had large meeting room and this was filled with members on the night. Joseph Webster, who had been president of the association, now had the role of president of the club at that point and it was him who opened the proceedings. J. E. Sykes, one of the club secretaries gave the annual report. Previous to their formation the members had access to reading rooms, a church institute and other local venues in which to meet but this had caused their purpose to be fragmented.
There were 244 members recorded with another 30 honorary members. Reference was made in the report to several “papers” and “lectures” being delivered during the year which had had good attendances. However the hope was that members would take an even greater interest in English politics. It was also stated that the club would continue to be run on “Temperance” lines and that no intoxicants would be sold in the club and they
would “continue in the same steady, sober path.”
The club was in the process of preparing to hold a bazaar to raise funds to reduce the debt of £850 still outstanding on the building. The ladies associated with the event were working week by week to prepare for it. They had held weekly sewing meetings during the winter months and through this produced a wide range of plain and fancy wares. Basket work and other crafts would be added to the goods for sale.
The 1880 Grand Bazaar
"The Grand Bazaar" in aid of the
Golcar Conservative Club Building fund went ahead in April 1880. The handiwork of the ladies was “tastefully
arranged” on six stalls “draped with muslin” and attended by the said
ladies. In addition to these there was a
refreshments stall.
The large meeting room had been decorated with “festoons of evergreens” and the walls were adorned with banners and ornamental shields. Behind the platform and on the walls were banners bearing appropriate Conservative mottoes and inscriptions.
The opening ceremony at 2pm was performed by Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope who came straight from a political meeting at the Rose and Crown nearby. The Golcar Overture Band were present at the event and played the national Anthem at the opening. The bazaar continued the following day and raised a total of £400 towards the fund.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 31 October 1879 & 3 April 1880)
When the club held its annual meeting in 1882 in the large room at the club there was a considerable attendance of its members. Joseph Webster the long-time President of the club had recently died and Thomas Henry Ramsden had taken on the position in his place and he was elected to be retained in the position for the coming year. There were 200 members recorded in the annual report and the club had healthy balance. There was no mention of the club debts.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 2 November 1882)
The annual meeting in 1888 took a different format and was held in the National School. Thomas Henry Ramsden gave “a number of rabbits” which at first seems a strange gift but these rabbit were to be part of the supper that evening! Mrs John A Trigg was in charge of managing the supper and she made the said rabbits into pies. Over 100 people sat down to eat and it was reported that the “rabbit pies” disappeared quickly so they must have been very popular. After the supper the crowd adjourned to the large meeting room in the club where alongside the business reports “excellent entertainment” was provided including a “glee party” of club members. This glee party opened the proceedings singing “England’s Queen,” after which Dr Alfred George Webster addressed the meeting along with many other prominent members.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 7 December 1888)
The large meeting room had been decorated with “festoons of evergreens” and the walls were adorned with banners and ornamental shields. Behind the platform and on the walls were banners bearing appropriate Conservative mottoes and inscriptions.
The opening ceremony at 2pm was performed by Walter Thomas William Spencer Stanhope who came straight from a political meeting at the Rose and Crown nearby. The Golcar Overture Band were present at the event and played the national Anthem at the opening. The bazaar continued the following day and raised a total of £400 towards the fund.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 31 October 1879 & 3 April 1880)
When the club held its annual meeting in 1882 in the large room at the club there was a considerable attendance of its members. Joseph Webster the long-time President of the club had recently died and Thomas Henry Ramsden had taken on the position in his place and he was elected to be retained in the position for the coming year. There were 200 members recorded in the annual report and the club had healthy balance. There was no mention of the club debts.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 2 November 1882)
The annual meeting in 1888 took a different format and was held in the National School. Thomas Henry Ramsden gave “a number of rabbits” which at first seems a strange gift but these rabbit were to be part of the supper that evening! Mrs John A Trigg was in charge of managing the supper and she made the said rabbits into pies. Over 100 people sat down to eat and it was reported that the “rabbit pies” disappeared quickly so they must have been very popular. After the supper the crowd adjourned to the large meeting room in the club where alongside the business reports “excellent entertainment” was provided including a “glee party” of club members. This glee party opened the proceedings singing “England’s Queen,” after which Dr Alfred George Webster addressed the meeting along with many other prominent members.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 7 December 1888)
The 1890 'Rustic' Bazaar
In 1890 the club still had a debt on
the building of £325 and so a bazaar was planned and organised with the aim of
clearing the outstanding amount, once again organised and run by the ladies although a committee of
men was formed to assist.
The three day event
was to be a “rustic” bazaar and so the room was decorated in an inventive and
“artistic” fashion. On entering the room visitors found themselves surrounded
by “artistic and realistic” cottages apparently in quite a romantic, quaint
English style. The images were based on summer in a village near Hughenden Manor (now a National Trust
property) which had been the seat of Benjamin
Disraeli.
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| Hughenden Manor, National Trust |
The “village” was decorated with summer flowers and appeared to be
lit by summer sunshine and surrounded by countryside! A view of Hughenden Manor painted by E. Worsdale was arranged at one end of
the room which showed the Manor with its flower beds and avenues of “stately”
trees. The cottages were decorated with ivy, woodbine and honeysuckle climbing
the walls and roses around the doors.
There were ten stalls including toys, flowers, fruit glass and china,
Easter egg and refreshments. By noon, the time of the official opening by John Arthur Brooke, the room was packed
with people. When Dr Alfred George
Webster addressed the crowd he referred to the aim of clearing the club
debt and also the club would be “better enabled to provide instruction,
political and social.”
Various donations
had been sent by notable local Conservatives in lieu of their presence at the
event. Webster dismissed rumours that had gone around the village that
suggested that the bazaar was to provide funds to extend the club rooms rather
than clearing debt. At 1pm a large
numbers of people including ladies, sat down to a “bountiful” lunch in one of
the rooms of the club. The lunch had
been provided by John Iredale of
Milnsbridge.
The bazaar continued
through the afternoon and into the evening where entertainment was
provided. J. T. Reach an entertainer from Leeds performed illusions and
ventriloquist sketches. The “Zingara”
Company gave a variety of “representations” or scenes – “Gipsy Revels”,
“Loyalty” and “Comique”, one can only guess what these consisted of. One of the
other club rooms had been made into a “museum of curiosities” consisting of a
collection so fossils, natural history specimens, “foreign workmanship,”
weapons and other “interesting” objects from around the world.
Another room had been devoted to moving models on loan from all around the area. The power they needed was supplied by a boiler loaned by Thomas Brook of Market Street Huddersfield.
Another room had been devoted to moving models on loan from all around the area. The power they needed was supplied by a boiler loaned by Thomas Brook of Market Street Huddersfield.
Mr
Swithenbank of the National Telephone Company had linked all of the rooms
in the building with telephone for the event!
At the end of the three day the
amount raised after expenses were deducted was £300, not far off their target
amount. A similar bazaar held in 1898
raised £324.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 12 April 1890; Bradford Daily Telegraph 9 December 1898)
Bazaars were not the only fund
raising events to be held at the club. Social occasions were also used to raise
funds and two such occasions were held in 1889 & 1896. Called a “Conversaziones”, these comprised of a
variety of entertainments throughout the evening.(See Huddersfield Chronicle 12 April 1890; Bradford Daily Telegraph 9 December 1898)
Conversaziones
The "Conversazione" in 1889 saw the club's lecture room at the centre of the evening’s attractions. It had been decorated with a number of plants on the platform which had been loaned by Thomas Henry Ramsden. Magic lantern shows were given in the billiard room by Master H. E. Webster, possibly the son of Dr Webster. The reading room had a display of curiosities lent by various members of the club and friends.
In the lecture room a glee party consisting of club members, who were also members of the local parish church choir, sang a wide selection of songs. This was followed by a number of solo pieces being sung by other members and friends. Miss Ethel Ramsden, the daughter of Thomas Henry Ramsden, performed piano solos and a duet with her younger sister Elsie. Elsie then delivered “The Fall of Wolsey” from Shakespeare’s Henry VIII.
After the concert everyone joined in and enjoyed dancing until midnight when they stopped and sang the Christmas hymn. Games of various kinds were also played and refreshments consisting of grapes, apples, oranges, buns, sandwiches, milk, tea and coffee were served at frequent intervals. Dancing was then resumed and continued until 3am!! Everything involved in the event was donated by friends and keeping expenses to a minimum and enabling a small profit to be made by this the clubs first “conversazione!”
The 1896 Conversazione followed a similar theme. Entertainments consisted of songs by tenors, sopranos and bass, the “Albion Quartet party” who were male singers, W. E. Sykes, a humourist, and readings in Yorkshire dialect from some club members. In addition to this music was provided by “Mr Livesey’s Quadrille Band.”
Refreshments were provided and served by the ladies as was usually the case and the event went on into the early hours of the morning. It proved to be a very successful event for the club funds. (See Huddersfield Chronicle 3 January 1889; 24 January 1896)
Electricity arrives at the club rooms
March 1898 was a time of great
excitement at the club when a large meeting of the members together with their
“lady friends” gathered in the club rooms to witness the switching of the new
electric installation!
The club was the first public institution in the village
to install electric lighting and so it was a real source of pride for them and
displayed the fact that the Conservatives stood for progress. For some months the club had been considering
installing electricity to light the building and had finally made the decision
to go ahead when Fred Taylor of Acre
Top, Golcar had given them an estimate for the installation and they had
accepted. The system consisted of a “Crossley Horizontal gas engine”
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| Wikicommons |
installed in what was referred to then as the “engine room.” The engine was the
most recent of its type and automatically regulated the amount of gas needed. It could generate 9.5 brake horse power as a “safe working load at a speed of 250 revolutions per minute.”
The club had 56 lights fitted and 31 switches. The total cost for the engine room was £46 and the electric fittings £219. D. J. Bailey, the club president explained the plant and the system and stated that the committee had decided on the installation due to consideration of “health and cleanliness.”
They did not expect the new system to be any costlier as they had been paying £35 for gas a year already plus the charged for extra cleaning that gas lighting caused. They had felt that any additional cost would be worth it the “purer atmosphere” that the club would enjoy.
The club intended to hold another bazaar in the summer to raise the money needed to clear the debt incurred by the lighting. John Pearson, one of the oldest members of the club and long-time treasurer, was to name the engine and set it going. Together with Mrs D. J. Bailey and a few others he went down to the engine room where he turned the machine on and named it “Victoria.”
Mrs Bailey switched the lights on to a round of applause, you can just imagine their responses and excitement on seeing electric lighting in the building. Then they returned to the library where coffee and sandwiches were handed round to all those present with the Colne Valley Association Billiard Challenge Cup taking pride of place on the central table. The evening then continued until 11pm with “glees” by the Golcar Arion Quartet Party and songs by a variety of members and friends.
The planned fund raising bazaar took place in December over four days and was opened on Friday by Lawrence Dundas, Marquis of Zetland and on Saturday by the Mayor of Huddersfield, William Henry Jessop. The total amounts raised over the four days was £616 providing more than enough to cover the cost of the lighting.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 5 March 1898; Leeds Times 17 December 1898)
At the annual meeting held in 1900 a good financial position was reported and an increase in membership on the previous year. The membership stood 170 members at that point. No mention was made of any club debt still owing.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 3 November 1900)
The club had 56 lights fitted and 31 switches. The total cost for the engine room was £46 and the electric fittings £219. D. J. Bailey, the club president explained the plant and the system and stated that the committee had decided on the installation due to consideration of “health and cleanliness.”
They did not expect the new system to be any costlier as they had been paying £35 for gas a year already plus the charged for extra cleaning that gas lighting caused. They had felt that any additional cost would be worth it the “purer atmosphere” that the club would enjoy.
The club intended to hold another bazaar in the summer to raise the money needed to clear the debt incurred by the lighting. John Pearson, one of the oldest members of the club and long-time treasurer, was to name the engine and set it going. Together with Mrs D. J. Bailey and a few others he went down to the engine room where he turned the machine on and named it “Victoria.”
Mrs Bailey switched the lights on to a round of applause, you can just imagine their responses and excitement on seeing electric lighting in the building. Then they returned to the library where coffee and sandwiches were handed round to all those present with the Colne Valley Association Billiard Challenge Cup taking pride of place on the central table. The evening then continued until 11pm with “glees” by the Golcar Arion Quartet Party and songs by a variety of members and friends.
The planned fund raising bazaar took place in December over four days and was opened on Friday by Lawrence Dundas, Marquis of Zetland and on Saturday by the Mayor of Huddersfield, William Henry Jessop. The total amounts raised over the four days was £616 providing more than enough to cover the cost of the lighting.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 5 March 1898; Leeds Times 17 December 1898)
At the annual meeting held in 1900 a good financial position was reported and an increase in membership on the previous year. The membership stood 170 members at that point. No mention was made of any club debt still owing.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 3 November 1900)
Political and Social Education
Political educational lectures continued to be a feature of the club. In 1898 D. J. Bailey the club president introduced the speaker. W. Wood of Barnsley, a lecturer to the Yorkshire Union of Conservative Associations. He gave a “very interesting” lecture entitled “A tour through London Town” which was illustrated by what we would now regard as a slideshow or in modern terms a power point presentation. It was described at the time as “a fine series of views thrown on canvas!”
Wood spoke on his subject for over an hour and kept the large audience interested throughout although it was reported that there was a “rough and rowdy” element in the crowd. The report suggested that this was due to the “free admission” and that another time a small fee should be charged. The “ill-mannered youths” referred to in the report were fine so long as the views kept changing but “kept up a continual chatter” between times preventing others in the audience from hearing.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 2 February 1898)Wood spoke on his subject for over an hour and kept the large audience interested throughout although it was reported that there was a “rough and rowdy” element in the crowd. The report suggested that this was due to the “free admission” and that another time a small fee should be charged. The “ill-mannered youths” referred to in the report were fine so long as the views kept changing but “kept up a continual chatter” between times preventing others in the audience from hearing.
A public lecture held in the National Schoolroom under the auspices of the club was held in February 1899 with the subject being “Egypt and the Sudan.” The hall was crowded such was the interest in the subject which was caused mainly by recent developments and conflict in that part of what was then regarded as the “British Empire.” The lecture was delivered by W. Wood of Barnsley who illustrated his talk with interesting views shown through a “limelight lantern.” Highlights for the audience are reported to have been General Gordon, views of Cairo, the Pyramids, Khartoum, The Mahdi’s Tomb and “Fighting Dervishes!”
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 4 February 1899)
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 4 February 1899)
Extension of the club rooms
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| Gable end extension |
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| Archibald Boyd Carpenter |
The principal
stone was laid by Captain Archibald
Boyd-Carpenter, prospective Unionist candidate for the Colne Valley
Division. After laying the stone, Captain Boyd Carpenter, gave a vigorous
address to the gathered crowd.
The other stones were laid by J. Fisher, R. Pearson, D. Dyson, J. Bailey,
H. K. Pearson, E. P. Edgar, and Dr Alfred George Webster. Thomas H. Ramsden, the president the
club, was not present on account of the recent death his mother, so E. A. Pearson acted in his stead.
Donations and a collection resulted in £100 being contributed towards the
£1,500 cost of the alterations.
Lord St Oswald of Nostell Priory opened a fund raising Bazaar in November 1909 saying that he belonged to a house that had a bad reputation which got great laughter from the gathered crowd. The second day was opened by F. S. Jackson who used the occasion to support Captain Boyd Carpenter. The aim of the bazaar had been to raise funds to cover the cost of the extension work.
(See Manchester Courier 9 February 1909; Yorkshire Post 4 August 1908; Sheffield
Daily Telegraph 8 November 1909; Leeds Mercury 4 & 8 November 1909)
Dr Alfred George Webster was president of the club for a great many years and he was greatly mourned when he died from pneumonia aged 62 in April 1924. Leeds Mercury 9 April 1924
The 1927 Empire Bazaar
The club held another three day "Empire bazaar" in 1927. The re-opening ceremony on the final day was conducted entirely by
children with Master Gordon W Bamforth
acting as opener and Joe T Livesey
as president. The net proceeds of the
event came to £750 which went towards club funds. The club used £150 to clear a
debt on the club premises and the remainder was to be used for providing tennis
courts for the club. The tennis courts would go on to cost the club £800. They were completed and brought into use in July 1927. It was reported that the club
had managed to raise all the funds needed for their completion.
(See Yorkshire Post 21 February & 27 July 1927
& Leeds Mercury 3 March 1927)50th Anniversary
The club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in November 1928 which had a large attendance. A brief history of the club was reported by Edgar Sykes. He stated that the original club building had cost £1200 in 1878 since which the club had gone on to acquire land and other property. A Bowling Green and tennis courts had been added together with a tennis pavilion at the cost of around £7000. Six bazaars had been held during their time which had raised £4150 towards settling the clubs debts. The rest of the debt had been met through subscriptions and other fund raisers. The club in 1928 was “practically out of debt.”Another interesting feature of the event was that there were sixteen of the original founding members who were still connected with the club. The club had had only four treasurers over the 50 years and seventeen presidents, some of whom had held the position more than once.
After the ceremony a tea was held followed with entertainment by the club Male Voice Choir and other artists.
(See Leeds Mercury 12 & 14 November 1928; Yorkshire Post 12 November 1928)
Social excursions
Annual excursions were a highlight of the club year. The excursion in 1885 saw 128 people treated by Thomas Henry Ramsden to a visit to Sawley Hall.
“most heartily welcomed” by Mrs
Ramsden and family.
Dinner was served to the visitors on a grand terrace near the hall after which they strolled around the grounds which stretched two miles in one direction and four miles in the other! Mr and Mrs Ramsden accompanied some of them on their walks and the visitors admired the “grand and beautiful aspect of the place.” Rabbits were seen by the hundreds and other game was similarly numerous perhaps it was rabbits from his estate that he presented to the club for supper!?
The weather proved to be slightly too hot and so people took refuge in the more pleasant wooded and shady areas of the grounds. On returning to the Hall refreshments were provided of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties plus cigars were smoked by the men. The Ramsdens gave the visitors a tour of the large hall while some members of St John’s Church choir enjoyed singing outside under the trees. At 5.15 the Ramsdens gathered together with their guests in front of the Hall where B. Whitwam, club president thanked them for their hospitality and generosity. Finally James Gledhill led a chorus of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”
Dinner was served to the visitors on a grand terrace near the hall after which they strolled around the grounds which stretched two miles in one direction and four miles in the other! Mr and Mrs Ramsden accompanied some of them on their walks and the visitors admired the “grand and beautiful aspect of the place.” Rabbits were seen by the hundreds and other game was similarly numerous perhaps it was rabbits from his estate that he presented to the club for supper!?
The weather proved to be slightly too hot and so people took refuge in the more pleasant wooded and shady areas of the grounds. On returning to the Hall refreshments were provided of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties plus cigars were smoked by the men. The Ramsdens gave the visitors a tour of the large hall while some members of St John’s Church choir enjoyed singing outside under the trees. At 5.15 the Ramsdens gathered together with their guests in front of the Hall where B. Whitwam, club president thanked them for their hospitality and generosity. Finally James Gledhill led a chorus of “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”
The
party then left in the carriage to return to Ripon where they had tea at the
hotel and at 8pm caught the train back to Golcar.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 20 June 1885)
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 20 June 1885)
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| 2013 |
Club Concerts
Another in the series was held in March 1898 where the entertainment was provided by Harold H. Ramsden, son of Thomas H Ramsden, along with a party of his friends. Harold and Tom Ramsden along with Harold Sykes and G. T. Spivey formed a quartet and delivered a number of “glees in a successful and humorous manner.” Spivey was reported as having a “beautiful alto voice” which proved to be very popular and was loudly applauded. Tom Ramsden and Arthur Cameron went on to provide the comic aspect of the entertainment with comical songs and sketches all of which demanded an encore!! During an interval a purse containing £3 14s was presented to George Ashton who had just retired as club keeper.
(See Huddersfield Chronicle 18 October 1888 & 26 March 1898)
Later on the club also had its own Male Voice Choir who successfully competed in a variety of choral competitions in the area. Often winning first prize.
(See Leeds Mercury 21 June 1926 & 31 October 1927)
Billiards Success
Billiards, whist and draughts were high on the list of social entertainments enjoyed at the club with frequent matches and tournaments being held against other teams and clubs in the area. Golcar seemed to be particularly successful at billiards. Often the matches would be followed with tea or supper with their competitors and appeared to be a very friendly get together.(See Huddersfield Chronicle 8 January 1887)
Fattorini and Son, who were jewellers and goldsmiths in Bradford, displayed a variety of
gold and silver medals and trophies in March 1895. Amongst the display were ten gold billiard
medals for the Golcar Conservative Club. On the front of each medal was a
beautifully engraved representation of the “Golcar Lily” and the reverse was
inscribed “Golcar Conservative Club Winners of the CVCBCC, 1894 -5" and each
recipients name.
These medals were later
presented by Dr Alfred George Webster
to members of the Golcar Conservative Club billiard team at the Rose and Crown
Hotel, Golcar. They had been successful in winning the Colne Valley Conservative
Billiard Challenge Cup. The silver cup
was competed for annually and the team’s success in winning the tournament was
celebrated by a “sumptuous repast” served by Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Hall. Around 100 people sat down for the meal which
was followed by the presentations and social meeting led by club president Dr Alfred George Webster. The billiards
team had been undefeated throughout the challenge beating “all comers”. A cue and case was presented to Dr Kinloch
who had won the largest number of matches.
A toast was given to the team and the massive silver trophy was filled
with port wine and drunk with “musical honours!”
The Golcar team went on to win
the tournament cup and medals for a second time the following year. (See Shipley Times & Express, 30 March 1895;
Huddersfield Chronicle 6 April 1895 & 25 July 1896.)
The club’s billiard team were continued to be successful and in 1903 played in the final round of the Yorkshire Billiard Challenge Shield which was promoted by the Association of Conservative clubs. The final was held at the Leeds Constitutional Club between Golcar and Beverley Conservative Club. There were three players in each team and victory went to the team which won two out of three games. Unfortunately for Golcar they were beaten on the day.
(See Hull Daily Mail 26 March 1903.)
The club was also used by other organisations for social events and meetings. The Golcar Floral and Horticultural Show was held in the large assembly hall of the club in August 1912, whilst in January 1914 a whist drive and dance was held at the club under the auspices of the Women Unionist Association. The evening was reportedly well attended with supper followed by dancing until the early hours of the morning. Just a few days prior to this the menders employed by B & J Whitwam Co Ltd of Stanley Mills, Golcar, held their social evening. This was reported as being “an enjoyable social gathering” and was again well attended. After supper they danced the night away to music performed by Mr A Livesey’s Band.
(See Huddersfield Daily Examiner 28 January 1914.)
The club’s billiard team were continued to be successful and in 1903 played in the final round of the Yorkshire Billiard Challenge Shield which was promoted by the Association of Conservative clubs. The final was held at the Leeds Constitutional Club between Golcar and Beverley Conservative Club. There were three players in each team and victory went to the team which won two out of three games. Unfortunately for Golcar they were beaten on the day.
(See Hull Daily Mail 26 March 1903.)
The club was also used by other organisations for social events and meetings. The Golcar Floral and Horticultural Show was held in the large assembly hall of the club in August 1912, whilst in January 1914 a whist drive and dance was held at the club under the auspices of the Women Unionist Association. The evening was reportedly well attended with supper followed by dancing until the early hours of the morning. Just a few days prior to this the menders employed by B & J Whitwam Co Ltd of Stanley Mills, Golcar, held their social evening. This was reported as being “an enjoyable social gathering” and was again well attended. After supper they danced the night away to music performed by Mr A Livesey’s Band.
(See Huddersfield Daily Examiner 28 January 1914.)
Golcar Conservative Club and WW1
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| Golcar War Memorial, Town End |
Sergeant D J Whitwam, 26, who was serving with the Colne Valley Territorials
was admitted to hospital with “trench fever” in 1915. He had served with the Territorials
for about six years and was a member of the Golcar Conservative Club. Two weeks
prior to his admittance to hospital he had been home on leave.
(See Huddersfield Daily Examiner 9 November 1915)
Lieutenant J S Pearson, son of H E Pearson of Cliffe Ash, Golcar was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917. He was a member of the club and of the firm Pearson Bros. Ltd, woollen manufacturers.
(See Leeds Mercury 25 May 1917)
In May 1917 the Golcar District Heroes Committee decided to award gold watches to the value of £10 to a few Golcar soldiers who had obtained war medals for distinguished service on the field of battle. The ceremony was held in the large assembly room of the club where Edgar Sykes made the presentations to the following, all of whom had been awarded the Military medal –
(See Huddersfield Daily Examiner 9 November 1915)
Lieutenant J S Pearson, son of H E Pearson of Cliffe Ash, Golcar was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917. He was a member of the club and of the firm Pearson Bros. Ltd, woollen manufacturers.
(See Leeds Mercury 25 May 1917)
In May 1917 the Golcar District Heroes Committee decided to award gold watches to the value of £10 to a few Golcar soldiers who had obtained war medals for distinguished service on the field of battle. The ceremony was held in the large assembly room of the club where Edgar Sykes made the presentations to the following, all of whom had been awarded the Military medal –
Private John Ainley, DCM
Co. Sergeant Major F Gledhill
Co. Sergeant Major Arthur Senior
Corporal Norman Smith
Sergeant J W Rodgers and Private Herbert
Haigh, both military medallists, were unable to be at the presentation but
did receive their watches.
(See Leeds Mercury 14 & 21 May 1917)
(See Leeds Mercury 14 & 21 May 1917)
