Shelley Conservative Club

Shelley Conservative Club

The Conservative Club was opened in Shelley, which at that time was part of the Holmfirth Division, on 12 April 1887. The proceedings started with a

“substantial knife and fork tea” 

to which around two hundred people were present and afterwards there was in the schoolroom which was reported as being “well attended”.

The meeting was presided over by Rev E Brownrigg, Vicar of Shelley and he was supported by other leading Conservatives from the surrounding district.  Rev Brownrigg told the audience that because the club was being opened on the Queen’s Jubilee Year the committee had decided to send out
                                                              60 “presentation tickets” 

to the aged and infirm of the “township” and he welcomed those people to the club.  He stressed that as he was vicar of the village he had no intention to take up 

“a fighting attitude on political matters” 

but as an individual his convictions were on Conservative principles. Mr A Shaw of Longwood Conservative Club wished the new club every success.  The club received letters of congratulations from other clubs and local Conservatives on the opening of Shelley Conservative Club. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 15 & 22 April 1887.  Huddersfield Chronicle 23 April 1887

The club received a letter from the foreign office in April 1887 thanking the club for their letter of the 13^th which was a resolution by the club in support of the government. Yorkshire Post 22 April 1887

The clubs main aims were to disseminate knowledge of political affairs and so in January 1888 they held a lecture in the National Schoolroom in Shelley.  J. M. Darling from London was the speaker and the meeting was presided over by Harold Thomas, the prospective Conservative Candidate for the Holmfirth Division.  Despite the bad weather and the

 “danger of travelling in the district in consequence of the fog”

 there was a very good attendance.  Many people had brought lanterns with them so that they could find their way home after the meeting.   Huddersfield Chronicle 14 January 1888.

The club held its first annual meeting at the house of Mr Atkinson, the Star Inn where a large number of members and leading Conservatives from the surrounding district gathered. The Sheffield Daily Telegraph reported that

“a first class supper was served” 

and the meeting was presided over by Benjamin H Moxon who was president of the club. Alongside him were Harold Thomas, the Conservative candidate for the Holmfirth Division, Major Preston, president of the Kirkburton Conservative Club, J. H. Sykes from Kirkburton, John Micklethwaite from Denby Dale, Dr Greenhalgh from Skelmanthorpe amongst others.   Henry Barden of Shelley, who had previously been a Liberal, gave the toast to the Queen.  The secretary of the club was Mr Hoyle who gave the annual report which showed that the club had a balance in hand and had had an increase in numbers since the opening. Mr C Hargreaves urged for more Conservative clubs to be opened in the district and referred to the proposed Conservative Club in Denby Dale and hoped that it would not be long before he saw a club room built there. Sheffield Daily Telegraph & Yorkshire Post 30 April 1888