South Essex Centre's History 1950-69

Researched and Presented by Pam Wakeling

London & Home Counties North Centre

In 1950 total Caravan Club membership was 6462 with about 200 members living in Essex who had been allocated to the London and Home Counties (North) Centre. In the Autumn of that year several members from the county met with officials of the Club with plans to form an Essex Centre.

1951 – 1961 Essex Centre

The Essex Centre was formed on the 17^th November 1950 at the Valentine Hotel, Ilford. Mr E.G.Robinson was the first Chairman, Mr W. W. Ball (South Essex’s first Chairman) was the Treasurer and Mr F.H. White was the first Secretary. By 1959 Club membership had increased to over 18,000 and Essex Centre membership to 512. At that time all Club members were allocated to a Centre according to where they lived.

In 1959, Frank Collins Club Chairman was to attend a function of the Essex Centre and asked Club Offices, which at that time were in Bloomsbury Way London W.C.1, to provide him with some background information on the Centre. Here is an extract from the reply.

The Essex Centre is enterprising. Notable events are a tour of London Airport – the Speedbird Rally – where B.O.A.C. showed members of the Centre right round London Airport last year and I think that something similar is planned this year. One of their rallies is organised by the Junior Committee from beginning to end. Several Centres of course have Junior Committees but not many of them allow them to organise an entire rally. Then there is the touring rally which is coming off in the Summer this year where a group of Essex members are going to the South of France. This is being organised (with a little help from us) by Mr C.W.Gardiner who I expect will be at the dinner. A rather amusing story about their dinner last year, apparently you could have called that occasion a “do it yourself” affair. The catering was undertaken by a member, the band leader was a member and the cabaret was performed by girls, many of whom were daughters of members. The Toast Master was a member and some members put on white overalls and acted as car park attendants.

In 1961 some of the Essex Centre members, mainly living in the northern half of the county, felt that rallies were becoming too large and the time had come to form a new Centre. Hence the following proposition was submitted to the Executive Committee of the Caravan Club in April 1961.

PROPOSED NORTH ESSEX CENTRE

1. The fixture list of the Essex Centre is understandably drawn up each year with the wishes of the majority of its 713 members in mind the bulk of whom reside in Metropolitan Essex. Consequently there is a majority of functions in the south-west corner of Essex.

2. There is nevertheless a sizeable minority of the present Centre which would prefer not only more than the present quota of rural fixtures in other parts of the County but indeed a complete fixture list in that area each year.

3. It is appreciated that the Essex coastline should not be the domain of any one part of the Essex Centre should it be divided in any way.

4. A number of members resident in north east Essex attach themselves to the Eastern Counties Centre because they will not tow towards London.

5. It is appreciated that the bulk of members of the present Essex Centre would vote against any proposal to divide the Centre for the very good reason that the wishes of this majority are well catered for.

6. After considerable thought it appears to us that the best way to meet the position described is to divide the Essex centre with a line drawn from the coast at Maldon to Chelmsford, Dunmow and Bps Stortford, the North Essex Centre to take in the towns of Maldon, Chelmsford and Dunmow.

7. Having set out the position as we see it however, we, the undersigned members risiding in the above area, would ask the Executive Committee under bye-law 7(c) to consider the formation of a new Centre in this area to be called the North Essex Centre and to call a meeting of members in this area with a view to forming such a Centre,

The Essex Centre Committee was called to a meeting:

Dear Committee Member,

A proposal has been submitted to the Executive Committee and we as representing the present Essex Centre are asked to submit our views to the Executive by April 22^nd. In order to collate this view I shall be glad if you will give the above your thought and have your views ready for a Committee Meeting which it is proposed to hold on THURSDAY 13^th APRIL 1961 at the SPENSERS ARMS, Ardleigh Green Road, HORNCHURCH commencing at 8.30 p.m.

Your attendance will be appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

L.A.LITTLECHILD.Hon.Secretary

Essex Centre

38 Hillcrest Road

Walthamstow, E.17

As a result, following the 11^th A.G.M. of the Essex Centre held on 15^th October 1961 at the Broadway Café, Shenfield, the new Centres of North and South Essex were formed, The membership of approximately 700, opted to divide 200 North and 500 South.

The Centre 1962 - 1969

· During these early years, rally books did not exist, each member was provided with a “pocket sized” card that listed the names and addresses of committee members, the date and name/venue of each event. It also contained a note telling members to write to the Centre Secretary, at least 14 days before an event or rally they were interested in. The information was then received on foolscap sheets prepared on a duplicating machine. “How did we ever manage without photocopiers”

· Records of early centre rally fees show the sum of 12/2d, this fee included four pints of milk.

· The price of a new caravan was about £300

1962 On the first Thursday in March, at the first Annual Dinner Dance, held at the Sir James Hawkey Hall in Woodford attended by approximately 220 members, a vote was taken on the 15 entries submitted for a centre pennant. The entry submitted by Mr Norman Wright was declared the winner and is the pennant still used today. Our logo depicts the oak leaves and acorns that fell from the Essex Oak Tree that appeared on the pennant for the former Essex Centre.

· The inaugural rally of the centre took place at Moreton on 17/18^th March.

· The first Centre pennant was struck during the National rally at Woburn Abbey.

· A rally was held at Burnham and the Centre entered in the carnival procession with Linda Hart, Miss Rally, on the float.

· The first AGM of South Essex Centre was held at the Queens Hotel Grays on 15^th October. 135 members attended

· The centre held 22 rallies and 1097 units attended

1964 Mr L Hacker presented a rose bowl titled the Ivy Hacker Trophy in memory of his wife Ivy (mother of Mrs Pat Hooker). This trophy is now awarded to the first lady of the Centre.

· 132 children and adults were taken to the Palace Theatre Westcliff to see Jack and the Beanstalk, the price was 7/6p adults, 6/- children

1966 At the National, South Essex ran the children’s party and catered for 900 plus children.

· The 100^th rally was held on 16^th April with 86 units attending at Orsett.

· Dinner Dances attracted approximately 300 members and guests, in fact, at the AGM a member requested that numbers at dinner dances be limited as they were over-crowded.

1967 We had a mention in En Route, photo as well, of ralliers dressed in Edwardian costumes at a rally to celebrate the Caravan Club’s Diamond Jubilee. The article read as follows:

The stars came back for

S. Essex Edwardians

Me and my old dutch hitched up the barrer and went down the old Essex Road to take a “butchers”at the Diamond Jubilee Rally of South Essex Centre at Orsett Park.This attracted a record number of vans, 165 in all. The theme of the Rally was “Edwardian Year 1907”.

An Olde Tyme Music Hall was held in a large marquee. everybody was there: Marie Lloyd, Vesta Tilley, Charles Coburn, Florrie Ford, Chelsea Pensioners, Sherlock Holmes and Flower Girls. The whole marquee was alive with Cockney humour. This was the world that our first President, Dr. Gordon-Stables, must have witnessed. The members put on a first-class show: can-can dancers, barber shop sketch, and supplemented by the whole company singing old time songs. After the music hall came dancing to Bobby Bean’s Old Tyme Dance Band. A barbeque of three whole sheep roasted, plus a licensed bar, took care of the refreshments. As midnight approached the colourful, elegant dresses of the Edwardian caravanners left the marquee to step out into 1967.

1968 The AGM was held at Tilbury Community Centre where it remained until 1996.

1969 AGM a resolution was passed for the Centre to have 2 Vice Chairmen.

· Programme presentation was part of the AGM.

· Rallies generally started in March and ended in November although events did take place during winter months such as: Buffet Dances, photographic evenings, children’s Christmas parties and visits to pantomimes.

Chairmen Officers and Committees 1962-1969

	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
CHAIRMAN:	W W Ball	W W Ball	L White	L White	L White	W Hart	W Hart	W Hart
VICE CHAIRMAN:	L White	L White	H Stock	H Stock	D Major	Mr R Hooker	Mr R Hooker	Mr R Hooker
TREASURER:	A F Smith	A F Smith	W Hart	W Hart	W Hart	W R Anderson	W R Anderson	E Jennings
SECRETARY:	L A Littlechild	W R Anderson	W R Anderson	W R Anderson	W R Anderson	A Crow	A Crow	W Leitch
RALLY SEC:	Mrs A H Litlechild	M Kemp	M Kemp	M Kemp	A Crow	Mr A Condon	A Spooner	A Spooner
SOCIAL SEC:	W R Anderson	Messrs Anderson, Huntley, Cannings	L Whiffin	W Feeney	W Feeney	W Feeney	E Jennings	A Symmonds
COMMITTEE:	L Hemmings, D Huntley, H Stock, E Randle, E G Adams, Mrs V White	D Huntley, H Stock, E G Adams, L Jeffries, Mrs D Laker, R Cannings Mrs B Waddington	L Jeffries, Mrs D Laker, Mrs B Waddington, B Ford, F Garrud, W Feeney, W Cattell	Mrs D Laker, Mrs B Waddington, B Ford, A Crow. W Cattell. D Huntley, D Major	D Huntley, Mrs A Jennings, Mrs V O’Malley, D Branch, A Condon, R Hooker, M Kelly	D Huntley, Mrs V O’Malley, Mrs V Everitt, J Allan, E Jennings, M Kemp, A Spooner	R Miller, Mrs V O’Malley, Mrs V Everitt, S Carr, A Symmonds, A Card	R Miller, Mrs V Everitt, S Carr, A Card, A Crow, Mrs B Whiffen
JUNIORS
CHAIRMAN							Miss D Crow	G Miller
VICE CHAIRMAN
TREASURER							Miss S Miller	Miss S Jennings
SECRETARY							Miss J Wright	Miss D Crow
COMMITTEE							Miss P Garrud, Miss P Spooner, Miss D Spooner, B White, G Miller, D Smith	Miss P Garrud, A Leitch, G Symmonds, P Hooker, P Wheele, G Jones

1970-79>>

The South Essex Centre Where the enjoyment begins...

South Essex Centre's History 1950-69

London & Home Counties North Centre

In 1950 total Caravan Club membership was 6462 with about 200 members living in Essex who had been allocated to the London and Home Counties (North) Centre. In the Autumn of that year several members from the county met with officials of the Club with plans to form an Essex Centre.

1951 – 1961 Essex Centre

PROPOSED NORTH ESSEX CENTRE

Miss J Wright

Miss D Crow

The South Essex Centre
Where the enjoyment begins...