Gay Nineties Dance Club Archive Research by Margaret Wakefield July 2015
The New Years Eve Ball in 1949 (photo courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
The club met at the Bingham Hall every week in the winter time on Friday nights,[1] It started in the late 1940s and it marked a new beginning after the hardship of the Second World War. It wasn't Box's original idea; there were several other villages that had Gay 90s Clubs including Bathford, Taunton and Westbury.
The weekly dance meetings provided dance instruction, an opportunity for social gatherings and amusement in the years before television became prevalent. It was particularly needed by couples who had been separated during the war and it was a nostalgic reminder of happier times for many who had lived through two great wars. It started in the years of rationing and providing refreshments was a major task. It was agreed that the ladies serving on the committee should be responsible for obtaining permits in connection with refreshments.[2]
The weekly dance meetings provided dance instruction, an opportunity for social gatherings and amusement in the years before television became prevalent. It was particularly needed by couples who had been separated during the war and it was a nostalgic reminder of happier times for many who had lived through two great wars. It started in the years of rationing and providing refreshments was a major task. It was agreed that the ladies serving on the committee should be responsible for obtaining permits in connection with refreshments.[2]
Founder members included Mrs Lambert, Mr and Mrs Graham Eyles and Mr and Mrs Doug Taylor, all of whom took on various administrative duties over the years. Dance instruction was given by Mr and Mrs PJ Brake (who also taught at Corsham). The main committee members in the 1950s were Mr W Dermot, chairman; later succeeded by Mr AN Burningham and afterwards Miss Margaret M Ash; Mrs Rutter, treasurer, succeeded by Mr CH Fildes; Mr Burningham, secretary, succeeded by Mr CO Rudge; and Mrs Gee. Members included the partners of the committee and Mr and Mrs Cooper, Mr Benjamin, Mrs Little, Mrs Stanford, Miss Clifford, Miss Alexander, Mr Tottle, Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Burden. There were also other jobs to be filled: Mr Phelps was door-keeper; various people were co-opted as Masters of Ceremony; the tea committee for refreshments; Mr Simpkins looked after the Men's Cloakroom and the committee looked after the Ladies', lighting arrangements and decorations.
The weekly dance club was primarily instruction of Old Time Dance routines such as the County Cotillion and the Caledoniase. There were also two Balls a year; one to welcome in the New Year and another about Easter-time to end the winter season of weekly dances. Later a Bonfire Night Ball was also introduced. These nights had live six-piece bands, usually either Billy Cannon or Stan Oatley and their bands.[3] The Balls had a number of extras, Spot Dances and Progressive Dances, four prizes for Ladies and four for Gentlemen, and novelty dances, such as the Ladies Excuse Me!
The weekly dance club was primarily instruction of Old Time Dance routines such as the County Cotillion and the Caledoniase. There were also two Balls a year; one to welcome in the New Year and another about Easter-time to end the winter season of weekly dances. Later a Bonfire Night Ball was also introduced. These nights had live six-piece bands, usually either Billy Cannon or Stan Oatley and their bands.[3] The Balls had a number of extras, Spot Dances and Progressive Dances, four prizes for Ladies and four for Gentlemen, and novelty dances, such as the Ladies Excuse Me!
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The club continued to be very popular in the early 1950s, especially the New Years Eve Ball: above left 1950 and right 1951. (Courtesy Margaret Wakefield)
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The club was run in a most professional way with regular committee meetings, accounts and comprehensive minutes. But there were various difficulties, particularly financial in the early 1950s.
The cost of the hall hire (17s.6d a week), tuition fees (£1.10s a week), hire of amplifier (12s.6d a week) and particularly live bands for the Balls (often £12 for a six-piece band) made balancing the books hard. A record player and later a gramo-phone on regular instruction nights was cheaper, but the quality of the music was greatly distorted in the Hall. For a long time the costs of participating were held at an annual fee of 5s; Friday nights entrance 1s.6d; and for the Balls 4s.6d (5s.6d for visitors). There was special consideration extended to the nurses from Sunnyside.[4] Right: Mary Lambert, a stalwart of the club for many years, with dancing instructor Mr Kite in Bingham Hall. (Photo courtesy Margaret Wakefield) |
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The main problem for the club was with numbers attending after the initial enthusiasm of the 1940s. It was partly a structural issue. Once members had learned the basic steps of a dance, they wanted to try more difficult routines. But this caused problems recruiting new entrants who needed to start as beginners. It wasn't finances but the poor attendance on Friday nights that ended the club. In March 1956 it was reported that low numbers might be due to television and also due to the waning interest in Old Time Dancing, which also had affected other clubs.
By November 1956 weekly attendance was so poor that the continuance of the meetings was in serious doubt but the commitment and friendship of the organisers was undiminished. On learning of the forthcoming marriage of two members, Miss M Alexander and Mr A Benjamin in February 1957, a wedding present was immediately given to the couple. The club did all that it could to survive. A break of a year was held in 1957-58 and when an open meeting voted to recommence, it resumed for a trial period of two months with fortnightly meetings, reduced tuition by members rather than Mr and Mrs Brake, and a move to a smaller venue, the Scout Hall. By the start of the 1960s rock-and-roll had taken the interest of the youth and the Old Time Dancing Club came to a gracious end.
By November 1956 weekly attendance was so poor that the continuance of the meetings was in serious doubt but the commitment and friendship of the organisers was undiminished. On learning of the forthcoming marriage of two members, Miss M Alexander and Mr A Benjamin in February 1957, a wedding present was immediately given to the couple. The club did all that it could to survive. A break of a year was held in 1957-58 and when an open meeting voted to recommence, it resumed for a trial period of two months with fortnightly meetings, reduced tuition by members rather than Mr and Mrs Brake, and a move to a smaller venue, the Scout Hall. By the start of the 1960s rock-and-roll had taken the interest of the youth and the Old Time Dancing Club came to a gracious end.
References
[1] Phil Martin
[2] Box Gay Nineties Dance Club Minute Book, 1 June 1953
[3] Stan Oatley was the uncle of Ken Oatley. Stan was an accomplished musician on the violin who also played saxophone, piano and organ. He was a manager at the Railbrake Division of Westinghouse, Chippenham, and the leader of the firm's band under conductor Greville Jones.
[4] Box Gay Nineties Dance Club Minute Book, 15 November 1954
[1] Phil Martin
[2] Box Gay Nineties Dance Club Minute Book, 1 June 1953
[3] Stan Oatley was the uncle of Ken Oatley. Stan was an accomplished musician on the violin who also played saxophone, piano and organ. He was a manager at the Railbrake Division of Westinghouse, Chippenham, and the leader of the firm's band under conductor Greville Jones.
[4] Box Gay Nineties Dance Club Minute Book, 15 November 1954