Groups/Clubs/Organisations
Whickham & District Round Table No. 708
The National Association of Round Tables is an organisation for young men up to the age of 40 with the aim of promoting fellowship and a willingness to work for the community. Sponsored by Stanley Round Table, a Table was formed in Whickham in 1960. It was known as Whickham & District Round Table No. 708. It opened with more than twenty founder members. They, along with their Founder Chairman George Lane, met in the Bay Horse Whickham.
The Table grew from strength to strength and in 1964, under the leadership of Fund Raising Chairman George Pledger, organised a "Meals on Wheels Week Appeal". The objective was to provide entertainment for the community and at the same time raise hard cash so that a suitable van could be purchased for the local W.V.S. Meals on Wheels Service. This was to be used to distribute meals instead of having to operate from private cars. Different functions were arranged for every day of the week 23rd May to 30th May, the highlight being a Donkey Derby and Gala Day in Chase Park on the Saturday.
Such was the success of this week, two Mini Vans were purchased for the use of the W.V.S. who were able to provide two hot meals a week for at least 48 old people. The Table was also able to contribute to the old people's Luncheon Club in Dunston providing a hot meal and companionship for at least 30 pensioners.
Flushed with success Tablers organised the following year a "Whickham Carnival" from May 30th to June 5th on similar lines.
This again was well supported and achieved the target of being able to have installed in Whickham Chase Park a paddling pool for children.
For many years the local community eagerly awaited Carnivals, organised by Round Table, and many local causes benefited financially from the hard work and dedication of this band of young men.
Whickham & District Ladies Circle No. 578
The National Association of Ladies Circles is an organisation for wives (and now partners) of Round Tablers.
The Whickham Branch was chartered on November 15th.1963 with Jean Pledger as Founder Chairman. There were 20 founder members.
Over the years the Ways & Means Committee was very active in raising money for charity. In fact Circle was the first organisation to have a Charity Shop in Whickham.
The Social Services Committee found ways of spending the money; from helping needy people in the Whickham area to adopting children suffering from leprosy in Africa.
However Circlers still had time to entertain themselves with cocktail parties, quiz nights, car rallies, the highlight of the year being a formal Dinner Dance.
By 1993 things had altered. Commitments had changed. From being a thriving club with about 30 members, only a few were left. The club closed May 1993. So sadly all those happy days are now only a memory but the friendships that were fostered working and playing together for the community have continued till this day.
Whickham Theatre Club
Whickham Theatre Club was founded in 1976 when a group of like-minded friends got together to form a drama club. Up until this time no such organisation existed.
Their first production was of J.B. Priestley's "When We Are Married".
Productions took place in Whickham School Hall, Sunniside Methodist Church Hall and now in St Mary's Centre, Whickham.
Two productions are presented per year; the Christmas one is now traditionally a Pantomime.
A production of "Godspell" was performed in St Mary's C of E Church in Whickham.
The Club meet on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in St Mary`s Centre, Church Chare, Whickham.
Whickham Fellside WI
The Branch was formed in February 1971
Meets on the Third Monday in the Month (not in August) at 7.00pm in Whickham Community Centre.
The First President:- Mrs Margaret Rossiter
Whickham Probus Club
A meeting was arranged on Friday 22nd May 1993 at 10am at The Bay Horse in Whickham to which Rotary members invited certain persons whom they thought would be interested in forming a Probus Club in Whickham. Membership was not to be limited to members of Rotary but to others who had retired from business or the professions.
The meeting was chaired by local Rotary President, Alan Murray, who explained the workings of a Probus Club; how it is formed and managed. The aim being to have a congenial and friendly atmosphere. After much discussion it was decided to form a Mixed Club.
A Committee was elected as follows:-
President
Fred Brown
Vice President
Ron Wilson
Secretary
Colleen Graham
Treasurer
John Dixon
Registrar
Pat Graham
Speaker Finder
Ron Ramsay
Meetings were to be held fortnightly on a Friday, at 10.30am at The Bay Horse.
The Club is non-political, non-sectarian & non- religious.
An Annual General Meeting at which subscriptions are to be paid, is to be held in July before the summer recess. During the recess there is a "drop in" situation for members to call in at The Bay Horse for coffee & a chat. Speakers are invited to talk on a wide variety of subjects and outings & social events are to be arranged from time to time. As it is one of the few "mixed" clubs in existence, it was fitting that in July 1999 the first Lady President, Olive Simpson, was elected with Iris Alexander as Vice President.
"PROBUS" stands for:- The ASSOCIATION of RETIRED PROFESSIONAL PERSONS and BUSINESSMEN in LOCALISED CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
John Mather Past President 1998/99
Dunston British Legion
Dunston British Legion
committee post-war: 1950's.
Photo on wall is Joe Harvey,
captain of Newcastle United
with the F.A. Cup.
Front 2nd from right: William Ritchie.
Back far left: Jimmy Goulbourn
Back right and 2nd right:
Wappat brothers.
Front row, 2nd from right
Billy Dodds.
Centre front: Mr Wappat.
Third from left: Billy Dixon.
Far left: Mr Hawe.
Back far right: Billy Little.
Dunston British Legion Show 1948.
Billy Ritchie: Front right, Mrs Howitt:
Front left. Mrs Cooper.
back right. Mrs Massey: back left.
Dunston British Legion
Show 1948
Dunston British Legion
Armistice parade -women's
section Parade passing
Hexham Road Presbyterian
Church, 1950's.
Mrs Hilda Ritchie
(partly hidden by
Mrs Massey at front left).
Left: Billy Ritchie,
Jessie Robinson, third from left, Principal Boy
Mr W Prince in evening dress
(had Plewes ships' chandlers).
Nelly Marshal, 5th from left
Mr Robeson 2nd from right
(father of lady 3rd from left)
The show was Sinbad the Sailor
Dunston British Legion Show
Mrs Ritchie 2nd right and
Mrs Cooper 2nd left.
Dunston British Legion parade
coming up Dunston Road
passing Gunn Street near
Four Lane Ends.
Mr D Ritchie, right,
black overcoat, 1950's.
Dunston British Legion parade
passing Dunston Hill School.
Dunston Brass Band at the
Cenotaph in November 1966.
In centre, William Ritchie,
president of the Dunston
British Legion at that time.
Veterans recall Dunston "Dads' Army"
The Eleven Club
The strains of "Tipperary" and "Roses of Picardy" were familiar sound at The Mechanic's Club, then in later years at The Rowers Arms, in Dunston - at least on one night of the year.
For that was when the "Eleven Club" met to remember their colleagues who fought in the First World War and then reminisce about the Second World War.
Each of the eleven men wore a scarlet poppy and the medals he won in the various campaigns. The club was formed, by Jimmy Goulbourn, in the Dunston Mechanics' Club on Armistice Day 1918. The club met each year until the club faded in the seventies because of pressure of work and the deaths of the older members.
The objective was to perpetuate the memory of those men who died in the First World War.
Born in Dunston, he formed his own home guard, long before Second World War. When the Home Guard became official it was a common sight to see Jimmy, the butcher, and his trainees setting out on a route march, complete with a barrel of beer. They attended a rifle range and practised shooting.
The Chairman in 1966 was 71-year-old William Ritchie, a retired railwayman, who was also the chairman of the Dunston Branch of the British Legion.
At this time most of the members had served in the Second World War and some were the sons of the original eleven. They were:- Thomas, Gerald and James Goulbourn, grandsons of the founder James Goulbourn, his nephew Alec Eltringham, Charlie Challoner, a First and Second World War man; Bob Pyle, a first War man, Miles Morrison, Harry Charlton and William Ritchie the Chairman.
"As Armistice was declared at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month we insisted that there must always be eleven members. In 1966 it was difficult as two could not get to the reunion, so two guests were invited."
As well as having their annual supper, the club was noted for the trips they organised. There was one on the last Sunday in May and one towards the end of August. Two guests were invited each trip. After a guest had been invited two or three times, he might be elected to membership of the exclusive Eleven when a vacancy occurred due the resignation or death of a member.