Baildon Working Men's Club Concert Room

Page Re. Concert Room

This is the text from the page of typing that looks as though it was someone's notes for the opening of the Concert Room at Baildon Working Men's Club in 1962.

This club has had a continuous existence since it was opened across the road some seventy years ago. During this time vast changes have taken place, gone are the days of sanded floors of sawdust and spittoons and also the Victorian prudery and class distinctions of the 19th. Century have almost faded away. There are however still many people who think that all Working Men's Clubs are associated with certain political parties,this is definitely not true. A very large section of the 3,600 clubs which are members of the Non-Political Working Men's Club & Institute Union are Non-Political. This club is a member of the Union and is not a political club, in fact all politics are forbidden in the club and anyone who is privileged to become a member need not fear political contamination.

This club presents a true image of a modern Working Men's club and membership of it is something to be proud of.

For some years successive committees have tried to provide a degree of comfort so that members and their friends can visit the club and enjoy a cheerful and colourful atmosphere which is a must for a club to be successful.

Ever since 1947 when the club cleared the big debt of £2,600 there has been within the committee a hard core of men who have pursued a policy of gathering financial strength before embarking on any large scheme of capital expenditure.

Modernisation was planned in phases to be paid for out of monies accumulated for that purpose and this concert room is the final phase. The whole scheme has been carried out over a six years period and has cost more than £8000, all paid for out of club funds without borrowing.

The fact that the club is free of debt augurs well for the continuance of the club but members should always keep in mind that without their active support and loyalty no progress can be made and the future depends to a great extent upon their co-operation and goodwill.