Societies and Clubs from the past

In the days when travelling to Maldon and elsewhere was difficult, and there were no radios or televisions, local entertainment was much more significant and there were many more local societies, clubs committees and interest groups in the village. Below are the 55 groups that have been identified from documents and newspaper reports in the local archives that are known to have existed at some time over the last few centuries. Of those, 17 are still in operation during 2017. In many cases the precise dates when they were formed and dissolved aren’t known. They are listed here in both alphabetic and chronological order using the earliest known dates. “Goldhanger” has been omitted from the titles.

Alpabetic order

Air Raid Wardens (ARPs) based in The Chequers and Parish Room during WW-2

Art Society – 1990s to date

Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) based in the Old Rectory barn during WW-2

Band of Hope – temperance movement affiliated to the Wesleyan Chapel – 1880s ref.

Bellringers – at least 4 bells since 1549 requiring a team - to date

Boy Scouts – a 1911 ref. in the Essex Chronicle, up until the 1960s?

Brass band – advert for instruments in the 1940s

Bridge Club in VH from 1970s – 1990s

British Legion – met in their dedicated hut in Fish St between 1946-1960s

Carpet bowls – in the VH in the 1960s, reformed in 2013

Church Choir – there have been choir stalls in the Church since 1853

Classic Car Club, 2003 – to date

Conservative Association – between 1949 – 1987

Cricket Club – earliest ref: 1850, disbanded in the 1950s

Darts Club in The Chequers – look at cups?

Darts Club in The Cricketers – 1930s? – 2000

Dominos team, in the Chequers – to date

Drama Society, later called the Goldhanger Players, 1933 trophy – until 1960’s

Folk Dancing in the VH – 1970s-1990s

Football Club – called The Goldhanger Wanderers in the 1940s

Football Club – called Goldhanger Argyle – 1990s to 2015

Friendly Brothers Society – earliest Goldhanger ref. 1834 - to date

Gardening Society – 1954 advert

Girl Guides 1936 VH ref. (probably run jointly with D’arcy)

History Society – formed 1980s, formally dissolved in 1990s

Horticultural Society – formed with other parishes in 1883, early events at Goldhanger – to date

Infant Welfare Committee, a 1936 ref.

Jubilee Committee – organised the 1977 Jubilee celebrations in the village

Jubilee Committee – organised the 2002 Jubilee celebrations in the village

Jubilee Committee – organised the 2012 Jubilee celebrations in the village

Jubilee Choir – formed in 2012 for the Queens Jubilee – to date

Karate Club – 2002 to date

Library – a 1936 ref to a Village Public Library

Marigold Club- senior citizens meeting in VH until the 1990s

Mens Club, a 1936 ref. – different the Friendly Brothers

Mistrels – musical entertainments group in the 1930s performing in the school room

Mothers Union – late 1800s photo available – still runs jointly with Lt Totham

Mowers group, dedicated to looking after the churchyard, 1990s? – to date

Parochial Church Council – elected body established by the Church of England in 1921 – to date

Parish Council – elected body introduced the Local Government Act of 1894 – to date

Peter Players - drama group of the Youth Club run by teacher Mrs. Warin in the 1950s

Red Cross Working Party, met in the Parish Room and at the Rectory, 1915-19

Regatta committee – organised annual competitions in the Creek 1869 - 1874

Sailing Club - established in 1959 - to date

Sewing meetings - weekly in the Parish Room, 1915-18

School Parent Teachers Association - 1960s until the school closure in 1977

Sports Club / Sports Association, 1936 & 1949 refs.

Sunday School - lessons held in the Church vestry

United Brotherhood – affiliated to the Wesleyan Chapel in the 1920s

Village Hall Committee formed when the hall was opened in 1937 – to date

War Loan and Savings Association 1915-1918

War Memorial Committee organised procurement of the memorial between 1919-20

Womens Institute – 1933 is earliest Goldhanger ref. - date

Womens Sunshine Band - a 1930s ref.

Youth Club - met in the Parish Rooms in thw 1940s-50s

Year	Chronological order
1549	Bellringers - at least 4 bells since 1549 requiring a team - to date
1800s	Mothers Union - very early photo available - still runs jointly with Lt Totham
1834	Friendly Brothers Society – earliest Goldhanger ref. 1834 - to date
1830s	Sunday School - lessons held in the Church vestry
1850s	Cricket Club – earliest ref: 1850, disbanded in the 1950s (look at news website)
1850s	Church Choir - there have been choir stalls in the Church since 1853 – to date
1869	Regatta committee – organised annual competitions in the Creek 1869 - 1874
1880	Band of Hope - temperance movement affiliated to the Wesleyan Chapel
1894	Parish Council – elected body introduced the Local Government Act of 1894 – to date
1883	Horticultural Society – formed with other parishes, early events at Goldhanger – to date
1911	Boy Scouts, a ref. in the Essex Chronicle, up until the 1960s?
1915	Red Cross WW-1 Working Party, met in the Parish Room and at the Rectory, 1915-19
1915	Sewing meetings – WW-1 weekly in the Parish Room, 1915-18
1915	War Loan and Savings Association during WW-1, 1915-1918
1919	War Memorial Committee organised procurement of the memorial between 1919-20
1921	Parochial Church Council – elected body established by C of E in 1921 – to date
1920s	United Brotherhood – affiliated to the Wesleyan Chapel
1930s	Sports Club / Sports Association, 1949 ref.
1930s	Mens Club - different the Friendly Brothers
1933	Womens Institute – earliest Goldhanger – to date
1930s	Darts Club in The Cricketers – up until 2000
1930s	Girl Guides (probably run jointly with D’arcy)
1930s	Infant Welfare Committee
1930s	Womens Sunshine Band
1933	Drama Society, later called the Goldhanger Players - until the 1960's
1930s	Mistrels - musical entertainment group, 1930s performing in the School Room
1936	Village Public Library - a 1936 ref.
1937	Village Hall Committee formed when the hall was opened – to date
1940s	Football Club – called The Goldhanger Wanderers in the 1940s
1945	Air Raid Wardens (ARPs) based in The Chequers and Parish Room during WW-2
1945	Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) based in the Old Rectory barn during WW-2
1946	British Legion - met in their dedicated hut in Fish St between 1946-1960s
1940s	Youth Club - met in the Parish Rooms
1940s	Village Brass band - advert for instruments in the 1940s
1949	Conservative Association, Goldhanger branch– between 1949 - 1987
1954	Gardening Society - 1954 advert
1950s	The Peter Players - drama group of the Youth Club run by teacher Mrs. Warin
1959	Sailing Club - to date
1960s	Village School Parent Teachers Association - until the school closure in 1977
1960s	Carpet bowls - in the VH in the 1960s, reformed in 2013 – to date
1977	Jubilee Committee – organised the Jubilee celebrations in the village
1970s	Bridge Club in VH until the 1990s
1970s	Folk Dancing in the VH – up until the 1970s
1980s	Marigolds - senior citizens club, up until the 1990s
1980s	History Society – formally dissolved in 1990s – informally to date
1990s	Football Club – called Goldhanger Argyle - to 2015
1990s	Art Society – to date
1990s	Mowers group, dedicated to looking after the churchyard – to date
2002	Jubilee Committee – organised the Jubilee celebrations in the village
2002	Karate Club – to date
2003	Classic Car Club – to date
2012	Jubilee Committee – organised the Jubilee celebrations in the village
2012	Jubilee Choir – formed for the Queens Jubilee – to date
	Darts Club in The Chequers – dates on cups?
	Dominos team, in the Chequers – dates on cups? - to date

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