Where did the Gosport Local History Luncheon Club Start?
The Luncheon Club started as a further education class taken by Joan Russell at the St Vincent College. The course had to be closed down as funding was withdrawn. The person at the college who passed on the information, suggested to Joan that she could change it to a lunch-time club where Joan and others can continue encouraging the group in their interests in local history. Like the archaeological survey they collect as much information as possible about every historic. This involved picking an area of research, carrying out that research then presenting it to the group. At the time they had space in St Vincent.
History of The St. Vincent Local History Luncheon Club (Gosport Local History Luncheon Club) By Joan Russell
THIS LOCAL HISTORY CLUB was started in 1985 as part of the St Vincent Adult Education programme. Wendy Thorpe, the Centre Head was facing hard financial cuts. So she cut out the Tutor’s fee for our Researching Local History Class on the 3rd Thursday of every month, and replaced it with Gosport’s St Vincent Local History Club.
She organised it completely herself, She collected together people from her other daytime classes. She tempted them in with the prospect of an hour’s talk about new-found aspects of Gosport’s amazing history. This was given by Class tutor, Joan Russell, her students & others.
Over biscuits and coffee Wendy “chose” the officers… “You, you and you” – Audrey Brett Chairman, Joyce Kilham Secretary and Pat Marsden Treasurer! Ok? I’m sure you’ll all be wonderful. (AND THEY WERE!) And I’ll rent you a meeting room, so 8 times a year you can have a lunchtime Local History talk from some of the Class members about Gosport’s fascinating history. And you can all go and chat over coffee in the lounge afterwards. How about charging £1.50 per meeting for rent and postage and coffee and biscuits?
So, for over 20 years, St Vincent L.H. Club members have met 8 times a year. After 10 years we were obliged to move from St Vincent to a more central meeting place at 151, Stoke Road. There, Health and Safety regulations restrict us to 50 members. But alas, over the years many a familiar face has been replaced by a new one, as age has taken its toll. Gradually our knowledge of Gosport’s dramatic past has expanded. We’ve covered many topics, from 10th Century Saxon and Viking times up to the end of the 20th Century including the making of our 21st C. Millennium Promenade.
OUR AIM NOW IS to summarise the best of 150 odd talks onto this website. Our Class explored Gosport’s history back centuries at a time. But the most popular talks have been by our oldest members. Vivid childhood memories growing up in old Gosport-town from 1900-1945, before and during World War 2 appeal to all ages! So gradually you too can get a feel of Gosport’s long amazing past (this will now not being done, due to founder not being available for this work). As many as can be found and sorted out, will be added.
DETAILS OF GOSPORT’S ST VINCENT LOCAL HISTORY CLUB
1. Name of Club – Gosport St Vincent Local History Club (Now Gosport Local History Luncheon Club) as no longer held at St Vincent – or has been for quite a number of years.
2. Date formed – May 1985
3. Charity status – never applied for, but non-profit making
4. Attendance 13 – 17 (a big reduction since February 2020) so plenty of room for new members.
5. Active volunteers vary – 8 on committee plus a number of other at the meetings. Including setting up and putting down tables, giving out the meals, washing up. transporting members and lunches and the person who prepares them.
6. No paid personnel
7. Client Group includes:-
- A) Active older people interested in Gosport’s History, free to attend a 2 hour lunchtime meeting on the 3rd Thursday during 8 months a year.
- B) A number of organisations large and small – Church groups, “Friends Groups”. Townswomens Guilds. Discussion Groups, Luncheon Clubs, Womens’ Institutes, Political Clubs etc. who have asked us for a speaker.
- C) Members of the public who have attended Community-based functions or talks. Or where we have had stands and exhibitions, or heard our occasional appearances on local radio,
8. The main activity of our group is to provide interesting factual stories about many aspect of Gosport’s fascinating past. Be it anything from fossils to the Romans and Saxons, from the medieval foundations of Portsmouth and Gosport and Rowner’s Grange Farm to Gosport’s Millennium Promenade. From the 1642 battle between Royalist Portsmouth and Roundhead-occupied Gosport, to our long rise and fall as a military seaport. EVERYTHING has a past, and the past is always replaced by the present.
Joan Russell, President Gosport St Vincent Local History Club.