Harry Smith had a very successful year. We were then having to have more events to raise money and form other Clubs. We kept an eye on them until they were up and running.
Christmas Collections and those Donkeys
We were then starting to collect money on the Christmas tree. It is now in Upminster by the Congregational Church. Then we had one in the park opposite the entrance to the Lodge. We very soon began to put donkeys there, and this became an annual event. Eric Knight was the one who knew how to erect the donkey pen every year, and then Ron Hewitson took over.
District 13 Divided Up
Ron Hewitson suggested splitting District 13 because it was getting too big and he contacted other Clubs on their views; they were not very favourable. It did not take place in his year, but not very long afterwards the District itself decided it was too big and it was divided into North, South, East and West. It meant a lot less travelling to and from District 13 meetings every month.
By then George Fleury was a member of the Club and he stood for the Chairman of the Eastern section several times before eventually being elected. Following that George, who became our President a few years later, stood for the District Governor, though he never succeeded in getting it.
After Ron Hewitson, came Stan Gunary, the farmer whom I took to the formation of the committee. Stan was one of the real characters of the Club. He had three brothers, with two very large farms at Rainham and Wennington.
Golf at St Andrews
I had met Harry Wilson some years before he came into the Club. He had built me an air raid shelter at 129 Corbets Tey Rd and I had known his father and family because, when they came to South Ockendon, it was my grandfather who had let them have a barn to start up. Later on Harry and I
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