Old Darts.
Richard Rendle, secretary of the men’s section of the Old Dartmothian’s Association.
T
he association’s birth came about following a chance meeting between four men, Major W H Fox, Alder- man; J H Moses; Lt S C Legg, RN and Fred Voisey
at the North Embankment during regatta in 1923, who sealed their intention with a little liquid refreshment at the nearby Ship in Dock Inn. Today the association boasts more than 200 members in the men’s section and a similar number in the ladies sec- tion, which was formed 42 years later in 1965. One of the first enhancements to the town by the newly
formed Old Dart’s was the installation of a flagpole at the entrance to Royal Avenue Gardens, complete with a flag presented by Captain John Pillar in 1928. When Coronation Park was restored after the Second
World War, members realised the long-standing project of erecting and presenting to the town a shelter in 1951. Five years later, the association handed over 12 trees which were planted along the North Embankment. In 1980 the association presented a new flag staff to fly above the Town Guildhall to celebrate the Queen Mum’s 80th birthday and, in 1991, members commissioned the town’s former blacksmith, Alan Middleton, to the tune of £5,000, to replace the wrought iron arch at the entrance to Royal Avenue Gardens.
Thanks to a £22,000 grant from the National Heritage Fund, fundraising events and large donations from various families in the town, the Old Dartmothi- ans were able not only to restore the fountain in Royal Avenue Gardens but also, fit new railings around the goldfish pond, install the small statue near the war memorial and replace the windshields in the Bandstand. VIPs including the chairman of South Hams Council and the Mayor of Dartmouth officially unveiled the plaque commemorating the achievement and switched on the fountain in front of huge crowds in June 1999.
SOME OF DARTMOUTH’S MOST ICONIC LANDMARKS HAVE BEEN CREATED BY ONE OF THE TOWN’S LONGEST STANDING ASSOCIATIONS, THE OLD DARTMOTHIANS.
Since then, The Old Dartmothians have provided gifts of seats, a drugs fridge for Dartmouth Hospital and financial help to local sports clubs as well as donations in cash or kind to various organisations and charities in the town. Richard Rendle, 74, who has been secretary of the
men’s section for the past 10 years, joined the association at the tender age of 23 at the request of his father, who was also a member. He said: ‘It was just a friendship society in those days, where people met at regular times and for the president’s dinner – that was all that was really involved then.’ Richard was eligible to join the association in 1962 be- cause he was born in the town (he was the first male baby born at Townstal in 1939). The rules have since changed, allowing residents who have lived in Dartmouth for 10 years or more to join. Richard, a former mayor of Dartmouth, said: ‘We are getting more and more people who are not true Dartmothi- ans by birth who are joining us and we welcome them as well because friendship and communication is an important part of Dartmouth.’
Debbie Morris, secretary of the ladies section of the Old Dartmothian’s Association.
It only cost £5 a year to join the Old Dartmothians and £40 for a life membership but thanks to some careful investment and a number of bequeaths over the years the association has built up a healthy £35,000 nest egg. This allows the association to help local causes and take a more active role in the town, including splashing out £10,000 on a brand new fountain in Royal Avenue Gardens as a royal Diamond Jubilee gift to the town. Richard, of Ferndale, said: ‘We replaced the fountain because the old one was cracked and broken.
‘So many people wanted to be involved in the project, we had a fantastic workforce who did everything voluntarily because they all wanted to be associated with it. ‘The ladies section got involved in it too, they put £1,000 towards it, and it
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