The Whitsuntide Treat
Whit Monday was always a feast day for Clutton Club. They arranged a procession led by a band and finished up at the Warwick Arms, where there was much feasting and drinking. Opposite the Warwick, in the little paddock, there were various stalls of sweets, cackles and farings.
The Wesleyan Chapel adherents felt that all this drinking was bad for the young people, so they arranged a counter attraction in the Whitsuntide Treat. A procession carrying flags marched through the village to the strains of a band. In the front was carried a banner with “Clutton United Methodists” on one side, and “Suffer the little children to come unto me” on the other. After tea in the Chapel, they all adjourned to Mr. Gibbons orchard where there were swinging boats and coconut shies, ice cream and cockles, and sports for the children.
Later all the Sunday Schools combined for this treat, and the banner was altered to Clutton United Sunday Schools. They also took their annual outings together, generally to Weston by train. Four hundred and twenty five are mentioned as going in 1904.
The Council School ran a drum and fife band for many years. They are mentioned in the Parish Magazine for 1904, in an account of a United Sunday Schools annual outing to Weston-super-Mare. It says “A pleasing feature of the day was the excellent playing of the boys drum and fife band attached to the Council School and trained by Mr. Pullen”.
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Mr. Pullin's Fife and Drum Band at Northend (1900)
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Clutton Brass Band marching down Cook's Hill
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In 1918, a brass band was formed under the leadership of Mr. H. Bailey. They began with twenty four members, but increased to thirty seven, using second-hand instruments. In 1921 they bought new instruments which cost £600 and was raised mostly by public subscription. Unfortunately after the second world war, it was never revived.
Outings
Mr. Tiley at Cross Keys kept a variety of vehicles for hire. The most popular was called a ‘brake’. It carried about a dozen passengers sitting face to face. It was used for Sunday School outings to Cheddar and Weston. It was the practice for the people to climb out and walk up the hills to save the horses.
He also had a landau with a hood which could be put up or down. This carried only two people and was used for weddings and special occasions. Then there was a trap for local work.
A. J. Maggs lorries ready to leave for Bristol to see the Jubilee Decorations.
In the foreground is Dennis Dawson, Peter Dawson and Noreen Dawson.
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Football
Clutton Wanderers
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Clutton Wanderers Winners of Somerset Charity Cup 1924-25
Back row: F. Bailey, J. Ettle, P. Maggs, G. Sampson. A. Selway
Mid. row: H. Stevens, B. Bourton, Eddie Baker, J. Owen, Rev. Mansfield, Bill Dagger.
Front row: A. Church, E. Tovey, Wally Maggs, Walt Brown, R. Parsons, B. Parsons.
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Grandfather Charles Tiley driving his horses and Wagonette. Probably off with the Clutton Football Team for an away match.
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Cricket
Clutton Cricket team at Greyfield Colliery Road before Maynard Terrace built. Date approx 1900.
Standing – Mr. Pullin, ?, ?, ?, ?, Frank Hillier.
Sitting – Fred Cook, Harry Stevens, George Challenger, Will Branch, Charlie Tiley, ?.
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Scouts
Standing Left to Right. Ernie Cook, John Brimble, Roy Collins, Ron Sage,
Ken Tiley, Doug Parfrey, Arthur Beacham, Charles Mansfield (Scout-Master), Ron James, Jack Hillman, Ron Harris, Bert Brice, Jack Gill, Arthur Bayliss.
Kneeling Left to Right. Ron Brimble, Don Tarrant, Gerald Dagger, Den Willcox, Roy Baker, Gordon Baker, Alan Beacham.
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YMCA Hut
The Y.M.C.A. Hall was bought after the first world war. It stood where Mrs. Bromilow’s bungalow now stands. Now demolished and replaced by The Sidings estate. The Football Club ran dancing classes there every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The charge was sixpence. Mr. Arthur Maggs was the M.C. and the dances taught were the Lancers and Quadrilles, as well as the Barn Dance, the Waltz and other old time favourites. The girls would sit on one side of the room, and the men on the other, and when the music started they would all charge across. For music there was Jack Mills on the piano. If there was any rough behaviour, then Arthur would soon put a stop to it. The hall gradually deteriorated and was demolished.
The Miners’ Welfare Hall was built from a grant to Clutton Miners, paid out of a fund secured by a levy of 1d. per ton of coal, raised by the miners and mine workers of Clutton. The Y.M.C.A. was allowed a share in the title of the hall having agreed to the transfer of furniture from the old hall at Greensbrook. The largest item being the fine billiard table.
Source - Clutton History Group
Girl's Friendly Society
It was a hot Summers day in June 1912, when members of the Girls Friendly Society decked themselves out for an outing to Bath more than ten miles away.
Mr. Fred Dowling of Paulton, in bowler hat, stands in front of his carriage (right), complete with canopy and side curtaining to keep out the hot sun or rain. Mr. Dowling's horse drawn bus needed a good pair of horses to pull up and down the winding hills and lanes to Bath. The ladies on the left travelled in slightly better style, using a smart governess carriage, with scarves around their wide brimmed hats of the Edwardian era tied to keep them firmly on in windy conditions.
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Clutton Good Companions
The Clutton Good Companions Club was founded in 1960 following proposal made to the Parish Council by ‘Age Concern’ to bring over sixties together.
After a preliminary meeting and a decision to form a Club some thirty pensioners met weekly in the afternoon in the Village Hall.
Volunteers led by Mr.& Mrs. Tom Ashman helped with the organisation of the meetings and with transport, entertainment and light refreshment.
A Committee was formed led by Mrs. Preston as Chairman, Mrs. Cane as Secretary and Mrs. Gill as Treasurer.
In the early days resources were limited and support depended on donations from Parish and District Councils and Village collections. Entertainment was limited and meetings were held in the afternoon. With time and experience the Club became largely self supporting and senior citizens from neighbouring villages of Stanton Drew and Temple Cloud joined, thus increasing the membership and its funds.
Chairpersons have included Mrs. Prescott, Mr. H. Dawson, Mr. Ford, Mr. G. Stock, Mrs J. Dix, Mr. S.L. Sage and Mr. G. Sage.
Secretaries have included Mrs. Cane, Mr. Spriggs, Mrs. Stock, Mr. W. Maul and Mrs. E. Addicott.
Treasurers have included Mr. J. Gill, Mr. Shipley, Mr. Filer and Mr. S.L. Sage.
The principle aim of the Club, as its name suggests, is to provide for all mature citizens in Clutton and surrounding areas, weekly entertainment and discussion in an atmosphere of
friendship and harmony with a genuine concern for the well being of each other. Entertainment is varied and of a high standard and refreshment break ably handled by members and kind helpers from outside, provide opportunity for pleasant discourse.
Interesting and relaxing coach trips are arranged throughout the year and a Harvest Home and Grand Draw ensure the annual highlight of a Christmas Party.
Recent years have seen the formation of a Holiday Scheme and many members have thoroughly enjoyed holidays in Bournemouth and Eastbourne. In 1991 we are off for a week in Llandudno.
Clutton Good Companions Llandudno holiday 1991
Front Row Mr. & Mrs. Filer (Fred & Eve who lived at No. 34 Maynard Terrace.
Women's Institute
The Women’s Institute was first formed on October 3rd, 1921, and there are still some founder members in the Institute. The field of interest offered to members of the W.I. range from Drama to Cookery, from Crafts to Photography. Many new members have been enrolled from among the new residents, and it is hoped that the old image of “Jam and Jerusalem” has been dispelled. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the National Federation in 1965, Clutton members planted a Red May Tree on the green in Church Square. Now, to commemorate their own 50th anniversary, an electric clock is being placed in the school.
To view the Clutton WI Domesday Embroidery click here
The Story of Our Village - Published by the Clutton W.I 1953
The Story of Our Village - Published by the Clutton W.I 1971
Mothers' Union Clutton
The Mother's Union at Clutton.
January 1905:
Mrs. Muller is starting a branch here but it is too new yet to furnish a report.
January 1906:
Presiding Associate: Mrs Muller, (The Rectory)
Subscribing Members: 16.
Members: 60.
Total: 76.
This branch held its first Annual Meeting on 27th September, when its members and subscribing members met at tea at the old Schools and were afterwards addressed by Mrs Lunt. The women enjoyed their first meeting very much, and look forward to many. They are nearly all members of the Mothers' Meeting, or the Married Womens Bible Class.
January 1908:
No report has been received from this branch either this year or last, but we believe it is still at work.
January 1909:
Branch Secretary: Mrs J. Mansfield. (The Rectory)
Membership: 69.
A service was held on March 31st, at which the Rev. J.R. Wilkinson, Rector of Winford, gave the address, and several new members were enrolled.
January 1910:
Branch Secretary: Mrs J. Mansfield.
Membership: 67.
A meeting was held on Wednesday December 9th, at the Old School. The Rector said the M.U. Litany, and spoke about interesting children in Missionary work. Mrs. Yorke Bausset gave an address on the "Home as God meant it to be." About 30 members were present, and there were three new members. 25 are going to take the M.U. Journal.
On June 23rd a party of the members drove to Wells to take part in the M.U. Millenary Festival, and much enjoyed their day.
On the Feast of the Annunciation there was evensong at 7, to which the members were specially invited. The Rector gave the address. At the close of the service one new member was admitted.
January 1911:
Branch Secretary: Mrs Mansfield.
Membership: 67.