Minutes, together with the fact that no decision was immediately taken, . no further reference to the offer appears and it can be assumed that it was never taken up. However, the Building Society, while refusing an increase in the mortgage, reduced its interest rate on the existing loan from 5% to 4%. Following this, an appeal was made to members of loan shares to the extent of £150. This was on December | 1933 and, by December 14th, £9 had been the response. What had prevented Mr. Berry from contributing? Even the reasons for refusing his offer in whole or in part remain a mystery.
A hoary old chestnut caused heated arguments at the AGM in 1934, as it has ever since, namely that if subscriptions were 12 months overdue, membership should be cancelled. This was resolved along these lines but did not prevent subsequent discussions through succeeding years and who would be brave enough to assert that there will be no more in the years to come?
Throughout the period since the end of the 1914-1918 War, the Club had flourished generally, if not always financially. Some activities had declined as we shall see but others prospered, notably in the field of recreation and social activity, by which we mean perhaps the bar! But while things went along relatively smoothly inside the Club, and Committees were occupied with arguments about dartboards, whist drives and bridge tables, events of some importance nationally and internationally were building up and casting a gloom over the country – or that part of it that was prepared to bother. A gentleman-painter by the name of Hitler entered the scene and became Chancellor of Germany. The country had other matters to distress it, too, for King George V died in 1936 and King Edward VIII abdicated a few months later. On a happier note for some 600 people, the salaries of Members of Parliament were raised from £400 to £600, held by many as gross overpayment. Some still hold the same view.
The year was outstanding perhaps for it heralded yet another innovation – the installation of electric lighting to the Club’s premises. More notable even than this was the sale of the Club’s premises for £1,200 in 1934, a sum surmised by various references to this figure in the Minutes though nowhere in the Minutes is there any confirmation that this was the final figure, nor are there any documents relating to the sale. The purchasers were Barclays Bank who leased the premises back to the Club for £60 per annum. The tenancy lasted for something more than 30 years but not, be it emphasised, at the same rental! Many , structural improvements and alterations were carried out following the new situation.
The range of newspapers and magazines bought for the Reading Room was not very wide indeed, reflecting the changed nature of its members and the Club in general. Many at this time were of a comparatively , light nature: even so, one doubts whether ‘Mayfair’ would have been sanctioned, although ‘Lilliput’ was, and ‘Lilliput’ in those days must have caused a few eyebrows to be raised. The list is too long to be quoted here but is of interest; but the time was to come when, sadly, it had to be severely cut.
The more relaxed atmosphere of the Club did not prevent a very definite ‘thumbs down’ to the suggestion of a pin-table, although a second dartboard was purchased, but it was discovered that there was insufficient room to house it and it was given away.
On September 3 1939, war was declared and much attention had to be given to blacking out the Club premises. The immediate tragedy to follow this was the news that the Club had lost £42 on the year and, in February 1940, efforts were being made to find ways and means of encouraging members of the Forces to make greater use of the Club’s facilities. By the end of 1941, economies were being made, notable among them the reduction in the number of papers in the Reading Room. No fires were to be lit in the Reading Room which was subsequently closed and accommodation for reading was provided , in the Bar. This may have been for reasons of Club economy or in the National Interest responding to the call for conservation of fuel but it presumably did some good to the bar takings. Meetings were again held { in the Reading Room in the summer months but armchairs were sold so the end was certainly in sight and indeed came a few years later.
Little of moment occurred concerning Club affairs during the war and, as in World War I, there was no official mention of Club Members . _ losing their lives or even of any indication of how the war affected membership through the call-up for the Forces.
Peace in Europe came on May 7 1945, to be followed on 14th | August by the surrender of Japan. Very soon £200 was spent on Club improvements and alterations, although it would seem that subsequently more than this must eventually have been undertaken and spent. Indeed from a Minute some months later, it can be inferred that something more than £300 was agreed and quite a lot of work could be done for such a sum, even as late as 1947.
A small and presumably not unexpected cloud appeared in August 1948 when Barclays Bank requested an increase in the rental to £70, plus three quarters of the rates amounting to £28.18.5d (£28.92'/p). Naturally this was not immediately acceptable to the Club and agreement was reached on the basis of £80 per annum, inclusive of rates, the lease to be renewed for five years without the option to renew further. Once again, and inevitably, subscriptions were increased to 15/- (75p).
For those of younger years or poor memories, it might interest them to have some indication of wages and salaries more or less typical of the times, say 40 years ago. The Steward was in 1949 paid at the rate of 2/3d (11p) per hour on the basis of a 30 hour week - £3.7.6d (£3.37'/p) per week, with free accommodation, heat and light, worth, it might be reasonably estimated, about £4.10.0d (£4.50) per week in total. By no means handsome, it was by no means untypical.
Outings which included townspeople were still being held to such places as the Norfolk Broads, Hunstanton and Margate, but nothing quite as ambitious as the present-day outings to Boulogne, nor possibly, it would seem, as exciting.
An event was organised on February 28 1950 that was to become accepted in following years as one of the most important annual entertainments in the Town’s activities. A dance was held at the Town Hall in aid of the Club funds. It was a financial success as well as being a big social success and was repeated in 1951 and annually thereafter for some considerable time. It is, of course, still a success and an important date in the calendar of many guests other than Club Members.
Although there were a few hundred pounds invested – just how much is not apparent – losses on the year’s working still occurred and donations f from Members continually sought. Indeed a raffle was instituted but with what results we do not know but as it seems not to have been repeated it was presumably not a notable success. Our very recent ventures in this respect tell a different story.
At the AGM in 1951, it was revealed that a proposed increase in the cost of a pint of beer would secure £40 per annum. The proposition was thrown out with some hint of indignation. No better fate awaited a suggestion that there should be a Ladies Night once monthly. This is perplexing because there is no record of the fact that ladies’ membership had ceased officially although obviously at some time it had. The poor dears seem to have had a rough ride throughout the century. In this day and age, one could visualise a sort of Greenham Common protest outside 54 Station Road if the attitude had persisted!
Queen Elizabeth became Queen on February 7 1952 on the death of King George VI; a new era for the country but not as yet for the Sudbury Institute Club.
The Museum must have been disbanded by now but once again just when and how we do not know and the memories of members at the time and who are alive seem to falter on this unfortunate event. It is known that during its life it was regarded as a valued collection, including for instance 310 British and 350 foreign birds. What happened to them? It is thought they may have been given to the ° Ipswich Museum, together with many geological and archaeological specimens, coins, stamps and conceivably some old prints. , Perhaps enquiries should be made as a matter of history through the Curator at the Ipswich Museum.
Similar mystery surrounds the disposal of the Library. For some long period, of course, the public Libraries had been in existence as well as subscription Libraries, in particular Mudies, W. H. Smith, from as early as 1860 and, much later, Boots, not to mention Harrods and The Times Book Club. It was inevitable that the Club’s Library would fall into disuse in the face of competition but just when it closed and to whom it was given is not known and again even the memories of those alive at the time can give us no help. At one stage, W. H. Smith’s had offered to buy the books but this offer was not accepted and the Library continued for a while subsequent to this. Sadly, it must be pondered on the value of many of the hundreds of books disposed of for no compensation. Some would undoubtedly be of value if disposed of commercially and particularly at today’s prices in the antique and second-hand market. A case of spilt milk being no longer worth crying over.
Officers became much occupied in 1958 and 1959 with a complete modernisation of the premises and a great deal of thought was given to re-carpeting and refurnishing, oil central heating, together with ideas for anew bar. Costs in this respect are interesting for we are now talking in terms of not so long ago: central heating £500, carpeting throughout £250, a new bar £250, decorations £75, furnishings £250. A very different picture from the one that emerged 25 years later! The scheme was not carried out in its entirety but the bulk of it was effected within a year and a Guest Night to mark the completion of the new work was held on May 4 1959.
There is mention of food at about this time but it had probably been provided for some time previously. Pork pies and cheese seem to have been much in favour plus, of course, pickles.
A new five-year lease was agreed with Barclays Bank at a rental of £90 plus rates in 1960 and central heating was installed. Facts about the Club’s events between 1961-65 are sketchy to say the least owing to the absence of Minutes covering this period but it is obvious from information gathered from one source and another that it went through its customary tribulations about finances and, as always, survived. By now, too, the Debating Society had demised and similarly lectures had ceased so that, together with the closing of the Library and Museum, almost all its original character, and indeed the old mainstays of the Institute, had disappeared for the Reading Room, too, had shut down. What in effect had been left was a social and recreational club and a good one at that. As such it became notable for its spirit of friendship and comradeship, qualities that were to be preserved and fostered to become as they now are, much valued and recognised as the true basis of the Club’s popularity.
Although there had, it seems been renewed discussion on further proposed improvements, these were hampered by the fact that the lease on the premises was to expire in March 1966 and approaches to Barclays regarding security of tenure revealed that, although the Bank had not yet programmed a scheme for alterations involving the part of their property occupied by the Club and that no start on any such plan would be made for at least 18 months, the writing was clearly on the wall. Thus, little in the way of alterations was attempted.
Having referred already to its development as a Social Club, it did not proceed without caution in that direction. Indeed, one of the more courageous Members was bold enough in 1966 to propose installing a “one-armed bandit” machine but the proposal was defeated. Outings and games tournaments were still a feature and the Dinner Dance remained a profitable and notable event.
The bombshell duly arrived on August 30 1966 when Barclays gave warning that the termination of the lease was imminent as