Glee Singers & St Illtyd's Operatic & Dramatic Society

The Illtyd Operatic & Dramatic Society

The Illtyd Glee Singers were founded in 1919 by seven enthusiastic singers, led by  David Edwards, who lived near St Illtyd’s Church.   Fame was to spread far and wide and contributions to charities enriched its reputation.   Hundreds of singers can speak of their association with the “Illtyd,” but the solid foundations and strict discipline insisted upon by the giants of those early days ensured the Society’s success.

In 1926 the society, then known as Illtyd Operatic & Dramatic Society organised its triumphant entry into “operatics,” with the “Bohemian Girl,” to be followed by success with “The Gondoliers,”

A great many folk still have cherished memories of Blodwen, Aeis and Galatea and Belshazzar’s Feast.   The great singers of that day set a high standard and team spirit ensured complete success.

One lady enthusiastically remembered a performance of the Mikado back in 1937.   Alf Bayber took the comic lead.   Unfortunately, I cannot find any information on this gentleman although his name has cropped up in various places during my research.

War brought a halt to activities, but when hostilities ceased there was an immediate return with the Pirates of Penzance.   Traditions were maintained, but the cost of productions was rising, and the search for talent ever more difficult.

Three generations of a family were often involved in a single production.   This involvement could span perhaps 20-30 years of performances.   Roles were taken seriously and many hours spent on learning lines and creating character.   People still remember a father or mother ‘living’ their role for the week of the performance, then reverting to their original personality when the show was over.

School girls as young as 13 and 14 were involved with the Pirates of Penzance in 1951.   One young lady can still remember performing the sailor’s hornpipe and suffering afterwards with muscles aching from the strain.

This photograph of a performance on the Institute stage, around 1954-5 was donated by Walter Harris and includes his mother and sister, Joyce in the chorus of The Gondoliers by Gilbert & Sullivan.

The musical ‘The Arcadians,’ played to a packed house in the Workmen’s Institute for a week in March 1954.   The cast is listed under "The Arcadians" on this blog.

In 1956 very few households would have owned any entertainment technology, other than a radio to be plugged into the electricity supply.   TVs were only just appearing in homes.   Many were purchased to view the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.   Being able to take part in, or go along to watch an Operetta or Musical in the local hall was a real treat for everyone.    ‘The Illtyd’ performed the musical Maritza.   Mary Simmons took the romantic lead and in 1957, she also performed as Saffi in their 21^st presentation since 1926, The Gipsy Baron.   It was  performed on six nights, commencing Monday, 18^th November 1957, in the Workmen’s Hall by kind permission of the Institute Committee.  See Appendix 4 for a further history of the society included in that programme and other details.

Participants practiced for months, and costumes would have been made by Society members in their spare time.   During the years of the Illtyd Operatic Society, large number of amateur artistes of great ability took part and others provided services behind the scenes making every show a success with many still remembered.  

A few names are listed below:

Musical Directors:-  David Edwards, Harry Hill, Jack Jenkins, Luther Evans, Arthur Hill, Miss L. Edmunds, Tom Watkins, Frank Watkins, Horace Grayford, Sam Mounfield, Martin Budd.

Producers:-  Tom Addis, Emlyn  Blissett, Albert Price, Grantley Baker, Mrs Morfydd Davies-Green, J M Roberts, Fred Carpenter.

The list of non-performing members of the society, during 1956, illustrates the huge local following of the Society, and the importance of these annual performances to the community:

            County Councillor George Gibbs, President of the society
            51 vice-presidents,
            25 Officers and Committee
             Hon. General Secretary
            36 people “serving the society” from stage mgr., stage carpenter to call boy.
            Producer,
            Accompanist,
            Musical Dir.,
            Guest Dir.

An advertisement for Webb’s brewery in the programme for 1956 “had pleasure in drawing the attention of patrons of the society to Golden Bitter Draught, IPA Draught, Golden Ale bottled, Special Ale bottled, CLEARLY THE BEST.”

Corona  advertised their fruit squashes and sparkling drinks:  “For value, variety and all occasions keep Corona at your side.   If you experience any difficulty in obtaining supplies, just send a postcard to: Thomas and Evans Ltd. Head Office, Porth, Glam.”  

H. Kibby and Sons, probably later to become one of the first supermarket chains in the UK , advertised as “Over 50 years in the trade, HIGH-CLASS GROCERS & PROVISION MERCHANTS,   THE STORES,  ABERBEEG, Telephone 247.”

H.Gore advertised ‘“Formica” hardboard.’   People handy with their hands would purchase these sheets to glue over  their Victorian wooden kitchen cupboard or table to make it ‘wipe clean.’”   

Although death often came suddenly during the first half of the twentieth century, communication was difficult and news moved slowly.   Hence the note on C. Williams’ ad:

“Wreaths and Crosses made at short notice.”

Shows and the years they were performed by the Illtyd Amateur Operatic Society.

                                    The Bohemian Girl     1926
                                    Gondoliers                  1927
                                    Pirates of Penzance   1928
                                    The Yeoman of the Guard 1929
                                    The Mikado                 1930
                                    Ruddigore                   1931
                                    The Count of Como   1932
                                    San Marino                 1933
                                    Gretchen                     1934
                                    Iolanthe                       1935
                                    San Marino                 1936
                                    Mikado                         1937
                                    BREAK  DURING WWII
                                    Ruddigore                   1947
                                    Mikado                         1948
                                    Merrie England           1949
                                    The Gondoliers          1950
                                    Pirates of Penzance  1951    Conductor H Crayford
                                    A Country Girl             1952
                                    The Geisha                 1953
                                    The Arcadians            1954  (March)
                                    Lilac Domino               1955
                                    Maritza                         1956
                                    The Gipsy Baron        1957  (Nov)  21^st Presentation
                                     The Gipsy Baron       1958
                                    The Gypsy Princess   1959  (April)

The Gipsy Baron performed in 1957, although documented as the 21^st Presentation, was, according to the above list, in fact the 23^rd.  

The Operatic Soc. often performed two or even three shows a year and they were always a highlight of village life.   Excitement and anticipation grew as it became time to purchase tickets and dress up for show nights.   The audience would wear their best clothes, generally reserved for Sunday chapel, for this special night out.  

Ithel the Giant & Old Wives Tales

In 1947 Harold Wm Bailey wrote:

             “...the people (of Llanhilleth) until comparatively recent times were very superstitious and their lonely existence coupled with the vivid Celtic imagination (and perhaps, the presence of a large number of public houses per head of population) makes it easy to understand why Llanhilleth came to be regarded as the haunted mountain.”

           Material was gathered by Bailey from two folklore sources.   One, was Prophet Edmund Jones, for many years pastor of the congregation of Protestant Dissenters at the Ebenezer Chapel, near Pontypool, and lived at 'The Tranch,' nearby.   He wrote and published two books, an Account of the Parish of Aberystruth, printed at Trevecca, and a Relation of Apparitions of Spirits in the County of Monmouth and the Principality of Wales, printed at Newport;   Bailey’s second source book was Wirt Sikes British Goblins.

According to J A Brooks, Wirt Sykes, (or Sikes) was the American Consul in Cardiff in the 1870s.

The following story is attributed to:   Anon. 1872. “St. Illtyd’s Church, Llanhilleth”, Archaeologia Cambrensis XXVI, 153-8.

            Ithel and Phillis were two friendly giants who lived in the Parish.   Ithel feeling the need for a dwelling-place set off for Cefn Crib to collect some stones which he carried back in his apron.   On one return journey however, he let fall a load – thus forming the mound which is still to be seen next to the old Parish Church.   Thus, according to legend, did the place take its name and become known as Llanithel while Phillis in like manner gave her name to Caerphilly.

Author’s Note:  Other versions state the castle mound next to St Illtyd’s Church, was the result of Ithel dropping his stones.

--oo0oo—

            As Thomas Andrew was coming home one night, with some persons with him, he heard, as he thought, the sound of hunting.   He was afraid it was some person hunting the sheep, so he hurried to meet them.   He heard them coming towards him, but he could not see them.   When they came near their voices were small, but became louder as they went away.   They went down the steep towards the River Ebbwy, dividing this Parish and Mynyddislwyn, where he knew there were the Cwn-wybir (Sky Dogs).   In central parts of Wales these creatures are known as Cwn-annwn (Dogs of Hell).  These spiritual hunting dogs have been heard to pass by the eaves of several houses before the death of someone in the family.   Jones described Thomas Andrew as “an honest religious man, who would not have told an untruth for fear or for favour.”   The Andrews family are about the oldest in the Parish, having lived in Pleasant View Farm for centuries.   “Old Farmer Andrews was a Church Warden in the time of “Parson Hughes.”

--oo0oo--

            Henry Edmund of Hafodafel was one night visiting Charles Hugh, the conjurer of Aberystruth, and they walked together as far as Llanhilleth where Hugh tried to persuade his companion to stay the night with him at a public house.   Edmund refused and said he would go home.   Edmund went out into the street and was seized by invisible hands and carried through the air to Landovery, in Carmarthenshire, a distance of fifty miles as the crow flies.   There he was set down at a public house where he had been, and talked with people who knew him.   He then went out into the street, when he was seized again and borne back to Lanhilleth.   Arriving there the next morning at daybreak, the first man he met was Charles Hugh.

--oo0oo—

The next two tales were related to me by a resident of Llanhilleth.    I have been unable to identify the particular  Dr Frost mentioned.   I have names of several who practiced in Llanhilleth, including one who laid a foundation stone at the Institute. This could, perhaps be him!

‘Peggy’ Evans

Dr Frost the new GP of Llanhilleth was relating his urgent wish for a telephone to a local parishioner.   He found it very difficult having to go to the Post Office or the Police Station every time he needed to make a call.   He felt it was even more difficult for his wife, isolated in Wales from her friends and family.  

The parishioner then decided it was time the Doctor was told of Peggy Evans.   Apparently there was a young lad who went to work down Llanhilleth pit.   He was there for a few years before losing his leg at age 13.   (Hence the name ‘Peggy.’)   When he recovered, the supervisor found him a new job signalling.   The men organised for him to move himself about when necessary, but mostly he sat and sent signals around the pit.   This job he did very successfully for 42 years before he died.   Then, according to the parishioner, he started visiting the local doctor, Dr. Reynolds, (Dr Frost’s predecessor).    The Doctor didn’t quite understand at first.   But according to the tale told by Dr Reynolds, if ever he was needed urgently at the pit, Peggy Evans would appear in Dr Reynold’s lounge and signal by pulling the thick red bell-rope with the big tassel at the side of the fireplace.   Hence, Dr Reynolds had no need of a telephone.   Dr Frost reportedly only saw Peggy Evans once.

Old Ben

            Dr Frost had been up the mountain to visit a patient.   He usually took his pony Jason, but the roadway was rough and unmade, so he decided to walk up.    As he returned, it was turning dusk and he decided to take a shorter route home.   It was then he came upon a tunnel of tall trees covering the lane.   Inside was black with not a chink of light.   He tried to enter several times, telling himself it was only trees, but he retreated back into daylight.   Suddenly he realised there was a black and white sheep dog standing next to him.   The dog licked his hand and they entered the dark tunnel together.   In the darkness the Doctor felt the dog beneath his hand.   They walked together until the Doctor emerged at the other end.   Looking around, he found he was not fifty yards from Maescynew Farm gate.   A thatcher saw the Doctor, and thought he appeared quite pale and shaken, so offered him a drink and a seat to recover.   The Doctor approached, but looked around for the dog beneath his hand.   Not finding the soft fur, he thought the dog had changed sides.   But there was no dog.      He questioned the Thatcher about the dog.  

             “Oh, that’s old Ben,” said the man.  “He won’t go any further than this.   He only comes this far when he knows the children are afraid.”     They chatted for a while, the Doctor being a little upset at being compared to a child.   When the Thatcher felt Dr Frost had recovered sufficiently from his scare, he explained that Ben had died at the age of sixteen, three years earlier. 

The Railway Man

Author’s Note:  This tale was related to me a few years ago by a well-known local resident who sadly died in 2011.

            More recently (almost within living memory, so no names), a railway worker approached and held a conversation with his colleagues, who knew him well.   They carried on with their lunch break in their hut near the line, and he left with a cheery word and a wave.    But later, according to others, he had been killed a few hours before the apparent meeting, in a tragic train accident further down the line.

The Bacon & Ham

            There is also the well-known disappearing act of the contents of a lorry which became stuck on the bridge going into Llanhilleth late on a particularly icy winter's afternoon.   The lorry contained bacon, and ham, for delivery to shops further along the valley, but there was no refrigeration in those days.   According to rumour, after trying unsuccessfully to move his vehicle, the driver decided he could no longer continue his journey. He climbed down from his cab and said to the onlookers that had gathered to study his predicament, “that will all have to go to waste now.”  

When the driver returned to his lorry the next day, apparently its contents had magically disappeared, and despite his enquiries, and questions from the local police, it was never seen again.    Noticeable the following day was a wonderful smell hanging over the village.    Some say it was like bacon cooking…

Lucky Coal  

            Coal would have been lucky in several ways.   Firstly it provided a living for the man of the house, and it also provided warmth and hot water and allowed people to cook their food in the fireside oven.

Version 1.   When someone moves into a new house a matchbox containing a small piece of coal, bread and a coin should be hidden within the house by a visitor.   Should the inhabitants discover the item they should leave it untouched.   The coal ensures the house will always be warm.   The bread, that the inhabitants will never go hungry, and the coin, that they will have money, although not necessarily be rich.

Version 2.   When walking should you come upon a piece of coal, to ensure good luck, it should be thrown over your shoulder.   Alternatively, and probably more realistically, it was more usually kept and thrown on the open fire at home, also to bring luck.   This second option was probably introduced by those who couldn’t afford to waste coal by throwing it away.  

Old Wives Tales, Cures and Superstitions

Please do not try any of these at home!!

Generations have seen omens or predictions in happenings we, today, would probably ignore.   With less knowledge of the world, they linked happenings and reverted to ‘cures’ we no longer use, but may seem very familiar.    Superstitions were common in many parts of the UK.   The Valleys share was added to, no doubt with those brought by migrants to the mining community:

The skin inside eggshells, if played with by children, would give warts.

Should anyone develop warts, then they should be rubbed with raw meat.   This meat should be buried in the earth and as the meat rotted away, so the warts would disappear.

Premonitions of death were made after hearing a bird tapping or a bat bumping against a window pane, or a bird fluttering indoors.   A dog howling incessantly, or a picture falling from the wall was also said to precipitate a death in the family. 

Spiders if found in the house, should be put safely outside, after, of course, brothers take the opportunity of teasing sisters and mothers, threatening to let it loose on them.   If you deliberately kill a spider you will have bad luck.  

A child named after a previous child who had died in infancy would never thrive, and would be taken by the first child.

Abscesses and boils could be cured by a poultice of cow dung.  

Kitchen or table knives should never at any time be crossed, otherwise this would lead to arguments and possibly violence within the family.

Should there be lightning about, all mirrors should be covered, all cutlery or shiny objects hidden away or covered, and curtains closed.   This practice would also be carried out when thunder was heard, just in case lightning should appear.

The prevalent “birds-eye,” or speedwell flower should never be picked as birds would descend and pluck out the eyes of the gatherer.  

The dandelion, although very attractive, and particularly prevalent along our roadsides today, should also never be picked as this would ensure the gatherer would be teased by friends and even passers-by that they would inevitably “wet the bed.”  Despite this many households made dandelion wine from the yellow petals.

A sweaty sock wrapped around the neck would cure a sore throat.   As would a piece of goose-grease tied with string and repeatedly swallowed and retrieved.  
 

--oo0oo--

Entertainment after WWII at the Institute

Entertainment

in the Ballroom often consisted of a piano or organ and drums, the musicians living and working locally.   One Drummer as young as 15, given his chance to take part proved highly popular.     Lloyd Griffiths lived and taught in the “Old School.”   He was known amongst many to have played the organ at the Institute.

John Scully came to the local area to sell organs in Oakdale.   Accompanied by Keith Parry on drums, he played all types of music on Saturday nights at the ‘Stute in the late 1960’s and 70’s.   His party piece was to produce the sound of a train whistle for the “Chattanooga Choochoo.”  

At this time John was teaching Kathryn Holley.    Accompanied by a drummer and saxophonist, Kathryn went on to play the organ on weekends for over twelve years in the late 1980’s and 90’s.   Earlier she had played in venues around the valleys, with the Terry Davies Sound, a five-piece dance band    She comments how cold the ballroom was.   There were wall heaters, but expensive to run, their use was very limited.   

Another wonderful organist, John Smith, held the position between John Scully and Kathryn.   Married to Hazel Lewis, he also played the accordion.   Hazel is remembered for her ‘comedy numbers.’   Hazel’s father, Tom Lewis played the accordion at the Institute, probably in the 1950s.

Gladys Dean’s accordion band, from Abertillery, and Gladys Williams from Glandwr, Aberbeeg, also played organ at the ‘Stute.

The Rachel Simpkins Dance Troupe

Tap Dancing lessons for 10 and 11 year olds were organised by Gail Evans around 1950, and this was followed by the The Rachel Simpkins Dance Troupe, unofficially known as the Big Girls’ Ballet.   It was formed around 1953 and consisted of around a dozen children.  The nearest existing dance troupe was in Blackwood, which was difficult to get to, so Rachel saw a need for something local.   Dancers ranged up to 10 years of age.   Angela, Rachel’s daughter, was 5 when she first performed.    The Troupe was open to anyone, and children from “The Fields,” flocked to join.   They practiced in the ‘Stute and the Godwin Hall, and performed mainly for pensioners.   Sometimes they performed at concerts which would include the male voice choir.   The group’s success over several years was due to Rachel’s love of children and her flair for organising as well as her dancing talent.

Rachel, although not professionally trained, loved to dance, and continued to ‘tap’ around the kitchen floor, and attend dance groups well into later life.     With other mums from the group she made all the costumes and outfits for the concerts, and had a flair for making wedding dresses.

Joe Phelps, whilst acting as Master of Ceremonies, would sometimes dress in a top hat and play a fiddle to accompany the organ, but the fiddle had no strings.   Their act would culminate in Joe throwing his hat, his bow and then his fiddle at the head of John Scully who continued playing whilst dodging the missiles.

On one snowy evening the artist failed to arrive and people started to drift home.   Joe sat at the organ and began to play to the remaining crowd.   They knew him well and were unaware of his expertise at the organ.   They were amazed, until they realised the joke.   John Scully was crouching below the keyboard and playing whilst Joe sat on the music stool and pretended he was playing.

Although not an organist, Joe Phelps played the euphonium in the local Brass Band and was known for playing drums around the valley clubs and pubs.

A Blaina Comedian

One comedian from Blaina would appear as a tramp in the audience whilst another act was on stage.The Master of Ceremonies would shout “You can’t come in here dressed like that.   Leave now.”The audience were stunned into silence, watching what would happen.   

Up to 150 people would attend a Saturday night dance.   Everyone wanted to go to the Saturday Dance.   4pm the queue would start outside the ‘Stute.   By 5pm it would extend over the railway bridge and the doors wouldn’t open until 6.30pm.   Everyone tried to look smart, and wore their best outfits.    Spot prizes would be awarded for the best dancers.  

Many people, some known nationally, others locally, came to perform at Llanhilleth.   Here are a few:

Acts

Theatrical Agencies supplied the Institute with artists and the archives holds lists of singers and entertainers.   Whether many of those named actually appeared at the Institute remains unproven.   However, locally and internationally famous acts did appear, including those below.   Although the dates of performances are often hazy, they have lasted in people’s memories.  

Edmund Hockridge (1919 –2009) – “He sang for Kings,”  and was a well-known Canadian baritone and actor who performed in musicals, operas, concerts, plays, and on radio for many years.    He became a West End musical star in the 1950s and performed in such shows as Guys & Dolls, the Pajama Game and Carousel.

Los Paraquayos (formed 1950) a group including musicians from Paraguay.    The group has featured many singers and musicians during their career, playing guitars, bongo drums and a Paraguayan harp.   They are most famous for Guantanamera, and La Bamba.   Having retained their popularity, they have sold many albums throughout the world to the present day.

Eric Delaney (born 22 May 1924 in London,) an English drummer and bandleader, popular in the 1950s and early 1960s   In 1954 he formed his own band and later signed with the Pye Record label. He made three Royal Variety Show appearances, the first in 1956.   Delaney specialised in up-tempo dance hall and rock n' roll music.    Delaney remained active, touring mainly UK holiday resorts during the 1970s.

George Melly (1926 –2007) came to Llanhilleth as a jazz and blues singer.   From 1965 to 1973 he worked as a film and television critic for The Observer and lectured on art history.   In later life he reverted to his roots as a singer, appearing on TV and touring.   He cherished his welsh heritage and gave two charity concerts at the Institute raising much needed funds for the 1984 miners’ strike.

Billy Fury, (1940 – 1982) a singer and heartthrob who died aged 42.   He had to use the back steps on arriving and leaving to avoid screaming girls at the front of the Institute building.  Probably most famous for his hits Halfway to Paradise and Jealousy, he appeared regularly on the TV show Oh Boy.
            'He opened the door to our future'  - Sir Paul McCartney
            'He was the James Dean of rock 'n' roll'- Sir Cliff Richard

Gerry Monroe was a pop singer, popular in the early 1970s. He came from South Shields, and was spotted on Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks TV show, the forerunner of the current TV programme Britain’s Got Talent.   He had a high and distinctive falsetto voice, probably recognised from his version of Its a Sin to Tell a Lie.

Nat Mills and Bobby were comedians with distinctive whinning voices, often heard on radio.  They made their debut in 1939 and the act ended in 1955 when Bobby died and Nat retired.
(Note: Many of the short bios above were taken from Wikipedia.)
Margery Ralf and her all-girl accordion band.    Margery always played a red and silver mother-of-pearl accordion on stage.   Her band consisted of about a dozen young ladies and they played the popular music of the day.      Margery was a daughter from the Ralf family who owned Ralf’s Buses, a local transport company who ran a regular service through the eastern valleys on a daily basis.   

Emile Ford (born 1937 in West Indies),  His career started in the late 1950s.   His most well-known song What do you want to make those eyes at me for?

Stan Stennet MBE FRWCMD   has toured as a musician, appeared in Pantomime in Cardiff’s New Theatre and on TV in Casualty and Coronation Street.  

Marianne Gill, another local artist, won many eisteddfod prizes for her piano playing became an  Associated of the London College of Music (ALCM) in 1932.   She also trained as a fashion model (mannequin in those days), at the Delarouche Academy in London.   

Marianne, later became married and became Marianne Gill Evans and took over the dancing classes at the Institute from Joan Bettridge. 

Ann Mason, when only three years of age, performed with Marianne on stage at the ‘Stute.   I have more of Ann's memories which may be included later in this blog. Marianne wrote and produced several reviews for annual performances at the Institute.  It would often be a pantomime, but always based around the performers she had available.  Accompanied by her uncle on the piano, she also directed and produced these reviews.

            Examples:                    Babes in the Wood      1956
                                                   Goody Two Shoes      1957

Both Marianne and her father were gymnasts, Marianne becoming the Keep Fit Champion of Wales,and they held regular sessions using vaulting and pommoll horses, Indian club swinging, and precision marching.   She held classes and appeared with her troupe of girls, performing figure and sequence marching, skipping, and club swinging with Indian Clubs.

The Lesser room was used as a dressing room for the young chorus, the older girls.   principals using rooms leading off the back stairs.  

Working not only with the community at the ‘Stute, she regularly took groups for exhibition performances to halls around the area.   Groups toured on buses to Chain Bridge, Abergavenny, Llandenny, Cardiff.  

In 1952 she conducted the “Ladies Deryn Choir.”

The Waywards were a local pop group in the 1960s and performed at the Institute in 1961.  People were by then dancing to records as well as live music and a bouncer would have been stationed on the door to keep order.

Other names include;

 Roza Rae, Sonny Fagan, Valerie Guy, are mentioned in the Swansea archive, but  I have been unable to trace their details.       There were Variety Shows, Hypnotist, magician, children’s parties amateur boxing, Women’s craft classes.

After WWII, Dr Barnardo's had a touring variety show that came to the ‘Stute.    I have been unable to ascertain any further details.  
(Should anyone remember any of these acts I would be glad to hear from them.)

Tailing off

When the Institute was built in 1906, there was little other entertainment in the area.    Compulsory deductions were taken from miners’ wages to repay the loan to the coal owners, Partridge Jones & Co., who had loaned £4,000 to help build the Institute.  Miners felt the building belonged to them.   Membership meant they could have their say in its management and stand to be elected onto the Committee.  

But during the late 1950s with motorcars more accessible, and television broadening people’s outlook, people travelled further afield for their entertainment.   Locally, there was competition from the Royal Oak, the Llanhilleth (Top) Hotel, the Central Hotel, the Conservative Club, the Walpole Hotel (Rugby Club), all licensed to sell alcohol on a daily basis, and provide occasional entertainment.

The Institute was becoming a little dilapidated and ‘old hat.’  Although snooker was still played downstairs, the rooms on the other two floors became almost empty.

The committee realised action was needed to save this building and increase its membership.    A special meeting was called to discuss the motion of becoming a Social Club.   The premises would become licensed and women allowed in. With even a 'women's lounge.'  This took a while to pass through the courts, but was eventually granted.

Registered Club 1964

In 1964 the committee set about a modernisation scheme.   The top floor of the Institute changed to the Miners Social Club, and an alcohol licence obtained.   The first Bar Stewards were Elwyn Williams and his wife.      (The Social Club Committee Room is now the current Head4Arts office.)  

Richard Rice, a magistrate was Chairman of the Institute and Chairman of the Colliery Lodge which held meetings on the premises.

False ceilings were installed to reduce the height of the ballroom, and reduce heat loss.  Bright coloured paintwork covered the dark browns and greens, giving it a more modern feel.   The full-sized stage was removed and a much smaller one constructed in one corner of the room, to provide more of a cabaret atmosphere.

Hiccough in the Alcohol Licence

The drinks licence issued to the new Social Club in October 1964, was for a provisional twelve months only.  Unfortunately, Committee members failed to request to renew this licence early enough at the end of the following year. The Clerk of the Court refused to grant the new licence. Several times the application was submitted, and several times it was refused as not all the ‘i’s had been dotted or all the ‘t’s crossed.   

The Institute remained closed from October 1965 until four days before Christmas.   During this time they lost business. But they still paid musicians booked to play on a regular basis, for fear of them moving to the competition. In those days good local musicians were highly sought after. 

Circa 1965 the Institute became a member of the Workingmens Club and Institute Union (WCIU).  

Membership in 1967 cost 1/6d. (7.5p) a week for employed miners, but the unemployed and non-miners were charged only 15s. (75p) a year.   These non-miners were not allowed to vote or take a place on the committee.   Miners had other perks over non-miners, these are mentioned elsewhere in this blog.