Historic Archive 6

LITTON CHENEY FRIENDLY SOCIETY

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 DECEMBER, 1949 Friendly Societies Act,1896 Advertisement of Dissolution by Instrument. NOTICE is hereby given that the LITTON CHENEY FRIENDLY SOCIETY Register No.121 Dorset held at The Rectory Schoolroom, Litton Cheney, Dorchester in the county of Dorset, is dissolved by Instrument, registered at this Office the 12 th Day of December,1949, unless within three months from the date of the Gazette in which this advertisement appears proceedings be commenced by a Member or other person interested in or having any Claim on the funds of the society to set aside such dissolution, and the same be set aside accordingly. Dated the 12 th day of December 1949 . B.K.WHITE,Chief Registrar. 17, North Audley Street, London, W1

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HISTORIC ARCHIVE

END OF AN ENTERPRISE

The Passing Scene - Last Walk of a Dorset Club Memories Recalled at Litton Cheney Founded in 1844, the Litton Cheney Friendly Society, which annually held its annual club fete on Whit-Tuesday, has ended its activities. With the State health scheme in action membership had dropped to twenty and it was generally felt that the time had arrived for the Club's legal dissolution. Inspired by Lieut.-Col. C. R. Wordsworth, of Baglake, members and old established families, in whom traditions were firmly rooted, decided that, before dissolution, the Club should walk again with banners flying and band playing as in the good old days. Thus it came about that on Saturday afternoon the Litton Cheney Friendly Society held its Club Walk for the last time and villagers and visitors looked with deep regret upon a procession which it is extremely unlikely will ever again be seen in the streets of this lovely unspoilt village. Old established families decorated their houses with flags, the large standard floated from the church tower and merry touches were rung upon the ring of six in St. Mary's tower. Mr. C. Fry was responsible for displaying the cerise and blue silk banner of the Society by the church font and putting the blue and gold standards one each side of the archway leading to the chancel. END OF AN ENTERPRISE The afternoon service at St. Mary's Church was conducted by the Rector (Rev. Canon E. S. Daniell), and the Lesson was read by Rev. C. W. Wright, rector of Longbredy. Miss Olive Gladwyn (hon. secretary of the Friendly Society). was the organist. The sermon was preached by Rev. R. D. St. G. Edwards, sometime rector of Longbredy and treasurer of the Society for the last 32 years, who had come from Berkshire to be present. Their Society, he said, was years ahead of its time in its ideals, many of which were now incorporated into the State scheme, which rendered the village organisation unnecessary and, therefore, it had now reached the end of its usefulness. After the service the splendid banner and the two blue and gold silk standards, dated 1844, were borne from the church, past the grave of the Rev. J. Cox, a founder and a procession was formed. Leading the procession, as of old, was Mr. Arthur Gladwyn, for 17 years hon. secretary of the Friendly Society, who had specially come from Wimborne for the final ceremony. He was wearing his blue official sash. His grandfather, the late Mr. James Gladwyn, was a founder member. The leading standard was borne aloft by Mr. Fred Dennett. The banner was carried by Mr. M. Thorner and Mr. W. Pile and the second standard by Mr. F. Burt. The Winterborne Whitchurch Brass Band was in attendance and a number of Club members and young and old inhabitants and old Littonians made up the procession. Among the members wearing regalia and carrying their Club Poles were Messrs. William Travers. William Pile, M. Thorner, G. Thorner, F. Burt and C Greening. Messrs. C. Fry and A. Trevett carried their late fathers' Club Poles. JOURNEY'S END "Zoo off they started, two an' two, Wi' painted poles and knob o' blue, an' girt silk flags”. With the band playing stirring tunes, the procession marched, as of old, along the church path, up Redway, by the old Cross Tree, on through Puddlehole to Baglake, the home of Lieut.-Col. C R. Wordsworth and where once lived that fine yeoman farmer, the late Mr. Thomas Fry, a staunch supporter of the Club in his time. Retracing their steps, the Club Walk continued down the main street. The thoughts of many, as they Passed the Green, were of the triumphal arch which, for many Whit-Tuesdays, spanned the road, erected by the late Mr. George Fry, the last man to be seen wearing a smock frock in the village. Down to the White Horse Inn and to the White Cross Bakery, where once upon a time the late Mr. Samuel Moores, originator of the knob biscuits famous the world over, made them by hand, 42 to the pound. Turning about, the last Club Walk, with band playing and colours flying, went up the street with its silver streams on either side, back to the church steps, journey's beginning and journey’s end alike for generations of folk and for the Friendly Society's Club Walk too. The banner and standards were reverently placed, prior to laying up, on the Rectory lawn. A welcome tea was enjoyed in the Rectory Sunday Schoolroom, provided by Mrs. Fry, Mrs. A. Trevett, Mrs Honeybun, Mrs Hiscock. Mrs. Han and Miss Olive Gladwyn (Friendly Society hon. secretary). A general meeting followed attended by the trustees (Lieut. -Col. C. R- Wordsworth, Canon E. S. Daniell, (Canon Trotman was unavoidably absent) and members. Rev. R. D. Edwards (treasurer) was unanimously voted to the chair. The necessary steps were taken to procure the legal dissolution of the Society. It was unanimously decided that the Club regalia be kept in the village. Various suggestions were put forward for its safe keeping and a final decision will be made when the Club closes down and shares out its funds in October. All then went to the Court House where, by kind permission of Mr. C. H. A. Newman, the band played selections on the lawn, with dancing and time honoured skittling to occupy the evening. So ended Litton Cheney Friendly Society's last Club Walk, which now passes into history, along with its 13th century wake, with adjoining Puncknowle's September veast, Burton Bradstock’s veast and perhaps Litton Cheney's famous mumming play "Crimea."

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A friendly society is a mutual association for the purposes of insurance, pensions, savings or co-operative banking. It is a mutual organisation or benefit society composed of a body of people who join together for a common financial or social purpose. Before modern insurance and the welfare state, friendly societies provided financial and social services to individuals, often according to their religious, political, or trade affiliations. The Litton Cheney Friendly Society was in existence from 1844 until 1948. The annual anniversary was celebrated every Whit-Tuesday with a church service and, with banners flying and the band playing, a procession around the village stopping at various watering holes for refreshments. A sumptuous dinner was provided for members of the Society followed by games and dancing into the evening. A regular account of the proceedings was published in the local newspapers, some of which can be read here.

NOTABLE VILLAGE EVENTS

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Rev. Harold Smith

George Hurst

Katherine Hallett

Becky Wright

Bill Kingston

Wyn Smith (wife of Rev. Harold)

Rev. Harold Smith

Hugh Lindsay

Carole Lindsay

Ray (Grizzly) Wright

Roger Gaines ?

1979 Street Fair

1981 Street Fair

1982 Auction

Rosie Hallett

Jackie Brock

Eddie Fry

Janice Hearn

Rev. Harold Smith

Kim Stowe

A browse through the archives of the local press, Bridport News, Western Gazette and the, now defunct, Dorset Chronicle, reveals some interesting stories about life in Litton Cheney during the last two centuries. Articles on the annual fetes of the Friendly Society, which were published, in glowing terms and at great length, for many years, are dealt with separately HERE. Other stories, from 1826 until 2018 have been collated in the following files.

LITTON CHENEY IN WARTIME

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