The History of Landore Social Club

Comments by Ivor Williams - December 1999

Having worked in Landore Copper works since February 1960 and a Club Committee Member for most of that period, I felt that it was necessary to compile the History of the Club with available records. During this period I collected memorabilia from the Works and Social Club, which have helped me to display documents to substantiate historical records. The purpose being to portray the origin, developing changes, growth and culture of the Club since 1934.

In August 1999 I requested and received permission from the Club Executive Management Committee to allow me access to all Club records, for which I am very appreciative.

I feel that it is important to record this information, to allow the older members, while we still remember most of the Club history, to contribute to this magazine, so that hopefully it will be ongoing and updated periodically.

I intend to print my first draft copy before the Millennium 2000 and then to frequently update with new editions as I receive more information, to identify different copies I will title them the Date and Edition number. I invite every person, who is able make a contribution, to contact me at Landore Social Club where I will be pleased add to these records.

I have taken most of the information from past documents, but at this stage, some information is limited and corrections may be necessary. If sections are too personal or in bad taste, then these can be removed.

I have deliberately avoided Mr. & Mrs. titles, preferring the more informative Christian names.

Acknowledgements

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me to compile these records, especially Mr. Ron Jones who so kindly photographed pictures and cups with his digital camera.

Second Edition 25th January 2000 - Table of Contents

• Comments - Acknowledgements - Table of Contents — Page 1
• 1809 - 1893: John Vivian to Henry Hussey Vivian — Pages 2 - 3
• 1934 - 1958: Imperial Chemical Industry — Pages 3 - 27
• 1959 - 1966: Yorkshire Imperial Metals — Pages 27 - 41
• 1967 - 2000: Landore Social Club — Pages 42 - end
• Millennium 2000

Landore Copper Works Social Club

Situated close to the Hafod Copper Works, its premises were originally the offices of Messrs. Vivian & Sons.

1809 - John Vivian (1750 to 1826)

John Vivian established his own Copper Works in the Hafod. John Vivian's first son was Richard Hussey Vivian (1775 to 1842). His second son was John Henry Vivian (1785 to 1855).

John Henry Vivian's first son was Henry Hussey Vivian (1821 to 1894). In 1845 Henry Hussey Vivian became the manager of the copper smelting works in the Hafod at the age of 25 years.

Henry Hussey Vivian (1821 to 1894)

• 1st Lord of Swansea
• Chairman and Managing director of Messrs. J. Vivian & Son's Ltd.
• 1845 he was the Manager of the Hafod Copper Works.
• 1847 he married his first wife Jessie Goddard who died in 1848.
• 1847 he was Liberal M.P. for Swansea.
• 1853 he married his second wife Caroline Chomley who died in 1868.
• 1881 he was visited by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
• 1870 he married his third wife Averil Beaumont.
• 1882 he was granted a knighthood.
• 1893 he was the First Lord Swansea. He died on 29th November 1894.

The Club originated in October 1934 by Imperial Chemicals Industry (I.C.I. Ltd)

Named I.C.I. Metals Social Club, Swansea

Swansea Social Club

The First Annual General Meeting

To be held in the large hall of the Social Club on Tuesday 14th July 1936, commencing at 7pm.

Agenda

1. Apologies
2. Annual accounts
3. Annual report
4. Election of Officers:
   • (a) President
   • (b) Vice Presidents
   • (c) Chairman
   • (d) Vice Chairman
   • (e) Hon. General Secretary
   • (f) Hon. Assistant General Secretary
   • (g) Hon. Treasurer
   • (h) Hon. Auditor
5. Election of Executive Committee
6. Other business

First Annual Report 1935 - 1936

Finance: A study of the accounts, which have been prepared show the position at the end of the Club's first Financial Year, as satisfactory. In the Club General Account the excess of income over expenditure was £188. Attention is directed to the sum of £8.18.8d representing interest allowed by the Company.

In the Clubhouse Accounts, Billiards shows a profit of £140 after allowing for all charges. The Bar shows a very satisfactory result, the profit for the year being £280, which representing 26% on turnover. This result is obtained after charging all expenses.

In the General Section there is naturally a debit balance, the cost to the Club being £126. The net income from the Clubhouse was £188.

With regard to the general Income and Expenditure Account, it will be seen that the running of the various sections has cost the Club £54, while social functions have cost £76. As the sections establish themselves, or as new sections are formed, this expenditure will tend to increase. The Glee Party are to be congratulated upon showing a credit balance for the year.

In connection with the Balance Sheet, a general reserve of £220 has been created and represents approximately the value of the assets of the Club which appear in the Balance Sheet at the cost less adequate depreciation which will be written off annually. A reserve for specific purposes has also been created, to be dealt with as the Executive Committee desires. The balance of the Club General Account amounting to £77 is more than covered by the funds immediately available, namely:

• Cash with I.C.I. Metals Ltd. - £82
• Cash in hand - £5
• Total - £87

Billiards

The Billiards section has had a very successful year. Two teams were run and Friendly Matches were played with some of the Local leading Clubs, when excellent performances were put up. An Inter-departmental contest was arranged for a trophy presented by R. Lloyd Roberts and following an exciting series of matches, the trophy was eventually won by Copper Sheet Mill No.2 Team, the Copper Sheet Mill No.1 team being the runners up.

Ernie Griffin won the Billiard's Handicap Tournament, while the winner in the Snooker Tournament was T. J. Evans.

A Knockout Billiard Tournament of 25 up attracted a large entry, the winner being W. Austin, with W. H. Matthews runner up.

An exhibition match between two well-known exponents of the game attracted a large audience of Club members.

The Executive Committee regretfully accepts the resignation of the Sectional Secretary Ernie Griffin, who finds himself unable to carry on owing to many other demands on his time. Mr. Griffin has been a most ardent and enthusiastic worker on his section's behalf and its success is in no small measure due to him.

Bowls

Owing to the lack of a bowling green it is not practical to run a bowls section. An inter-departmental competition, however, was arranged during the season and this proved of considerable interest to many bowls enthusiasts in the works. The winners of this competition were Engineering No.1, the runners up being Cold Roll No. 1 team.

Cricket

During the season a total of 25 matches were played, of which 14 were won, 11 lost and one drawn. The team finished in the fifth position of the Central Cricket League.

On the whole this has been a most enjoyable and certainly a successful season.

Dance Band

Owing to difficulty in finding musicians of the necessary standard it has not been found possible to continue with this section. The Executive Committee, however, would like to place on record its appreciation of the good work done by this section on the Club's behalf. And would particularly express its thanks to Mr. H. Charles, who in spite of considerable difficulties was instrumental in holding together a team of instrumentalists to the close of the present season.

Dramatics

Dramatics has proved a highly successful section. During the year two plays were produced, namely, "The short Kings", at Llewelyn Hall and "Quality Street" at St. Joseph's Hall. Both performances reflected the greatest credit on all that took part in them. The Executive Committee takes this opportunity of publicly expressing its congratulations.

Reference to the balance sheet will show that both productions were run at quite a small loss to the Social Club and in view of the magnitude of the undertaking this is very satisfactory.

The question of alternating to the stage in the large hall to enable plays to be produced in the Club was under consideration by the Executive Committee, but was postponed on the score of cost. It is with great regret that the Executive Committee accepts the resignation of the Sectional Secretary C. H. Edwards, owing to pressure of other work. It is impossible to speak too highly of Mr. Edwards' work in connection with I.C.I. dramatics and his unavoidable relinquishing of office is a genuine loss to the Club.

Football

In spite of considerable difficulty the Football section carried through a successful season. The first team, who are members of the first division of the Swansea and Districts A.F. league, played 15 league games, of which 6 were won, 5 drawn and 4 lost. In the first league position the team tied with Hafod Brotherhood for 3rd place. The team was also entered for the West Wales Amateur, the Swansea Senior and the St. John's Ambulance Cup competitions. The second team played in the third Division of the Swansea & District A.F. League. Again a total of 15 league matches were played, of which 6 were won, 1 drawn and 8 lost. In the final league position the team was 6th. The team also competed for the Swansea & District Intermediate Cup.

Glee Party

This section has had a highly successful year. On the 21st May 1935 the Glee Party provided a concert on behalf of the Metal Group boys and girls camp fund. As a result of which the sum of £6.7.2 was raised.

A concert was given on 12th December 1935 in aid of the Christmas Hamper Fund, as a result of which the sum of £6.8.6 was raised.

The Glee Party also visited Witton on the 1st February 1936 and gave a performance that will long be remembered by those employees at Kynoch Works who were fortunate enough to hear them. In the same week a concert was given at the Bethlehem Church, Pentrechwyth, as a result of which the funds benefited to the extent of £1.13.0

Finally the Glee Party sang at the Presentation of the Long Service Awards on the 3rd April and the performance was very much appreciated by the large company present.

Excellent attendance of members have been maintained during the year and the outlook for the future is distinctly good.

The Executive Committee extends its congratulations to this section and may be perhaps forgiven for mentioning specially two of its stalwarts, namely T. Williams, conductor and J. W. Gregory Secretary.

Gymnasium

During the year the Executive Committee saw fit to provide a Gymnasium for Club members, in the outbuilding near the club. Dressing room accommodation, shower bath and gymnastic facilities were provided and although it cannot be said that the fullest use has been made of them during the past year, it is hoped that they will prove a source of attraction to junior members of the Club particularly in the future.

It should be borne in mind, however, when considering this matter, that there has been a steady falling off in the works position and this has resulted in an exodus of a large number of juniors from the works.

Club members are reminded that the gymnasium and its attachments are not confined to any particular section of the club, but are for the benefit of all who desire to use them as a means towards physical fitness. Nonetheless, should the occasion arise, the Executive Committee is prepared to arrange specially organised classes for gymnastics, boxing, etc.

In conjunction with the Gymnasium, it is also interesting to note that during the year a series of boxing contests has been given. It is hoped to provide a similar series of contests during next winter.

Library

The forming of a library has proved a popular attraction in the Club. There are approximately 200 members of this section and nearly 700 books have been purchased. It is the intention to add the number of books from time to time.

The Executive Committee desires to place on record its thanks for the gifts of books from Messrs. H. O. Smith, R. Lloyd Roberts, and J. L. Siddall.

Table Tennis

This section, which has 20 members, ended its first season of representative table tennis in April 1936. A team was entered in the 3rd division of the West Glamorgan Table Tennis League. This team was one of the youngest in age, if not in experience, in the league. Nonetheless, it finished in the third position and gained promotion.

The success of this section was in no small measure due to the captain T. A. Jenkins. His influence on the very young members proved a great factor in steadying those players when the result of the last game decided the issue either way.

Of interest to table tennis fans were the exhibition games, promoted by "Topspin" of the Swansea Evening Post, which were given in the Club on November 26th, 1935.

The following is a summary of the matches played during the season:

• Played: 24
• Won: 17
• Lost: 7
• Drawn: 0

Social Functions

During the year under review two outstanding social functions were arranged. The first was the trip to Birmingham undertaken by the Football Team and the Male Voice Choir, and the second was the Children's party.

The Birmingham trip was an unqualified success and did much to foster a spirit of friendship between club members of both works.

The Children's party was also most successful, some 320 children of the club members were entertained to tea etc. in the Hafod Schools.

General Comments

It should be borne in mind in considering the club activities that some of the things undertaken were in the nature of experiments. For example, several smoking concerts were organised in addition to card tournaments, some of which were very well attended.

It should also be remembered that there has been a decline in the Company's order book with the consequent exodus of many employees who would otherwise have associated themselves with the Club activities. The Executive Committee does wish to point out, however, that while they are prepared to do all in their power to make the Club as attractive as possible, its success depends ultimately on the measure of keenness of the members themselves. It is therefore sincerely hoped that members will realise that the Club is for their benefit and it is up to them to make as full use of it and its activities as possible.

Finally, the Executive Committee desires to place on record its keen appreciation of the services rendered by the Club Steward and Stewardess, B. J. Johnson, who have discharged their duties with an efficiency which reflects the greatest credit to themselves.