Southwark Business Today Dec 23

Page 25

Remembering when...

Remembering when

Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1924

Ken Hayes Life Member

Few areas have undergone as dramatic a change as that covered by the Southwark Chamber of Commerce over the past 100 years. It’s a story that stretches back hundreds of years, characterised by a rapid development which began in the 1500s. The small but important medieval town surrounded by undeveloped land turned into a major industrial area between the 16th and 19th centuries, prompted largely by trade on the Thames, its proximity to the markets of the City of London and its position on the road to the only bridge across the Thames in London until 1750. Although created in 1924, the Chamber can trace its own story back to 1900 when the first Metropolitan London Boroughs were created by amalgamation of the former Rating Parishes. Three Metropolitan Boroughs were created in SE London namely Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark. In the 1920’s the United Kingdom was recovering from the economic recession following the end of WW1 and the influenza pandemic that followed it. In 1924 the business communities in the three Metropolitan Boroughs of Bermondsey Camberwell and Southwark established Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Membership was open to all businesses based in the three boroughs or trading with business in those boroughs. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 made the Chamber’s work redundant until the end of the War in 1945. In 1965 Local Government in London was re-oganised again and the Metropolitan

A coloured print of the vicinity of Southwark Cathedral and the approach to London Bridge in the 1830s (when the cathedral was simply St. Saviour’s Church);

Boroughs of Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark were merged to create the London Borough of Southwark. Bermondsey and Southwark Chambers of Commerce and Industry also merged but Camberwell Chamber remained independent until 1984. The aims of the Chamber have not changed. A Chairman’s annual report to members in the 1980s said: “Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough. Its existence exemplifies the truth of the old saying ‘Unity is Strength’. Whereas the individual views of a few traders may carry very little weight, the collective opinion of an active organisation is too powerful to be ignored.” This is as true today as when it was first written 30 years ago. To survive for 100 years supporting business in Southwark through good and bad times is a great achievement. The Chamber looks forward to continuing to support local businesses.

Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough. Its existence exemplifies the truth of the old saying ‘Unity is Strength’. Whereas the individual views of a few traders may carry very little weight, the collective opinion of an active organisation is too powerful to be ignored. Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 25


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

The Last Word

1min
page 33

Our Events

0
page 33

Grow your Business

0
page 32

Could you make a difference?

2min
page 31

Being forward-thinking and inclusive will boost the economy

4min
pages 28-30

Working for British interests

2min
page 27

Tennis champion Andy is backing Padel

2min
page 26

Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1924

1min
page 25

ONE Picture My Story exhibition shares Black heritage at Peckham Library Stranger Sings at Southwark Playhouse

1min
page 24

Classic fairytale, Hansel and Gretel, comes to the Globe

0
page 24

Ping Pong and Beanbags:

2min
pages 23-24

Rugby Icon Phil Greening Scores with easyGym Camberwell

2min
pages 20-22

Why staying active is good for your wellbeing Move more in ‘24!

2min
pages 18-19

Business & Community

2min
pages 16-17

The Blue goes from strength to strength

0
page 16

Five more years!

2min
pages 14-15

Patrick relishing his new challenge

2min
pages 12-13

Green tech offers solutions to make property more energy efficient

3min
pages 10-11

British Land pushes sport for cities

2min
page 9

New additions mean over 50 school walking maps in Southwark

2min
page 8

Four e-cargo bikes available for hire across Southwark

1min
page 7

London’s first cross-borough network of safe havens launched by Lambeth and Southwark

1min
page 7

AI’s potential impact on contract writing in legal practice

2min
pages 5-6
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.