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New Blackmore Vale, October 15, 2021
blackmorevale.net
History
Stalbridge: The home of the Friendly Society By Hilary Townsend In 1945, when the first General Election after the last war was being canvassed, students from Oxford University arrived in a van with a loudspeaker. They parked in Stalbridge High Street and explained the advantages of the proposed Welfare State. It was raining hard so a lady prudently opened her window and called: “What will happen now to the Friendly Societies?” The students had no idea. They did not know that Stalbridge had a long and vital tradition of supporting Friendly Societies. On 4 September the History Society organised a talk about Stalbridge’s Friendly Societies given by Mr Philip Hoyland from Burnham on Sea, who had researched the topic for many years. Before the Welfare State sickness and unemployment were a severe hardship to working people so by paying a
Stalbridge Club Walking Day, when a brass band led a procession through the town
small subscription regularly to Friendly Societies they could get basic payments when needed. On the annual Club Walking Day all the local Friendly Societies celebrated. A brass band led a procession through the town, everyone seemed to be in their best clothes and every head was covered by a
Geoff’s been a resident in St Johns’ Almshouse for two years; he considers himself lucky to live here and wishes he’d moved in sooner. With a very varied background including working for Rolls Royce and Bentley, in electronics, aircraft and helicopters, Geoff then followed a lifelong interest in antiques to run two shops in Sherborne until he was finally persuaded to retire at 80. He came to St Johns’ a few years later when the house and garden became too much to manage and has made a happy home in the almshouse which he describes as ‘beautifully run with brilliant home-made food’! Friendships amongst residents are strong, and the relaxed atmosphere makes life very pleasant at St Johns’, Geoff says. Its position in the centre of the historic town of Sherborne means that shops, cafes and other amenities are easily reachable on foot, enabling residents to live independently, coming and going as they please.
large hat or a cap. The stewards of the Friendly Society carried individual poles topped with the Society’s emblem – a highly polished flame-like brass spearhead – and there was a celebratory meal at the Swan. In the early 19th century eleven of these pole heads had been mounted on a semi-circular wooden holder resembling a
large shining Sunburst. The speaker Mr Hoyland had brought the Sunburst with him. He was now dispersing his large collection of Friendly Society memorabilia and offered to sell the Stalbridge Sunburst to the History Society. Much thought is now being given to fundraising to buy it and return it to its home town.
LIVE A LIFE OF INDEPENDENCE & COMFORT IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC SHERBORNE St Johns’ House o昀ers a warm welcome to residents with its en-suite rooms, outstanding location and friendly, supportive community. Find out more at: stjohnshouse.org Call: 01935 813245 | Email: steward@stjohnshouse.org
