Calling Students Researching Working Men’s Clubs, Working Class History, Entertainment and Gender Issues

The Club Historians website is a useful resource for both undergraduates and graduates researching aspects of working class social history and, of course, clubs.

Another useful resource is Ruth Cherrington’s ‘Not Just Beer and Bingo!  A Social History of Working Men’s Clubs’, published in 2012. 

This is the first comprehensive account of WMCIU clubs from their 19th century to the current times.

With chapters on entertainment, going back to music hall, as well as two chapters on gender issues in the club movement, there is a wealth of information here for students investigating a variety of topics.  How were children and families catered for in clubs?  What are the problems that caused the decline of clubs over the past few decades and how are these being dealt with?  Do clubs still have a future in contemporary society?

Students of retail, business, drinking studies and other subjects will find something of interest here for them as well.

The book is thoroughly researched with comprehensives notes in each of the ten chapters and a useful bibliography for further research provided at the end.

The book is available to buy on Amazon for £13 plus p + p or through www.authorhouse.com
It is stocked in Foyles bookshop, Charing Cross Road London (British History section.)

A number of copies are available from the author- please contact through the website.
 

Does anyone have any old film taken in Working Men’s Clubs?

Do you have any old film that your dad or granddad took in the local club lying around? Do you have anything stored away in a club storeroom somewhere collecting dust? Then if so, this is wanted!

A small company in London, Kinolibrary, is trying to find some amateur film of working men’s clubs in their heyday, particularly the 1960s.

They want to see what the members of clubs did as through the eyes/lens of members themselves! They are very interested in working class leisure as seen from the perspective of working class people themselves.

If the film is in a useable condition and suitable for their needs, they are willing to pay a small fee.

Club Historians is assisting them because we believe that there is a dearth of such home-made type of film about clubs available. We don't just want the professional documentary film but what the people made for themselves.
So- get searching!
You can contact -
Jenny Coan

www.kinolibrary.com
+44 (0) 203 623 7102

Club Historians on Twitter

Yes folks, Ruth has dipped her toes into the world of Twitter.  Please join in https://twitter.com/CHistorians and offer a little support...

Dial House Club, Sheffield

The Dial House Club information shown on the Club Historians site has been updated following a visit by Ruth in November 2012.

More details - click here

Not Just Beer and Bingo

Ruth’s book on clubs is now available!

In ‘Not Just Beer and Bingo! The Social History of Working Men’s Clubs’, Ruth traces the history of clubs from their mid-19th origins and brings the story right up to date to 2012- the year that marks the 150th anniversary of the Club and Institute Union (CIU). 

This is the first book that tells the complete club story across those 150 years.

All aspects of club life are covered in a highly readable, often funny, sometimes poignant manner. At all times, Ruth maintains a scholarly approach, drawing upon wide-ranging research and the wealth of information collected from scores of club goers, officials and entertainers from across the country. They tell their own stories throughout the book about the life and times of clubs, from nights out with the kids to seaside outings, games and gambling and club concerts.

Ruth highlights throughout the book how clubs were once at the centre of working class leisure time as well as at the heart of the communities where they were located. She shows how clubs played numerous social and cultural roles, making important contributions to the lives of their members and their families.

In this 150th anniversary year, with many challenges and club closures, Ruth details reasons for their decline but also in what ways club people are fighting back in order to bring in new members and keep their doors open. She finishes by offering valuable insights into their future prospects.

To find out more about the book and how to order, go to-
authorhouse
amazon
It is also available for Kindle and Android devices

Catch Ruth on TV

You can catch sight of Ruth Cherrington at around 9pm on 11th January on BBC 4's Timeshift or watch the programme on iplayer. Timeshift is a 'documentary series which ranges widely over Britain's social and cultural history, its narrative-led storytelling offering a richly immersive and varied window onto the past'.

Here's a direct link which will open another window.  Ruth Cherrington - Appearance on Timeshift .

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