THE MISBOURNE CLUB

The formation of what became The Misbourne Club was down to John Grimmer when an interim meeting was held at his house in Doggets Wood on 7th February 1969. Present were Ernest Post (who took the Chair), John Grimmer (acting Secretary) and five other founding members, Harold Morris, Dick Coker, Ralph Flanders, Alfred Gee and Robert Gwyn Jones.

The inaugural meeting took place on 6 March 1969 in what was then the Millstream Restaurant in old Amersham. (The Millstream restaurant no longer exists and is now Ambers, a select ladies fashion shop.) In addition to the seven founding members the March meeting was attended by nineteen other founder members. An Agenda and other significant papers had been circulated prior to the meeting. It is not known if the business of the meeting took place pre or post the meal but
clearly much was achieved. Ernest Post was confirmed as Chairman, John Grimmer as Secretary and Harold Morris elected Hon Treasurer. The other founding members were elected to the Committee with exception of Robert Gwyn Jones who was leaving the district and did not stand.

The proposed constitution & rules for the Club were circulated prior to the meeting and these were agreed by those present. The main criteria of the Constitution being that the Club would be non-political, non- sectarian, for retired business and professional gentlemen. 

It is a tribute to the integrity of the founding members that apart from a little tweaking now and again (to reflect changing times) the constitution & rules are still in use today. Two names were proposed for the Club; Colonia and Misbourne but the latter was considered more appropriate.

Membership was set at 50 with a joining fee of ten shillings. The annual subscription was agreed at 10 shillings and sixpence. (Further research in the minutes revealed this was decided by the accommodation limitations of the lunch venue,) It was agreed the newly named Misbourne Club would meet once a month for lunch. The meal, at the inaugural meeting, cost 11 shillings plus 10% service.

 

From the outset consideration was given to providing as many social/sporting functions and outings as members would support. The first recorded event was a Golf Day at Harewood Downs GC on 30 May 1969. Tee off was at 9:00am with singles in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon. Fee for GC members was £1.0.6d and non-members £1.15.0d inclusive of lunch, tea and gratuities. In June 1969 the Club jointly hosted a Garden Party with stalls, sideshows & refreshments.

 

The Misbourne Club was a success from its inception. A report to members 7 months from the inaugural meeting declared a full membership of 50 with a waiting list. The same report stated that “The Committee would like to be able to arrange the lunch in a large Restaurant with a more varied menu. We hope to be able to report something to you soon.”  The Club’s first Minute book show that members undertook a variety of visits/activities in addition to golf and theatre. Visits were organised to the Metropolitan Police Horse Show, Didcot Power Station, Brevet Shoe factory and not to forget BBC TV studios (The Wogan Show).

 

Talks were also a feature of the luncheons covering a variety of subjects: Surgical Instruments, Local Government, The night I shot an Elephant, Channel Tunnel Rolling Stock, to name just a few.

 

One of the early activities of The Misbourne Club was the Annual Holiday. Members with their wives visited numerous places such as the Isle of Wight, Tenby, Woolacombe, Sandbanks, Aldeburgh & Sidmouth. The 1987 proposed Annual Holiday was to Bournemouth but they eventually discontinued due to falling support.

 

Not surprisingly the Club’s luncheon venues have changed with the passage of time. The monthly luncheons at the Millstream continued until 1970 when it was decided to move to the Tudor Room at the Crown Hotel. Following alterations to the Hotel in 1985 the venue changed almost annually in an effort to obtain acceptable fare and accommodation. For a while the Club luncheons were held at Chesham United Football Club’s Chess Suite in conjunction with Alpine Caterers. However, in October 1991 the records show a falling out with those providing the catering facilities and the Misbourne Club moved to Guido’s Italian Restaurant in top Amersham. Guido’s restaurant provided a stable base for the Club’s luncheons until Thursday 1st December 2016 with a final lunch. Guidos closed at the end of December 2016 pending redevelopment of the site. From January 2017 the luncheon venue has been the King’s Chapel part of the King’s Arms in old Amersham.

 

A recurring theme for the Club from the outset has been the promotion of good fellowship. Harry Goodson, then Chairman, wrote to members on 6th July 1989;

“You will be aware that one of the prime objects of our Club is the promotion of good fellowship. From time to time, both formally a meetings and informally to members of the Committee, representations have been made by a not insignificant number of members that the use of reserve cards, coupled in some cases by “block booking” of tables has tended to operate against the desirable mixing of members to achieve wider fellowship. Accordingly, your committee have considered the matter, and has decided to institute on an experimental basis for the months of August, September and October this year, a new system for our monthly luncheons. The table places will be numbered. On paying for the lunch and collecting his name card, the member will draw at random a number, and for that luncheon only he will sit at the place at the tables marked with the corresponding number. The only reserved places which will be specifically allocated in advance will be those for the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and the Speaker. It is appreciated that some members will not welcome this change initially, but I would ask for their cooperation and tolerance. After the expiry of the three months we can review the situation and decide on our future pattern of seating at our luncheons.”

 

He subsequently reported on 4th January 1990, the year the Club celebrated its 21st Birthday;

“You may be wondering what happened about our experimental seating trial period last year? 93% of members registered an opinion. Of these 72% voted in favour of continuing of seating by direction.”

 

Despite the Club members mandate the Committee, under the direction of the Chairman Harry Goodson, decided their preference was for a scheme to evolve. They proposed for the time being to leave seating arrangements to individuals, with an emphasis on freedom to sit anywhere, but also with a strong plea not to indulge in big regular groupings. Chairman Harry is recorded as saying; “We are looking for the cooperation of all members over this. We will keep the mandate in cold storage for the time being – together with the reservation cards”

 

That the Misbourne Club has existed for over fifty years is a testament to the initiative of John Grimmer coupled with the myriad of Chairmen and committee members who have guided the Club through its many trials and tribulations. The manner in which the Club would operate was established in its formative year. That the formula has changed very little over time, coupled with a strong membership over the years, suggests it’s a winning one.

 

It is fitting to close with the words attributed to John Grimmer the Club’s first Secretary. As a footnote to his first notice to Club members he wrote

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“I am sure that the formation of this Club is both desirable and necessary. There are lots of lonely retired people about, and if only we can help them, we shall not only be giving a service but enjoying ourselves at the same time.”

 

Long may the Club continue.