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Scarborough Forty Club History by Alan Staniforth - January 2005
The Scarborough 40 Club, a debating society for gentlemen, has been in existence for over 100 years. Despite fluctuations in attendance over the years it owes its continuation to the tenacity of its members and the power of the spoken word.
On several occasions in its past there have been proposals to write a history of the club, none of which appear to have come to fruition. This is an attempt to rectify that situation. Even a brief history of the 40 Club is a mammoth task to compile. With minute books dating back over one hundred years and covering many styles of writing, it will take some time yet before I am able to offer a more comprehensive history of the Scarborough Forty Club.
The club is indeed fortunate that it retains all its minute books from 1899 with the one exception of that for the period February 1938 to November 1942, sadly lost. A book containing a collection of old syllabi, the earliest of which dates from 1902, is also an invaluable source of information. Annual Dinner toast lists from 1934, whilst not complete to the present day also provide an insight into social events. Some old correspondence, attendance records and an account book from 1933 complete the club archive.
Other records are scarce although the local newspaper archives could reveal some interesting cuttings, some of which are contained in the minute books.
This brief history was compiled and presented to members as my Presidential Address on the occasion of the club’s centenary on October 7th 1999. It seems appropriate that it should now be presented to members in a printed form to celebrate the 40th anniversary of my election to membership of the club.
Extracts quoted from the minute books are printed in italics with only minor alterations to aid clarification.
Henry Vasey was, perhaps, the most regular attendee of the small group of Scarborough gentlemen who met once a week in a private room at the Balmoral Hotel in Westborough. Mr William Vasey owned a number of general grocers shops throughout the town and brother Henry acted as the firm’s accountant. The group had been meeting informally for some time to discuss affairs of town and country, both local and national. Pipes, cigars and a little liquid refreshment contributed to a convivial evening which usually culminated in a selection of solo or group songs before the gentlemen departed to their various residences.
But how and why was the name Forty Club decided upon? In the early records of the club there is no clue to the selection of the name although it is apparent that membership was to be restricted to forty gentlemen. We have to wait until Mr Vasey’s third Presidential Address in October 1919 before we learn a little about the selection of a suitable name for the club…At the first meeting held in 1899 the choice of title was decided and suggestions of ‘Spectators’, ‘Simulators’ , ‘Observers’,‘Critics’, ‘Cosmopolitans’were considered, but the word 'Forty , was approved....
This tells us how the name Forty was selected but not why. It is apparent from this and other records that Mr Vasey was the prime instigator in the foundation of the Forty Club and that he was born in 1859. In other words he was forty years old when the club was founded in 1899!
The basic objective of the club, then as now, is, to quote Rule 1… the intellectual advancement and entertainment of its members…We may presume that this objective was listed in the first set of rules recorded on January 5th 1900. Unfortunately, only the last few rules are listed due to the loss of the first pages of the minute book prior to it being rebound in 1997.
As might be expected in the club’s formative years, several alterations and additions were made to the rules. The original ten rules listed in 1900 were gradually expanded to cover other issues. In 1902 a member was allowed to introduce a friend… provided such visitor be not introduced more than once during the Session…This same year it was agreed that papers should …not necessarily be confined to members of the club. Standing Orders were also introduced for the first time.
Standing Orders were amended in 1904 so that … at each meeting a steward be appointed to attend to the comforts of the members present…A suggestion in 1908…that each member be expected to attend at least 50% of our meetings be inserted into the rules… was left for committee to consider and was not heard of again. This was obviously in response to the problems of attendance, about which more later.
At the Annual Meeting in 1915…It was resolved that the procedure for future meetings should commence at 7.30 prompt instead of 8 o’clock. The essays and discussion to follow the business part of the meeting and reference to refreshments in Rule 8 be suspended for the duration of the War.
A rule that rules could only be changed at the Annual General Meeting was introduced in the first years of the club in Oct 1904…After some considerable discussion on the desirability of choosing a President, it was moved by Mr Butler and seconded by Mr Smith 'That a President of the Forty Club be appointed'… This was carried on the understanding that Rule 7…be not interfered with... (Rule 7 -At each meeting a chairman shall be elected for the following meeting). It was further moved by Mr Smith and seconded by Mr Vasey…That Mr Eliot Nelson be the first President of the Forty Club…This was passed unanimously.
It appears from the records that up to this date no one member had taken a positive role in chairmanship. Rule 7 allowed for a chairman to be elected for the following meeting and this appears to have been carried out for the annual meetings as well.
In October 1905…Mr Eliot Nelson was again elected President for a second year. The desirability of instituting the office of Vice President in connection with the Forty Club then became the subject of a somewhat prolonged conversation which resulted in a motion by Mr Butler seconded by Mr Smith that a Vice President be elected. Mr Pexton however moved and Mr Hind seconded an amendment in favour of no Vice which was carried finally...
There appears to have been an error in procedure here, the amendment was out of order and in any case was unnecessary. In any event the decision was overturned at the following Annual Meeting when Mr Nelson was elected the Club's first Vice President.
The minutes record that in October 1906 Mr H.Vasey was elected President and Mr E. Nelson elected the first Vice President.
Mr Vasey was re-elected President for the second year running in 1907 while Mr Nelson and Mr Hall were elected Vice Presidents. Members were urged to co-operate in…all that concerns the welfare of the Society… The Committee ...also feel assured that this club is filling a distinct gap in the social life of the town...
Meeting Places
For the first 17 to 18 years of its existence the 40 Club met at the Balmoral Hotel in Westborough. The first meeting in 1900 was held on a Monday evening at 8.30 but for the following two years meetings were held on a Thursday at 8.15. For the session 1903/4 the day had changed to Tuesday starting at 8.00pm. This continued for the whole of the decade and beyond.
The minutes for October 1903 record that…With a view to increasing the membership of the club, Messrs Nelson, Lilley, Hind and Vasey were deputed to make enquiries as to a suitable place of meeting on unlicensed premises...
The Central Cafe and the Albermarle Cafe were both considered but...After full discussion it was decided to approach the Proprietor of the Balmoral with a view to receiving better accommodation… Members were obviously happy with the outcome as they stayed at the Balmoral for a further 15 years In fact, even by the following January, the minutes record that…Under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Hall thirteen other members were relegated to such snug quarters that they positively beamed with delight upon one another from opposite sides of a table admirably adapted for separating (if necessary) two antagonistic forces. The members who seemed to enjoy such a state of happiness were Messrs…
At the Annual Meeting on October30th 1906 it was reported that…It may be noted that the session terminated earlier than usual, the accommodation provided for us not being of a kind to revive a languishing interest which the approaching close of a session invariably seems to encourage...
There are tantalising and often conflicting references as to whether meetings should be held on licensed or unlicensed premises. The appointment of stewards suggests that drinks were available but this seems to have been restricted for the most part to the second part of the meeting which was devoted to song and recitation. I think we may infer some difference of opinion between members as to whether drinking should play a part in the evenings activities or not, and if so, when. At the Annual Meeting in 1903, Rule 6 as amended was carried. It reads…All meetings shall be held at the Balmoral Hotel from 8-10 pm on Tuesday during which time refreshments shall not be served in the room. The rent for the room was paid up to April 1904 at £ 1. 5. 0…
Although the Balmoral was the club’s venue for 17 years, the Westfield and Albermarle Hotels were used before a move to the Rutland Rooms in 1920. This also coincided with a change in evening from Tuesday to Thursday which has continued to the present day.
The first annual subscription in 1900/01 was 2/ ~, increasing the following year to 2/6. During the First World War, it was 3/6 and 6/- by the Second World War. By 1960, members were paying 15/- for the privilege of membership.
Membership
Membership, as we know only too well, has fluctuated over the years. The magical 40 members was achieved as early as February 13th 1902, when…MrMark Higham and Mr W Waddington were elected members of the club thus completing our membership of 40. High water mark reached 40...
It was after this watershed that the rule to restrict membership to 40 was expanded to cover, in addition, Past Presidents and non-resident members. Average attendance however was quite low, around 10 -15, as early minutes confirm. Members also appear to have made a habit of arriving late…November 14th 190I… The chairman spoke upon the desirability of having a rule fining members arriving late…
At a meeting of the committee on January 8th 1904…After an enquiry as to the number of members in the Forty Club Mr Hall moved and Mr Geldard seconded, “That a list of members be exhibited conspicuously in the room at each meeting of the club”.. Was this inspired by absenteeism or late arrivals or was it intended to inspire members to attract new members?
A ‘besetting evil’
Minutes for the meeting held on December 22nd 1902 record…This, the last meeting of the old year was to have been a Social and Musical Evening but owing either to the inclement weather, the festivities of the season or other causes, our members were conspicuous by their absence. No meeting was held.
In the Annual Report for 1907/08 we read… This report cannot close without a word of lament as to the unpunctuality of many of our members and your committee now feel that some determined effort should be made to overcome this besetting evil and they appeal to the members for their hearty co-operation in this and all matters that concern the welfare of the society They also feel assured that the club is filling a distinct gap in the social life of this town and are confident that with renewed efforts of each individual member, the Forty Club can become still more useful, enjoyable and prosperous in the coming session…And again the following year…The committee recognise that the absence of certain members (those amongst the oldest) is unavoidable but members whose attendances are limited to 5,4,3 and 2 cannot be said to be discharging their obligations to the club in the manner necessary for its welfare and advancement I t should surely be possible to devise some scheme wherebythe club shall consist of 40 members in interested and regular attendance. The attainment of such an ideal would open the way to great possibilities..15 members had failed to make more than 5 attendances during the past session.
Good Works
The early history of the Forty Club is closely linked with that of the Scarborough Amicable Society which was founded in March 1729 “with the intention of clothing and educating the children of the poor of Scarborough”. There are numerous references in the early minutes to the concerts and dinners which were held to raise funds for the Amicable Society and other worthy local causes.
The first Annual Smoking Concert was held as early as March 12th 1900…E. Nelson in the chair, about 100 guests present. Excellent musical programme.. There were toasts to The Queen, The Army and Navy and The Forty Club… Despite the excitement occasioned by the presence in the town of Arcwright-Schiener there was an excellent attendance and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The meeting dispersing at 10.55pm everybody enjoying themselves and voting “a jolly good do”.
After the business was completed…the members, to the number of 28 + 5friends adjourned upstairs and partook of the hospitality of Mr & Mrs Garrad* at dinner. Later a successful Smoking Concert was held the proceedings being kept up till 12 pm (*the hotel manager and his wife).
Between March and May 1902 there are some intriguing entries in the minutes which suggest that there had been some disagreement in the club concerning how the financial arrangements for recent ‘smokers’ had been handled. At a committee meeting in March 1902…The recent concert was discussed and to show the channels through which the money was distributed Mr Lilley moved and Mr Vasey seconded “That a full Report and Balance Sheet be submitted to the Forty Club at its next meeting – Carried”...On March 20th…The Hon Sec read the committee recommendation “that the channels through which the dinner tickets had been distributed should be entered upon the minutes”
A letter was read from Mr Lilley resigning his position as a member of “The Forty”it was not accepted the members being of opinion that the club should not at any time recognise the persona/ and private matters of its members.. Mr Lilley did not resign
On January 24th 1903…that a Smoking Concert be he/d the object being to aid the distressed…that the proceeds be devoted to providing free dinners for necessitous children, that the dinner tickets be handed over for distribution to the teachers of the various schools and that payment be made periodically to the various serving agencies only on the presentation to the Treasurer of the numbers of tickets received. The following January… A letter was read from Mr W Ascough Secretary to the Scarborough Education Committee calling attention to the free dinner scheme for poor school children and inviting the co-operation of the Forty Club in the work.. Mr Ascough was heard that evening in support of his letter and it was agreed to hold a ‘Smoker’. A piano was hired for the smoker in 1904 at a cost of 4/-
The 'Smoker' on December 5th (1912) proved one of the most successful on record. Many new features were introduced. The programme included the cream of local talent, artistes from the Aquarium and Royal Electric Palace de Lux by kind permission of the respective managements, and Mr Percy Brown’s Orchestral Band participated...
Our club was founded in a time of great social deprivation and there is no doubt that like many other organisations of its day members took a philanthropic view of their activities. In addition to supporting the Amicable Society, it was decided in 1907…to arrange a concert for the workhouse inmates subject to the approval of the Board of Guardians…A later minute reported that…This concert was a great success being thoroughly enjoyed by the inmates and all present…and later…Another concert was given to the inmates of the workhouse and it has ever since been a question of controversy whether the inmates or their more fortunate brothers enjoyed themselves the best…
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In March 1909…A letter received from Mr Dyde, Master of the Workhouse, was read thanking the Forty Club for the hospitality extended to the inmates of the workhouse and to the staff on March 11th1909 and a/so inviting the members of the Forty and their friends to a social gathering on a date suitable to all concerned…
Social Activities.
Apart from the concerts arranged for good causes members appear to have enjoyed a regular round of songs and recitations following the weekly club meetings.
Purely social events have been held over the years to which ladies were often invited. In 1910…A party of the Forty Club accompanied by their wives travelled by excursion (train) to Leeds... A saloon was engaged and to enliven the journey a piano was carried aboard...
…Mr Harter introduced the question of organising a country ramble. The idea was received favourably and it was agreed to bring the matter forward again when storm and tempest are no longer with us...
In 1911…It was reported that the Chief Constable did not view with favour the holding of whist drives on licensed premises...
A very successful “Ladies Night” was held on March 12th 1912. This was held at the Balmoral and there was a large attendance, who enjoyed an interesting lantern lecture by Mr .Witty, followed by songs. This event was recorded as…The outstanding feature of the Year.. Perhaps because of this success, a resolution was proposed by Mr. Graham… that the ladies be invited to the Annual dinner; after discussion the resolution was lost...
The Ladies Social Evening in 1914 was, however, not a success. The minutes record 'a failure' and a levy of 1/. per member was made to defray the expenses of £2/4/2.
An annual dinner was usually held although there were breaks during the war years and the early 50s. These were male only affairs but there were regular discussions as to whether ladies should be invited. The mid 1950s finally saw the admission of ladies to the annual dinner.
The earliest annual dinner menu we have dates from April 11th 1911. It is interesting to note that there was a toast to 'The Ladies' although no ladies were present and a member,
Mr. Ansell, was the responder!
Ladies were first invited to the annual dinner in 1956 when a toast was proposed by
Mr Proctor and responded to by Mrs Bland. The following year no dinner was held and a male only social took its place.
At a committee meeting in 1960… It was agreed that at all social outings the ladies would be invited.. But did this also include the dinner? A toast to the ladies does not appear on the annual dinner toast list until 1972 but it has remained there ever since.
Ladies in the Club?
Since its foundation the Forty Club has been a male only preserve although ladies have
often been welcomed at social events. A suggestion in 1909 that…members of the weaker sex… be allowed to address club members on the subject of women's suffrage met with a unanimous 'No!'
In 1914 however, at what is minuted as a general meeting of the club, a paper on Shakespeare's Songs was …illustrated by several part songs and solos which were excellently rendered by Mr. Davidson's quartet party comprising Mrs Tate, Miss Croft, Miss Harvey and Mr Crawshaw'.
Were these the first ladies to be present at a general meeting of the Forty Club?
There is further evidence of differing opinions as to the merits of inviting ladies to club meetings. On November 20th 1917 …it was agreed that members could invite ladies to be present on the occasion of the musical evening to be held on December 11th.. However, 7 days later… arising out of the minutes referring to ladies being invited on December 11th, it was resolved that such minute be rescinded...
Putting aside any social events already mentioned I was until recently under the impression that the first time a lady had been present at a general meeting of the club was on 28th March 1974 at the fixed debate. This was the first meeting of my presidency and the topic for debate was: 'This house considers that marriage is outdated'. The presence of the lady reporter caused much consternation amongst more senior members, but, as President, I welcomed her and she remained for the full meeting. Press coverage was excellent with 12 column inches on page two of the Scarborough Evening News under the heading “Sex and the single woman in 75 years”. The motion was defeated by 23 votes to 6. However, at the next meeting, under matters arising…Mr. Moor expressed the opinion that the Scarborough Evening News should not have sent a lady reporter to our last general meeting and this should be noted when we invite a news reporter to future meetings…'
It appears, however, that this was not the unique event I had previously thought. After a meeting addressed by Mr. Alec Spearman M.P. on 20tb January 1955, the minutes report… Before the meeting commenced, a vote was taken by the chairman to decide whether a lady reporter from the Evening News be admitted of not. The Aye’s and No's were equal, which necessitated the chairman's casting vote. This turned out to be in favour and the lady was duly admitted. One member walked out…(the words ‘in protest’ are deleted from the minutes)
The following week…Mr. Ashley explained his reason for leaving early last week and proposed that a letter be sent to the press explaining that an alteration of rules was required for nomination of female members. Mr. Poole seconded… This was not the end of the matter, however, because the following week…the minutes were read and approved after the meeting had endorsed the secretary's action in not sending a letter to the press as instructed last week... Mr. Ashley later resigned…due to the club's decision to hold open nights and use advertising…
So, the minutes continue to reveal fascinating gems about our early history. Mr Ashley and many other past members would surely turn in their graves if they knew that in 1996 a woman speaker was welcomed to the club for the first time in its history!
General Papers
The principal objective of the club has always, of course, been discussion and debate. The range of subject matter covered over 100 years has been enormous. Many discussions were on topical issues of the time, others have re-appeared many times in differing guises. The following extracts from the early minutes give a flavour of the club in its formative years.
January 15th 1900 This is the first recorded general meeting. Mr Downing spoke on The Growth of Monopoly in English Industry. No details are recorded other that speakers from the floor.
January 29th 1900 Mr Bowerman gave a special talk on Genesis of Crime... illustrated with lime light slides and attended byabout 30 guests in addition to members. This was followed by a musical programme...
March 19th 1900 Thismeeting appears to have been the first Impromptu although it is not referred to as such in the minutes…impromptu speeches were then made by the members present upon subjects written by the members and drawn for…
April 9th 1900 The chairman then introduced the essayist who in an interesting paper tried to prove, That the consumption of alcoholic liquor weakens the brain, impairs the nervous system, damages the digestive system, violates the muscles, shortens life and is detrimental to the happiness and we/fare of the community…
April 18th 1901 This was the first of numerous meetings in which women featured -if only in discussion! The subject of debate being… Should Women have the Parliamentary Franchise?.. No conclusions are recorded!
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May 2nd 1901 Drink was a subject discussed quite frequently at the Forty Club On this occasion the question was… Is Drink the Cause of Poverty?.. As most members spoke mostly in the affirmative no vote was taken!
November 28th 1901 Mr Whitehead gave a somewhat lengthy introduction to his paper upon 'The Coming Education Bill' and it was moved and carried that the meeting be adjourned and that he be allowed ¾ of an hour in which to finish his paper next week
March 5th 1903 A debate which asked…which possesses the greatest power for good; the pulpit, the press or the stage ? recorded a first vote of 5, 6 and 3 respectively. The second vote ran 8 for the pulpit and 5 for the press.
March 19th 1903 A topic which has, understandably, featured regularly in debate over the years has been Scarborough. Questions raised on March 19th included..The desirability or otherwise of a further addition to the number of Wards in the Borough;. The constitution of the Local Education Authority, and The prosperity of Scarborough and its dependence on the season…
April 30th 1903 This was gloriously informal. At 8.15 there were but two members present, the essayist and the secretary. By 8.30 the number had increased to four and a, few minutes later saw the arrival of the fifth But sad to relate one took to himself the wings of the evening leaving us a disconsolate but by no means inharmonious quartet.. This minute continues in similar vein for several pages.
November 17th 1903 A debate on the subject…Are the working classes of this country injured by the policy of so called Free Trade?.. was adjourned several times and spread over four consecutive meetings.
December 15th 1903 Mr Smith chose for his subject The Municipal Debt in relation to which he delivered himself of some pertinent and forceful criticism. The members present appreciated the speakers’ remarks notwithstanding the unfortunate break in proceedings during which time Mr Smith was urgently required to attend to an important business matter…
March 29th 1904 Mr Butler addressed the meeting on the question Is Scarborough as a watering place up to date ? The discussion was interesting and profitable...
November 15th 1904 A paper on…Burns and his Times by Mr Pexton was voted one of the best papers ever given...
December 6th 1904 Impromptu…Is there any method extant for the punishment of crime and does severe punishment do anything in that way..?
January 17th 1905 Impromptu. Is the present age an excessively competitive one? The evils of the drink traffic.
February 20th 1906…Mr N. Todd gave his lecture entitled How some people live. It was admirably illustrated by lime light pictures.
NB. The Forty Club met to the number of 8 of Feb 27 but the proceedings were brief and of a very informal character.
March 6th 1906…The programme forthe evening was Holiday jaunts in Scotland and Ireland Mr Atkinson apologised to Mr Hall for having taken up 80 minutes of the precious time. Mr Hall however kindly agreed to give his paper, A trip to Iceland, on some future occasion one and all agreed that another jolly evening had been spent
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November 13th 1906 Mr Vasey in his paper on the Forty Club…impressed upon members the importance of reading up matters for the subjects to come before them He also recommended the members to read and inwardly digest literature, poetry and history as the only practical means of enlarging the vocabulary for public speaking…
February 26th 1907 Impromptu…Should women have votes? Should barmaids be abolished?
March 26th 1907 A paper on Sir Arthur Sullivan…was illustrated by songs.
November 19th 1907 Impromptu… That the advent of women into public life is detrimental to the best interests of the state. After some lively discussion the vote was taken and the proposition was declared carried…
December 31st 1907 New Years Eve…devoted to a musical evening with most members contributing towards the programme. The meeting concluded with the singing of Au/d Long Syne...
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March 9th 1909…A very practical exposition of poultry farming was given by Mr Underwood. The personal experiences of the speaker were unreservedly made to the members from the dreams of fortune -unfortunately as yet unrealised -which first tempted him to disasters which would have broken the heart of a less philosophical follower of the hobby...
November 9th 1909 Presidential Address… Mr Butlersuggested that some meeting during the session might be arranged to which wives and lady friends of members should be invited…
January 25th 1910 Impromptu… Is smoking injurious? Should the lethal chamber be brought into requisition for imbeciles etc?..
February 1st 1910 A paper on Sullivan and his Times was interspersed with the following musical selection from Sir Arthur's operas and other compositions. (List follows)
April 5th 1910 Impromptu… Do insects display intelligence? What is the best method of disposing of the carcass of the whale now stranded at Stainton Dale?
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November 8th 1910 Impromptu…Should members of Parliament be paid? Should England adopt the metric system? What should constitute legitimate grounds for divorce?.
December 20th 1910 Mr Yorke read a paper on the motor car…H e stated that the invention of pneumatic lyres led immediately to the possibilities of the motor car which fourteen years ago was practically unknown.. ... The major part of Mr Yorke’s paper dealt with the construction of the body of the car and samples of wood, leather etc. used for that purpose were handed round for inspection...
This paper has of necessity been backward looking and in fact further research of the minute books could yield a number of interesting future papers. But our centenary, coupled as it is with a new millennium, is a time to look forward as well as back. What does the next centenary hold for our club? In 1910 members, perhaps surprisingly, were contemplating the same question. One final quotation from our records of 1910:
Among the speeches which followed was a notable one by M J. Graham who in the course of his remarks carried the members into futurity to a vision of the Forty Club of 2010, a vision of 40 members all present and all early, all orators and possessed of an enlightened intellect, sitting in a palatial abode reviewing the proceedings of the evening.
What better vision, gentlemen, can we have but that?