WHITFIELD CLUB Clubs of Whitfield

DOVER KENT ARCHIVES

Page Updated:- Friday, 23 August, 2024.

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Paul Skelton

Earliest 9th Nov 1969

Whitfield Club

Open 2024+

14 Napchester Road

Whitfield

https://www.facebook.com

Above shows Whitfield Club 2005.

Above shows Whitfield Club 2007 before the smoking ban.

Above shows Whitfield Club 2008 with covered smoking area outside.

Above pictures shows the Whitfield Club Google shot 2005.

Arial shot from the 80s.

Above shows the bar area 2008.

Above shows the function room 2005.

Information from John Marsh of Nursery says:- "The Whitfield Club was founded in 1946 by a group of local Gentlemen in The Old Village Hall, then located in The Drove which has now been demolished.

"The Founder Members all paid 10 shillings membership for two ‘Nissen Huts' to be built on land located in Napchester Road which was donated by a local woman in the understanding that it would not be sold on for a profit.

"Later a Prefabricated Dance Hall was added next to the huts. A list of the founder members is given below."

George PALMER, Tim PALMER, Miss RICHARDS, Mr LINCOLN, Charlie ASHBY, Bert HAMBROOK, Mr HARROW, Sid REBBEGK, Jim BIGGS, Mr SLARKES, Jack COLLARD, Bill COLLARD, Capt.Bill SPENCER, Bert SUTTON, Capt Dick ROBERTS, Charlie ASHBY, Gilbert BARTLET, Vic WHITEHOUSE, Steve BINEAS, Dave JOYCE, Cyril TRAYNOR, George WEEKS, Bert COCKS, Tooty ASHDOWN, Arthur MOAT, Bert OLDHAM, Bert MARTIN, John HINMAN, William BROADLEY, Ben TAYLOR, Pat WALL, Vernon WALL, Len TANTON, Ted HOPPER, John MARSH,

Steve Bineas and John Marsh are the only surviving founder members today (9/2/2010). Below is shown one of the first receipts for membership.

Mark Jennings has found some old photographs from 199, just before the new Barwick's building was built. Hopefully further details for each photograph will be added.

Photo 1 1966 at a 21st birthday doo. George Palmer, George Keates (Chairman) and Nancy Whispen (Sec.)

Photo 2. 1966 showing the old original skittle alley.

Photo 3. 1966 card game.

Photo 4. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 5. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 6. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 7. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 8. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 9. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 10. 1966 at a 21st birthday doo.

Photo 11. 1966.

The main building was built in by Barwicks and won awards for it's innovative design.

Mark Jennings says the following:- "The main building was designed by Williams Architects, built by Barwicks between 1968 & 1969 and officially opened on November 9th 1969 by Miss Richards with George Keates being the chairman and Nancy Whispen secretary.

Above photo showing the new club in 1969.

Above showing various photos from the opening in 1969.

Keith Barrett was the 1st Steward in the new club building who left at Christmas 1969."

Above photo showing George Keates and Keith Barrett. All above photos kindly sent by Mark Jennings.

"The later function hall extension was built between July 1983 & May 1984 by C.G. Smith and Colin Barker and opened on 18th May 1984."

The club today is run as a non profit making private members club and has been in operation since 1969 in its present building. In 2005 profits mainly through the sports facilities were low and so extensive renovations were carried out to allow it to include private functions as well as sports. Today, no sports are played in the function hall, only Yoga and Keep-fit but Snooker still being played in its renovated upper floor area.

Above photographs by kind permission Mark Jennings, Whitfield Club.

In 2007 the smaller hall was renovated to cater for families and smaller functions.

Above photographs by kind permission Mark Jennings, Whitfield Club.

Above photo showing the people celebrating the opening of its extension in the early 80s.

Left to right Dave Ivory (Whitbread Rep.) Jim Butler (Sec.) Tom Baldwin (Chairman) Chris King (Whitbread Snr. Agent) Jim Biggs (Snr. Life Member) Wally Heart (Steward).

Later Tom Baldwin went on to become licensee of the "Fox" at Temple Ewell.

The club also houses an indoor skittle alley in a separate building to the right of the main club and currently have a Pétanque (Boules) area and operate a summer league, quite unique in this area at present.

Above picture show the plans of the building.

Above shows the plans of the area owned by the club.

From the Dover Express, 9 April, 2009

Jim Blenkinsop. 1991-93.	Mick Quested. 1993-95.
Lorna Veitch. 1995-2000.	George Huthart. 2000-10.
George Huthart again who will be leaving in June 2010.
Stephen Goldfinch 20th June 2010+
From the Dover Mercury, 5 November 2015. By Victoria Chessum. Club to undergo its first revamp since the Sixties. Jackie Goldfinch, chairman of the Whitfield Club, which is being refurbished. The Whitfield Club, which has accommodated generations of residents, is undergoing an extensive refurbishment this month. The premises, in Napchester Road, is having thousands spent on it to replace the bar, renew furniture and modernise the function rooms. Chairman Jackie Goldfinch, 32, of Cranleigh Drive, said this is the first overhaul it has had since the late 1960s. She hopes the club’s membership numbers will increase when the interior is transformed. The tight-knit community venue is only open to people who have signed up, or for those who pay to hire. But Mrs Goldfinch said it has a safe environment for adults and children, which still makes it popular with families. “In its heyday it used to be busy but over the years it has just dwindled,” she said. “Families come in the evenings with their children, and we also do a lot of family events.” It will be closed to the public from Sunday, November 22 and will have a grand re-opening at 7pm on Saturday, December 12. Builders, members of the committee and residents are dedicating their time to help get it finished in preparation for the Christmas events held throughout December. Mrs Goldfinch, who met her husband Stephen through the club, said: “We want to make it a hub of the community and for people to see it is really a community place. “We are not out to make profit, we are there for people to come and have a good time - we just want to stay open.”