Mill House Social Club

1934-59
The founders of the club, namely, Messrs. Bond, Fordham, Swift, Burchett, Pluckett and Champion, were members of an ex-servicemen's sub-club of the Dagenham W.M. Club, and it was their ambition to one day form a club of their own.

It was however, the enforced closure of the Broad Street Club in 1934 which accelerated their efforts in this direction, and enquiries were made as to the availability of suitable premises. Fortunately Mr Bond, who was acting secretary, heard of the vacancy of the Mill House from a Mr Foley, whose tenancy terminated that day.

Arrangements were made for Mr Bond to interview the owner, with a view to renting the property for the purpose of forming an ex-servicemen's club, and agreement was reached for Mr Bond to take over the tenancy for a weekly rental of 27s. 6d.

The first two weeks rent was paid from subscriptions from Messrs Bond, Fordham, Champion and Swift. In the meantime, efforts were being made to form the club, Police permission was sought and granted, sufficient gentlemen were recruited to form a Committee, and for convenience, a rule-book of the Broad Street Club was submitted to the Registrar General, after the necessary alterations were made as regards name and officials.

It was this convenience which inadvertently caused the name of the club to be changed from ex-servicemen's to The Mill House Social.

The club was opened with Mr Fordham as President and Mr Bond as Secretary. Stock at the opening was nine gallons of beer, glasses borrowed from the Anglers' Retreat, and seating accommodation was plank of wood resting over two buckets. Efforts were then made to get the place something like ship-shape, and Mr Fordham undertook the job of furnishing, whilst Mr Burchett planned the bar and saw to the decorating of the rooms.

Despite the desertion of several members when the Broad Street Club reopened, the progress of the club was maintained, and with the infulx of new members, it was felt that extensions were necessary. An option for the purchase of the property had already been obtained from the owner for the sum of £1,500. Several breweries were asked to advance the mortgage to secure the property, and finally, after an interview with Admiral Lake and Colonel Lake, Rayment & Co. agreed.

The need for extensions became more acute. By this time, the Secretaryship had been taken over by a Mr Foreham, and Mr S Piggott had been elected President. These two gentlemen were delegated to approach Rayment & Co. again for a further loan to finance the building of an extension. The appeal was successful and a loan of £3,000 was advanced.

In May, 1937 coinciding with the Coronation Festivities, a dinner was held in the club to mark the opening of the new extension, which constituted the club as it was up to the time of the addition of the new games room.

In 1947, during the term of office as President of Mr W Woods, and of Mr Brown as Secretary, a further valuable asset to the club was acquired by the purchase of the land fronting the premises.

During the course of the of the first 25 years of the club's existence, eight Presidents and seven Secretaries held office, the longest serving being Secretary, Mr W Smith, who held his position for ten years.

So from its humble beginning, the Mill House Social Club rose to its present position, financially sound and with property assets  that considerably increased in value. A worthy and fitting tribute to the efforts of those few gentlemen who laid the foundation.

[If anyone has or would like to compile a history of the club from 1959 to the present please contact the Club Secretary.]