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In 1899 the Hoffmann Manufacturing Company opened a
factory in New Street Chelmsford to manufacture Ball and Roller Bearings and
during 1907 the Hoffmann Athletic Club was formed. Headquarters were at the
works and football was played at Coval Lane. The Works Directors purchased
an 8 acre field in Rainsford Road in 1919 which was to be made suitable for
all outdoor sports, and on July 18 1919 the first Athletic Sports Meeting
was held. The Sports were followed by a Fete at which music was provided by
the Band of the 2nd Essex Regiment. This in turn was followed by dancing on
the lawn to the 'Hoffmann Orchestra'. During the period
1920 to 1936 indoor activities such as Billiards and Darts were established
at the works club headquarters. Danced and Concerts were held by clearing
the Mess Hall/Canteen. These concerts were given by employees.
In 1937 the works football team had a successful run in
both the Amateur and FA Cups. Crowds in excess of 3,000 turned up at the
Rainsford Road Ground and saw games against Ipswich Town (Champions of
Southern League) and many other top teams.
By 1938 the Company had built the three floor Social
Hall that was to play a major part in the Club history for the next 50
years. It was used as a canteen for employees and provided more facilities
for club rooms. Included was a Girls club room used for Music, Table Tennis
and Dancing. At this time the Club was flourishing with a total of 17
different sections. Bathrooms were provided for lady members and were
available for use at the charge of 2d.
The sprung dance floor that had been laid in the Social
Hall was considered the best in East Anglia. To mark the opening of the
Social Hall in December 1938 the Club, now known as the ‘Hoffmann Athletic
and Social Club’, staged a Variety Concert. This ran for 5 nights to full
houses of 450. All artistes were Hoffmann employees including the Hoffmann
Orchestra of 24 musicians, the Hoffmann Male Voice Choir, the eight dancers
of the Hoffmann Follies, and the Hoffmann Hill Billies.
During the war years 1939 – 1945 the Factory had a
major role to fulfil and employees worked many hours of overtime. In
consequence the indoor and outdoor activities were considerably reduced but
those that continued aided morale during this difficult time for club,
factory, town and country.
In May 1950 a new Six Rink Bowling Green was opened by
Mr. J.W. Garton the Managing Director of the Hoffman Manufacturing Company.
The Green had been laid in the North West corner of the Rainsford Road
Sports field taking the place of the Tennis Sections six grass courts, which
in turn were moved to a strip of land behind the football stand. Prior to
the opening of their own green which had been formed in 1944, had been
playing on a Public Green (now Central Park).
1951 to 1958 were extremely active years. The club
membership was in excess of 4,000 with each member paying 2 old pence per
week (deducted from wages), plus a small section fee. A Club Secretary was
employed; his salary plus that of the Grounds man and Bar/Club Room Steward
were paid by the company.
During this period well known sporting personalities
both visited and played at the Club. Among these were Joe Davies (Billiards
and Snooker), Johnny Leach and the Rowe twins (Table Tennis). In addition to
the regular Football, Hockey, Cricket, Athletic Meetings, Gala days and
Flower shows. The 1914 – 1918 ‘War Huts’ located at the southern end of the
field were used to capacity.
In 1952 the Company purchased a four and half acre
field situated in St. Fabians Drive (now Acres End) which had previously
been used by the YMCA. This was then used by the Football Section.
On 29th August 1959 Essex started a 3 day
County Cricket Championship Match against Lancashire on the Rainsford Road
ground. Paid attendance on days 1 and 2 exceeded 2500. The Essex team
included Trevor Bailey, Doug Insole and Barry Knight. Lancashire included
Cyril Washbrook and Brian Statham. This one match was so successful that
Essex asked the Club to stage two further games in 1961, one against
Derbyshire and the other against a South African Team that included three
youthful international stars of the future in Colin Bran, Eddie Barlow and
Peter Pollock.
During the summer of 1964 The International Cavaliers
visited the club ground to play Essex in a one day cricket match. This
aroused much interest as the visitor’s team included Dennis Compton in
addition to four New Zealand Test players. There was now a very urgent need
for a new pavilion on the ground, and with financial help from the company,
a new prefabricated building was erected. This was officially opened on 18th
July 1964 and proved a great asset to the club. Many of the activities
tacking place in the works club rooms were transferred to the new pavilion.
On 23rd October 1965 an International Hockey
Match, England v Holland was played on the Rainsford ground. The game was
televised on ATV and in Holland. Well over 3000 spectators watched the
match. The splendid condition of the ground was highly praised, particularly
by the Dutch players and officials.
1967 – 1968 this period was probably on of the most
successful for the club, as expansion was tacking place in every direction.
Three new sections were formed, Motor Car, Photography and Needlecraft. This
made 20 sections in all. Both Bars, one at the Works, and the other in the
Sports field Pavilion were very popular, and Social activities at the Works
and Sports field were well attended. The majority of the 4,500 employees
were members of the club. For one ‘Gala Night’ no fewer than 3,000 tickets
were applied for!
On 6th July 1969 Essex played Northants in
the John Player Sunday League at the club ground, but unfortunately for the
5,000 spectators rain permitted only 5 overs to be bowled.
In 1969 the weekly subscription for the club increased
to 6 old pence (2.5p). To avoid the possibility of loosing members this
subscription entitled members to enter a quarterly draw for a prize of £750
or a new motor car. The first winner chose the car, a Vauxhall Astra. Within
three years the draw had to be modified to a prize of £1,000 as this sum
would no longer buy any make of car.
After some Government intervention during 1969 – 1970 a
merger of RANSOME & MARLES, HOFFMANN, and POLLARD took place. At this time
there were nine principle factories in the UK, the Chelmsford works being
the largest. In total the merged group employed 15,000 people. As from 1st
January 1970, the new company was called RANSOME HOFFMANN POLLARD LTD. But
after a few years it became RHP.
The new management fully supported the Club and
initially made n major changes, although the name had to be changed to RHP
(CHELMSFORD) SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB. The famous RANSOME & MARLES Brass Band
who made over 400 broadcasts, and were the first Brass Band to appear on
television, also had to change its name to RHP Brass Band. They made several
appearances at Chelmsford but due to high cost had to disband after a few
years.
1971 – 1973 the club was beginning to have financial
problems. The introduction of VAT (10%) having to be paid on subscriptions
and bar turnover. By 1973 the total membership dropped to 2,366. In an
attempt to revive interest an annual ‘Miss RHP (Chelmsford)’ competition was
introduced and this proved popular for several years. During 1973 a Retired
Members section was formed, with a large number of members being made
redundant or taking early retirement, this quickly became popular.
The company made big changes to the Social Hall
building in 1974. The canteen was moved from the ground floor to the dance
floor above. This floor was covered by a drugget which had to be removed
before any Badminton or Dancing could take place. In addition the main Bar
and Billiard Hall were turned into offices. To partly compensate, a new
Games Room was built onto the Sports field Pavilion.
1975 – 1978 the number of sections in the Club had now
been reduced to ten and most of these were struggling. Exceptions were
Carpet Bowls (now playing in the Sports field Pavilion), Freshwater angling
and Outdoor Bowls which in 1978, with a membership of 65, reported their
most successful season winning two County Titles (County Fours and County
Double Fours) and Chelmsford & District Pairs.
In October 1978 the Duke of Gloucester landed on the
Sports field in a helicopter prior to visiting the Works.
In 1980 the Company instructed the Club to reduce the
number of grounds men from two to one. This forced the Club to leave the
YMCA field, and football returned to play on the Rainsford Road ground. The
Club was now struggling financially and in 1980 made a loss of £3,805. Many
operating costs previously paid by the Company had to be taken over by the
Club. By now the numbers employed by the RHP group had fallen from 15,000 to
8,000. Several substantial redundancies had occurred at the Chelmsford
Works.
During 1981 an application was made for planning
permission to build houses on both Sports fields. This met with much local
opposition, and was refused by Chelmsford Borough Council. On appeal to the
Department of Environment a three day public enquiry took place in December
1982. The decision of this enquiry was to give permission to build 33 houses
on the YMCA ground (which had not been used since 1980), but to refuse
permission to build on the Rainsford Road ground. The Inspector said “I
consider it would be a significant loss to the Club and facilities of
Chelmsford if this high quality sports ground were to be lost to houses”.
The Club’s pleasure at saving their field was
short-lived as within a few months, the Company gave instructions to cease
using the ground for football and cricket from 1984. This meant that the
only active sections remaining in the Club were Angling, Badminton, Carpet
Bowls and Outdoor Bowls, Retired Members and Entertainment, with Dances
still being held in the Social Hall.
In June 1984 the Company instructed the Club to get the
turf uplifted from the Rainsford Road ground and sell it immediately. Very
sadly despite resistance, the Club had to comply. Once the turf had been
removed the state of the ground deteriorated quickly resembling a ‘tip’. As
had been anticipated the Company soon applied for permission to build 58
houses (an increase from the previous application in 1981). On this occasion
the application included the demolition of the existing Sports Pavilion, and
the erection of a new pavilion alongside the bowling green, which would
remain. Once again the Chelmsford Borough Council refused application, and
it went to appeal.
By early 1985 large parts of the Club had ceased to
operate, the grounds man and bar staff had been made redundant. On 17th
January 1985 a ‘Closing Night Party’ was held in the Sports field Pavilion,
this was the last night the bar was open. The building remained to be used
by the Bowls and Retired Members Sections.
In October 1986 the Department of Environment held
another public enquiry to discuss the Councils rejection of the Company’s
proposal to build houses. This time there was no opposition as the Bowls
Section in particular stood to benefit. Even residents in St. Fabians Drive
did not object this time as they preferred new houses at the bottoms of
their gardens rather than a ‘tip’.
As expected in January 1987 the Department of
Environment gave permission for houses to be built, adding a condition that
a new sports pavilion was to be built before any houses were occupied.
Due to redundancies there was now less than 1,000
employees at the Works, and Club membership totalled around 700. Dances and
Badminton were still taking place in the Social Hall.
The Bowls Section became involved with the developers
‘Countryside’ in discussing details of the new pavilion to be built for the
Club. In September 1987 the old sports field pavilion was demolished and
work commenced on building the new houses and the new pavilion.
By February 1988 the new pavilion was completed and the
Bowls Section had the task of getting it furnished etc. for the opening of
the summer season. Most of the chairs, tables etc. came from the Social Hall
at the Works, as it had now been officially announced that the Works were to
close.
On 29th April 1988 the new pavilion was
officially opened on the occasion of a Bowls Match against Chelmsford Bowls
Club. By November 1988 all 58 new houses on the Club’s old field had been
built.
1989 – 1990 The management of RHP Group had moved to
Newark, and whilst the majority of employees had left during 1988-1989, it
wasn’t until December 1989 that the gates of the New Street Works were
finally closed after 90 years.
Although the Club was please to have a new pavilion, a
sizable car park and a six rink bowling green, the long term outlook was
uncertain. Initially the Club was told by the Company that no decision would
be made for 6 months (December 1989). The Club was then given a further 6
months, and then in September 1990 another 12 months, but at this time the
Club was informed that the property would be put on the open market in
October 1991.
During the twelve months grace the Club tried to
persuade the Company not to put it up for sale, but to give it to them in
return for a lifetime of service, or if not, to lease it to the Club. The
Company refused but said it would be sold as it stood and not for
development.
In May 1991 Chelmsford Bowls Club expressed an interest
in buying the site in partnership with the Club. Very many meetings were
held, but eventually the Chelmsford Bowls Club dropped out. The Club was not
too disappointed as it was foreseen that many problems could arise
The Company were asking for a price of £300,000
(discounted by 50% to the Club). Further negotiations got the price down to
£110,000. The sole aim of the Club, somehow or other, was to retain the use
of the bowling green and Pavilion for its members. In an attempt to raise
money to purchase the site, help was sought from organisations including the
Sports Council, Playing Fields Association, Foundation for Sports and Arts
and Essex County Bowling Association. All these attempts proved negative
Many discussions were held with the Chelmsford Borough
Council who was prepared to buy the site, and then lease it back to the
Club, but their terms proved unattractive.
In November 1991 it was suggested that the Club members
try to raise the money themselves in the form of interest free loans. In
promises a total of £24,000 was pledged. Many fund raising events were
organised and these were well supported, not only by Club members, but also
by other local Bowls Clubs, who were equally anxious for RHP not to loose
their green. The Club’s Bank and brewery promised loans, the repayment of
which could be afforded.
After more negotiations with the Company the asking
figure had been reduced to £85,000. In July 1992 the Company was told that
the maximum that the Club could afford to pay was £65,000; consisting of
£13,000 from Club funds, £24,000 from members loans, £20,000 from Bank and
£8,000 Brewery loans respectively. To the great joy of the Club the Company
said they would accept £65,000 subject to a speedy completion. After many
discussions and much correspondence with the Club’s Solicitors (Hill &
Abbott) the contract was exchanged on 12th November 1992, and on
1st December 1992 the deal was completed. The Company gave
permission in writing for the Club to continue using the name of RHP and the
logo.
The members’ loans which had been pledged were paid in
full. The one and half acre site now belonged to the 250 members of the
Club. Trustees had to be elected and several changes made to the Club rules
Now with an assured future the Club took on a new lease
of life and during the next two years 1993 – 1994 continuing efforts were
made to obtain some money from the Foundation for Sports and Arts. The
initial application having been made in 1991, the Club had always been
hopeful of some financial assistance from the ‘Foundation’. Persistence and
patience finally paid off, for after a period during which 20 letters were
exchanged and a personal inspection of the Club accounts, a gift of £20,000
was made to the Club in June 1994. This was given specifically to enable the
Club to repay members their interest free loans. During the two years
between paying the Club the loans and receiving the gift, several members
had generously changed their loans to donations.
Today the Club is a happy marriage of Ex Hoffmann/RHP
employees and new members that have joined since the closure of the Factory.
The special comradeship built during the Factory days continues unchanged
across all members old and new
Taken from
the book ‘History of RHP (Hoffmann) Sports and Social Club’
by Percy
‘Mac’ McDonald, 1998.
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