Helmdon Youth Club

Helmdon Youth Club 1974-1986

an article by John Woodhams

Jim and Monica Humphrey started the youth club in November 1974 as a result of holding monthly discos for the young people of the village.

The first formal meeting was March 1975 and the first management and members committee meeting took place on 16 April 1975.

The management committee comprised Jim Humphrey (youth club leader) John Woodhams (secretary/treasurer) Harold Seckington (chairman) with Monica Humphrey, Jean Seckington and Pat Woodhams as helpers. On the members committee were Philip Brooks, Christine Russell, Debbie Ewing and Ian Russell.

The first youth club night was in March 1975. The club became affiliated to the National Association of Youth Clubs (Northamptonshire) in May 1975.

Jim Humphrey remained as youth club leader until May 1977 and then I took over in August 1977 and remained leader until May 1986. Both of us attended Club Leadership courses run by the Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs.

Other committee members during the twelve-year period of my involvement with the club were Mick Hall, Clive Turnham, Robert y Wilkinson, Mr P. Cohen and Sheila Somerton. Others serving on the members committee were Simon Alfandry, Linda Humphrey, Pauline Humphrey, Tony Humphrey, Helen Jessett, Karl Lidgley, Debbie Marsh, Jennifer Pendry, Brain Somerton, Sara Trumper and David Wilcox.

Our base was the Reading Room, with 43 members in 1974 rising to 82 in 1977. Activities were immensely varied. Indoors we played chess, had film shows, held whist drives, and learnt such things as enamelling, and played table tennis, pool and darts. We held discos in the Reading Room, in a barn, and on one occasion combined the disco with a barbecue.

Outdoor pursuits ranged from archery, basketball, cricket, fishing, football, ice skating, netball, to roller skating, swimming (at Towcester and Banbury), ten pin bowling and rounders. One occasion we tried an assault course at Bicester. Orienteering was very popular. We went by day to Bucknell and Badby Woods, and by night we used map and compass. The Helmdon Nightingales won the “Moonwalk” All-girls’ Trophy in 1985, and the youth club was the highest visiting team at “Barnowl” in 1980. In 1982 we held a youth fête and fun sports jointly with Helmdon Scouts, the attendance being over two hundred. The Helmdon Hellraisers (boys) won the moonwalk trophy in 1986.

The Club bought all of its equipment – table tennis tables, pool tables, record, record player and so on, through membership fees and fundraising events. Football strips were also purchased for the teams. The senior football team played friendly matches against the other clubs. The junior team played in the South Northants under-14s league and six-a-side competitions. There was one five-a-side girls’ team playing league matches in Northampton, and two boys’ five-a-sides playing at Daventry as well as Northampton. The netball team played in the Daventry league

We had many outings to such places as Blackpool (for the lights), to Wembley Arena (to see the Harlem Globe Trotters) and went annually to the sea. The Youth Club also arranged narrow boat holidays. Christmas, of course, was time for a party.

Many charities and organisations benefited from the £1,360 raised by sponsored events and other activities.

John Woodhams

(John served on the South Northants Leaders’ forum and South Northants District Forum. He was awarded a Certificate in Recognition of Services to the Young People of South Northants)

Youth Club Members over the years