In the late 60s, a group of us decided to try and raise some money for the Labour Party by running regular Bingo events in Ifield and West Green. They were very successful, and after a while were earning more than the Labour Party needed (imagine that!). So we decided that as the Labour Party owned little more than a typewriter in Crawley, we would try and raise enough money to have our own Club somewhere. This was a dream with many pitfalls before its completion.
We realised that we had to be single minded in this task, but needed to set up an organisation that was very supportive to the Party but separate with its own rules, including a Funds Officer and Committee structure. Some members of the Party did not like that idea, and thought that any money raised in their name should belong to the Party. If we had gone along with that, I feel that we would have been doomed from the start.
Labour Supporter's Club
Ewhurst Wood, Ifield, Crawley
West Sussex RH11 0AD
01293 517983
So in December 1972, a special meeting was called and the Crawley Labour Supporter’s Club was formed. I was elected as Secretary, and remained so for 26 years. The Committee included Andy Kane, Dick Barry, Don Whale, Bill Ledger, and Terry Wigmore, and we were all devoted to the idea of creating a home for Crawley Labour Party.
After many years of fund raising, trying to get deals from a brewery, loans from a bank etc, we started building up our bank balance... though this would be a long way short of the likely cost of the building. After much searching around for a place to lease or a site to build, we focused on Ewhurst Wood in West Green.
The Tories fought tooth and nail to try and stop us leasing the site from the Council, but were unsuccessful. We then chose Stoners of Crawley to design the building to our specifications. I then had to put in the planning application, and again the Tories tried to stop us... but failed. During all this activity, we were still running the two Bingo events, organising two dances a year at the Civic Hall, and other fund raising events; plus all our political activities for the party.
After seeing a number of breweries seeking deals, we finally accepted an offer from Whitbreads, which turned out very good for us. The Club was finally opened in December 1983 and was an immediate success; though at the time we had almost no money in the bank.
So the Committee for two years worked behind the bar for no pay, which enabled us to survive.
After a few years we decided to have an extension to the building, and build the small committee room. The Club now offers a full range of facilities, well equipped bar, entertainment events, two wide screen Sky televisions, and even 6 dartboards... with many teams playing there. To be a full member you must be in the Labour Party or an affiliated trade union. There is also affiliated membership, but they have no say in the running of the Club at AGMs, or any other meetings.
That's a quick summary of more than 35 years hard work. Begun by only a few people, but now a well supported asset in this Party.
All the best,
John Mortimer.