CCC History: Moving Forward - The 1970s
by Paul Bradley
by Paul Bradley
Even in Croxley Green the “swinging sixties” gave way to the seventies. The average age of Club members at that time was indicated by a motion to give pensioners a reduced rate being defeated. There was growing dissatisfaction with the Club affiliation to the East Anglia Federation. Judges were difficult to encourage to travel so far west to Croxley and their Annual Show at Lowestoft was not exactly local. Croxley approached and joined the Central Association but ironically still were not represented at that Annual Show either as their submission was disrupted by the national postal strike!
The Club visited Blenheim and Bath in 1970 – just. The original coach only made it to Rickmansworth before breaking down – a replacement was duly despatched and subsequently a refund obtained. Not put off the Club also planned a trip to London Airport, as Heathrow was known then, but the visit was cancelled due to lack of interest.
Photo battles in 1971 included an amazing 133.5 points draw with Hemel Hempstead (Croxley won the return 172.5 to 134) and a victory over Tring. Possibly as a result of the outing dramas the year before, visits in 1971 were decidedly more local. Pinner Fair, Quainton Road Railway Centre and Moor Park Mansion were all on the itinery..
The peg display boards used for Club print competitions were replaced that year and there was also an intriguing plea of “Bring your Daughters” to the Studio Evening. The 1971 AGM introduced separate Colour and Black & White print work in Advanced and Primary competitions. Subscriptions remained unchanged but there was an ominous warning from the Treasurer that he would be looking for contributions from members during next season
1971 also saw a momentous occasion, the establishment of the formal Tea Rota to replace the more risky strategy of relying on the availability of willing regulars. The committee also agreed it was more economic to purchase a 3lb tin of biscuits (50p) than individual packets. High politics indeed.
1972-3 season might have been the last for the Croxley Club. On 31 August 1972, Rickmansworth Council gave notice that the upper floor of Dickinson Guild House was unsafe and had to be shut and vacated by 15 September. The Club immediately started seeking new premises and approaches were made to the British Legion in Watford Road (too expensive) and Durrants School (no where for a screen). Approaches were made for a subsidy from Rickmansworth Council to afford the British Legion, but to no avail.
The Club visited Blenheim and Bath in 1970 – just. The original coach only made it to Rickmansworth before breaking down – a replacement was duly despatched and subsequently a refund obtained. Not put off the Club also planned a trip to London Airport, as Heathrow was known then, but the visit was cancelled due to lack of interest.
Photo battles in 1971 included an amazing 133.5 points draw with Hemel Hempstead (Croxley won the return 172.5 to 134) and a victory over Tring. Possibly as a result of the outing dramas the year before, visits in 1971 were decidedly more local. Pinner Fair, Quainton Road Railway Centre and Moor Park Mansion were all on the itinery..
The peg display boards used for Club print competitions were replaced that year and there was also an intriguing plea of “Bring your Daughters” to the Studio Evening. The 1971 AGM introduced separate Colour and Black & White print work in Advanced and Primary competitions. Subscriptions remained unchanged but there was an ominous warning from the Treasurer that he would be looking for contributions from members during next season
1971 also saw a momentous occasion, the establishment of the formal Tea Rota to replace the more risky strategy of relying on the availability of willing regulars. The committee also agreed it was more economic to purchase a 3lb tin of biscuits (50p) than individual packets. High politics indeed.
1972-3 season might have been the last for the Croxley Club. On 31 August 1972, Rickmansworth Council gave notice that the upper floor of Dickinson Guild House was unsafe and had to be shut and vacated by 15 September. The Club immediately started seeking new premises and approaches were made to the British Legion in Watford Road (too expensive) and Durrants School (no where for a screen). Approaches were made for a subsidy from Rickmansworth Council to afford the British Legion, but to no avail.
(© CCC) 1972 73 Programme
Croxley CC was homeless. At the eleventh hour Rickmansworth Cricket, Hockey and Sports Club off Park Road, offered use of a side room in their pavilion at a rate of £2 per week. Subscriptions were duly increased at an EGM on 18 October 1972, for the first time in 13 years, to £1-10-0 (£1.50) to help with this charge. The pavilion was never going to be a long term solution especially as the room was very cold and a very noisy motorbike club met in an adjacent room on the first Wednesday of each month. As a result visiting speakers were kept to a minimum - indeed even the first meeting held in the pavilion was a Studio Evening. However attendances were still as high as 68 and Croxley were very grateful to the Rickmansworth Club. With an immediate cancellation arrangement , Croxley had bought time to find something more suitable.
Travel was the theme for 1972 with a barge trip arranged and an intriguing talk entitled “Chorleywood to Sydney – by Land Rover”. As well as traditional inter club battles, Croxley entered postal battles with Clubs as far away as Macclesfield and Jersey in the Channel Islands. Membership continued to rise at all levels and a Junior Cup was introduced.
Travel was the theme for 1972 with a barge trip arranged and an intriguing talk entitled “Chorleywood to Sydney – by Land Rover”. As well as traditional inter club battles, Croxley entered postal battles with Clubs as far away as Macclesfield and Jersey in the Channel Islands. Membership continued to rise at all levels and a Junior Cup was introduced.
(© Paul Bradley) The Pavilion - Rickmansworth Cricket, Hockey and Sports Club
Controversy in 1973 when it was pointed out (by a man probably!) that scores from the Ladies Cup had been allowed as part of the season cumulative totals. This went to the AGM, where whilst resolved, it was noted that to have a Ladies Cup was probably illegal anyway. Suffice to say it is still fought for today under the Wrights Cup guise. The Club supported the Revels that year and had much success with back projection of slides in a loaned caravan – a successful exercise repeated over the coming years.
Still on the lookout for a premises back in Croxley Green, the Club was advised that the Methodist Hall in New Road was now available but on Tuesday nights. The Club were not keen on this as it would mean a change of meeting night and difficulties running fund raising activities such as a raffle. In November 1973, the Club learnt that the All Saints Church Hall on Scots Hill might also be available and that a Drama Group that met in St Oswalds Church Hall in Malvern Way on Wednesdays was breaking up.
Club members had built up a good relationship with St Oswalds over the years, as they had presented many shows there in the past to Youth Clubs and alike. Chairman Don Glenister was able to negotiate a long lease at the hall, initially at £3 an evening. Another attraction was because of children groups meeting at the same venue, the hall was unlikely to be affected by the “three day week” power cuts prevalent at that time! Croxley Camera Club was back in Croxley Green.
The first meeting at the new hall was on 16 January 1974 when member Len Smith OBE gave a talk on Mexico and Jamaica. A screen was procured for £23. It was originally to be 90” x 100”, but due to a misunderstanding the final area was 80” x 100”. A storage box was constructed by Len Smith on the side of the stage – nicknamed “the coffin”. It is still in use today but for print display racks.
A change of venue saw a change of fortunes and the Ernest Taylor Challenge Trophy was won in April. The Club held their first public exhibition of members work in Croxley Library and was invited by Headmistress Joan Bridge, to take pictures of York Road School before its closure. Extra Studio Evenings were arranged for Friday evenings with visiting models. They were so popular that members were asked to book in advance.
In 1974 Croxley were the first winners of the prestigious Chiltern Rosebowl interclub competition. The Club entry must have been very strong indeed as for the final with Maidenhead and Aylesbury, Croxley chose to change all twenty of their slides that had got them to the Final! The Club didn’t stand still though and at that years AGM Chairman Dick Hassell advised the Club they “were moving into the Colour Print World” and the Club must adjust accordingly. Developments on the tea front too, when members were asked to collect teas from the hatch in the hall. This was proposed with some trepidation but it worked well and soon members were also paying at the counter rather than the traditional passing of the box.
By 1975 membership had topped 100 and the Club was going from strength to strength. Indeed the Committee were worried about the high level of slide entries and suggesting entries should be limited to three per author. Print clarifications too, as colour prints “must not be entered into set subject competitions with black and white”. A Kodak Colour Viewpoint show was put on at Watford Grammar School.
Back at Club, one evening was described as “Slide Mounting, Masking, Spotting and Camera Maintenance by the Four Musketeers”. Athos, Porthos, D’Artagnan and Aramis turned out to be President Ken Roff with Len Smith, Dick Hassell and Harry Packman. Also that year Watersmeet in Rickmansworth was opened by Princess Alexandra on 1 May. Len Smith had given advice on the installation of their projector. Rickmansworth was also the venue for the Rickmansworth Society October Market which the Club supported on an annual basis.
Still on the lookout for a premises back in Croxley Green, the Club was advised that the Methodist Hall in New Road was now available but on Tuesday nights. The Club were not keen on this as it would mean a change of meeting night and difficulties running fund raising activities such as a raffle. In November 1973, the Club learnt that the All Saints Church Hall on Scots Hill might also be available and that a Drama Group that met in St Oswalds Church Hall in Malvern Way on Wednesdays was breaking up.
Club members had built up a good relationship with St Oswalds over the years, as they had presented many shows there in the past to Youth Clubs and alike. Chairman Don Glenister was able to negotiate a long lease at the hall, initially at £3 an evening. Another attraction was because of children groups meeting at the same venue, the hall was unlikely to be affected by the “three day week” power cuts prevalent at that time! Croxley Camera Club was back in Croxley Green.
The first meeting at the new hall was on 16 January 1974 when member Len Smith OBE gave a talk on Mexico and Jamaica. A screen was procured for £23. It was originally to be 90” x 100”, but due to a misunderstanding the final area was 80” x 100”. A storage box was constructed by Len Smith on the side of the stage – nicknamed “the coffin”. It is still in use today but for print display racks.
A change of venue saw a change of fortunes and the Ernest Taylor Challenge Trophy was won in April. The Club held their first public exhibition of members work in Croxley Library and was invited by Headmistress Joan Bridge, to take pictures of York Road School before its closure. Extra Studio Evenings were arranged for Friday evenings with visiting models. They were so popular that members were asked to book in advance.
In 1974 Croxley were the first winners of the prestigious Chiltern Rosebowl interclub competition. The Club entry must have been very strong indeed as for the final with Maidenhead and Aylesbury, Croxley chose to change all twenty of their slides that had got them to the Final! The Club didn’t stand still though and at that years AGM Chairman Dick Hassell advised the Club they “were moving into the Colour Print World” and the Club must adjust accordingly. Developments on the tea front too, when members were asked to collect teas from the hatch in the hall. This was proposed with some trepidation but it worked well and soon members were also paying at the counter rather than the traditional passing of the box.
By 1975 membership had topped 100 and the Club was going from strength to strength. Indeed the Committee were worried about the high level of slide entries and suggesting entries should be limited to three per author. Print clarifications too, as colour prints “must not be entered into set subject competitions with black and white”. A Kodak Colour Viewpoint show was put on at Watford Grammar School.
Back at Club, one evening was described as “Slide Mounting, Masking, Spotting and Camera Maintenance by the Four Musketeers”. Athos, Porthos, D’Artagnan and Aramis turned out to be President Ken Roff with Len Smith, Dick Hassell and Harry Packman. Also that year Watersmeet in Rickmansworth was opened by Princess Alexandra on 1 May. Len Smith had given advice on the installation of their projector. Rickmansworth was also the venue for the Rickmansworth Society October Market which the Club supported on an annual basis.
(© Kath Howard) Don Glenister, Edmund Howard and Len Smiths son, Martin, at Watersmeet in 1975
A sign of the times in 1975 saw the committee discussing fire and BOMB precautions for the Hall. Additionally inflation was rife and whilst tea contributions were up, the Treasurer noted that profits had fallen due to the rising cost of biscuits. The Juniors were also invited to have a representative on the Committee. The Club was gradually establishing a number of items of equipment and these were available for hire by members. There was some debate about the hiring out of the projector which was getting a lot of wear. Club equipment included a steel print stand with a strip light which cost a remarkable £4.30 including the club badge.
An interesting proposal was made in 1975 that the Club produce a calendar of local views for Club Funds. This was not pursued for a few more years but the seeds had been sown. A close second round of the Rosebowl saw Croxley triumph with 140 points against, Marlow 139 and Clements 138!! Indeed early in 1976, Croxley reached the final at Hemel Hempstead with 164 points enough to beat Thame (156.5) and Bicester (138). Unfortunately in that Final, Wendover came out victorious.
By 1976, the projector bought in 1968 was unsurprisingly becoming unreliable. Despite offers of a members loan, the Club instead set up a 100 Club as the basis for a new projector fund. In only seven months £340 was raised. Despite the old projector having a trade in value, it was decided to keep it to illuminate future print competitions. Also print related, the juniors section volunteer to put the prints out on competition nights, although it was noted that these duties would need to be restricted to the taller ones! Once the projector funds had been raised there was much urgency noted to complete the purchase before the Budget. A Leitz CA 2500 autofocus projector was duly purchased for £295 with members making a suitably sturdy storage box which still carries out its original purpose.
An interesting proposal was made in 1975 that the Club produce a calendar of local views for Club Funds. This was not pursued for a few more years but the seeds had been sown. A close second round of the Rosebowl saw Croxley triumph with 140 points against, Marlow 139 and Clements 138!! Indeed early in 1976, Croxley reached the final at Hemel Hempstead with 164 points enough to beat Thame (156.5) and Bicester (138). Unfortunately in that Final, Wendover came out victorious.
By 1976, the projector bought in 1968 was unsurprisingly becoming unreliable. Despite offers of a members loan, the Club instead set up a 100 Club as the basis for a new projector fund. In only seven months £340 was raised. Despite the old projector having a trade in value, it was decided to keep it to illuminate future print competitions. Also print related, the juniors section volunteer to put the prints out on competition nights, although it was noted that these duties would need to be restricted to the taller ones! Once the projector funds had been raised there was much urgency noted to complete the purchase before the Budget. A Leitz CA 2500 autofocus projector was duly purchased for £295 with members making a suitably sturdy storage box which still carries out its original purpose.
(© Kath Howard) 1976 President Betty Norman (left) enjoys a Club visit to Mudeford with Vera Larkin and Barbara Lynham
Back to 1976 and during that famous long hot summer, the Revels on Croxley Green were of course washed out by rain but the Club, optimistically in view of the nationwide drought conditions, still choose to conduct a Thames and Canal side ramble. They also visited Chester by rail and had the benefit of sharing the train home with returning football supporters, police and their dogs all the way from Crewe. Things had cooled down by the time of the Wine and Cheese Party and the traditional Mince Pie Evening at Christmas. Entry was also made into the Chilterns Association Challenge Competition when Croxley were drawn with St Albans. A successful Annual Show (25p entrance plus 5p tea) was run.
When Len Smith first visited the Club at Kath Howards invitation, he was joined by friends Sir George and Lady Pollock. Through this association the Pollocks offered the Club their well known “Pollocks Pictorial Peepshow”. This took place as an Autumn Show held at Watersmeet being a very successful and lucrative evening which financed a new club projector and screen. The original Club screen was left at the Rickmansworth Pavilion as a thank you for their earlier invaluable assistance.
When Len Smith first visited the Club at Kath Howards invitation, he was joined by friends Sir George and Lady Pollock. Through this association the Pollocks offered the Club their well known “Pollocks Pictorial Peepshow”. This took place as an Autumn Show held at Watersmeet being a very successful and lucrative evening which financed a new club projector and screen. The original Club screen was left at the Rickmansworth Pavilion as a thank you for their earlier invaluable assistance.
(© Dick Hassell) Don Glenister (left) assists as the new screen goes up over the stage at St Oswalds
The 1976 AGM included mandate to offer £10 towards the updating of the St Oswald Hall lighting. On Club matters, it was agreed that the new Committee should take up their duties straight after the AGM and not wait for the new season to start. Members complained that Club Notices were delaying the start of Club meetings and that there were too many slide competitions. Indeed there were 3 slide comps in the first four weeks of January and it is a sobering note for today that the entry for one was 121 slides.
After the extremes of 1976 it was no surprise that for the 1977 season the “Weather” was a set subject but with a strange qualification, “Slides for Television”. This was inspired by the pictures that had started to appear to accompany TV Weather Forecasts about that time. Probably with the continuing influence of Len Smith, Audio Visual evenings were still a popular inclusion on the programme. Young members James Bennett and Andrew Smith also had a slot to entertain the Club that year.
1977 saw the Jubilee Revels which the Club duly recorded both in pictures and sound. The results, including over 300 images, were shown to the Croxley Green Society. The new projector had teething troubles and was returned a couple of times to Leitz for attention. It was discovered that it did not get on very well with cardboard mounted slides which were “banned” as a result. Also on the subject of slides, the Committee sanctioned the Slide Secretary to remove any “inappropriate” slides entered for competition. It is worth noting that this related to non conformance with a set subject not the introduction of censorship. Some slides must have been very appropriate as Croxley fought through to the 76-77 Rosebowl Final, at Chesham this time, although unfortunately they lost again, this time to the Clements Club.
The Committee seemed very hard to please and for the 1977 competition pointed out to the Club membership that the slides selected for Rosebowl were below standard. Croxley still got through the first round by beating Chalfont 160 – 153.5. There were two important domestic developments at Club that year too. Firstly new chairs were purchased by St Oswalds for the Hall for which the Club donated £20 – it is unclear how many chairs this represented. Also, following complaints, the Committee noted that “Tea quality would improve if it was allowed to stand 5 minutes before pouring out”.
1978 saw Kath Howard as President, an October Annual Show as well as a losing Rosebowl appearance. The Annual Show show became a yearly event compared by Norman Spring. Still popular they are now held in mid March as an opportunity for the Club to give wider audience to their output. Kath retired from her office at the end of the year but commissioned Messrs FC Barry of Birmingham to produce a Presidential Badge of Office. This was worn for the first time by incoming President Don Gleinister in 1979. The Club also produced a lapel badge for members that year.
Pollocks returned on 12 March 1979 with a show comprising a challenging 1,170 slides in 87 minutes – that’s one every 4.5 seconds! An invite was issued to other Clubs from across the Chilterns to see the show, again at Watersmeet, with an entry of 75p. Another very successful and entertaining evening was had by all according to the subsequent report by the President in the Club Newsletter.
After the extremes of 1976 it was no surprise that for the 1977 season the “Weather” was a set subject but with a strange qualification, “Slides for Television”. This was inspired by the pictures that had started to appear to accompany TV Weather Forecasts about that time. Probably with the continuing influence of Len Smith, Audio Visual evenings were still a popular inclusion on the programme. Young members James Bennett and Andrew Smith also had a slot to entertain the Club that year.
1977 saw the Jubilee Revels which the Club duly recorded both in pictures and sound. The results, including over 300 images, were shown to the Croxley Green Society. The new projector had teething troubles and was returned a couple of times to Leitz for attention. It was discovered that it did not get on very well with cardboard mounted slides which were “banned” as a result. Also on the subject of slides, the Committee sanctioned the Slide Secretary to remove any “inappropriate” slides entered for competition. It is worth noting that this related to non conformance with a set subject not the introduction of censorship. Some slides must have been very appropriate as Croxley fought through to the 76-77 Rosebowl Final, at Chesham this time, although unfortunately they lost again, this time to the Clements Club.
The Committee seemed very hard to please and for the 1977 competition pointed out to the Club membership that the slides selected for Rosebowl were below standard. Croxley still got through the first round by beating Chalfont 160 – 153.5. There were two important domestic developments at Club that year too. Firstly new chairs were purchased by St Oswalds for the Hall for which the Club donated £20 – it is unclear how many chairs this represented. Also, following complaints, the Committee noted that “Tea quality would improve if it was allowed to stand 5 minutes before pouring out”.
1978 saw Kath Howard as President, an October Annual Show as well as a losing Rosebowl appearance. The Annual Show show became a yearly event compared by Norman Spring. Still popular they are now held in mid March as an opportunity for the Club to give wider audience to their output. Kath retired from her office at the end of the year but commissioned Messrs FC Barry of Birmingham to produce a Presidential Badge of Office. This was worn for the first time by incoming President Don Gleinister in 1979. The Club also produced a lapel badge for members that year.
Pollocks returned on 12 March 1979 with a show comprising a challenging 1,170 slides in 87 minutes – that’s one every 4.5 seconds! An invite was issued to other Clubs from across the Chilterns to see the show, again at Watersmeet, with an entry of 75p. Another very successful and entertaining evening was had by all according to the subsequent report by the President in the Club Newsletter.
(© Norma Bradley) Croxley Camera Club Presidential Badge and 40th Anniversary Pen
Unlike today Don Glenister also reported a large number of new members. Still familiar today, he complained that tasks on Club nights were being neglected including a lack of volunteers for that all important tea rota. More news on the tea front, as a cup went up to 10p due to inflation. Worse was to follow as the price rose again the following year to 15p.
But there was now some real talent in the Croxley Club as over 30% of the Club evenings at that time were conducted by members. Maybe this was through necessity as talks by manufacturers and alike were becoming more difficult to arrange and certainly quite expensive. To improve the quality of speakers and presentations, the Clubs invested £59 on a PA system. A microphone was supplied by Mr Glenister once St Oswalds agreed to the Club making use of the Hall speaker system. There was a proposal to change the Club marking system at the AGM to the more common “out of 20” system instead of 1st, 2nd, 3rd & commended, but this was defeated.
The seventies ended with Len Smith being awarded his FRPS for Audio Visual work, Dick Hassell his ARPS for his creative 3D lithographic sandwiches and Kath Howard her LRPS. Croxley Camera Club was on a high – a high that was subsequently to prove a peak.
But there was now some real talent in the Croxley Club as over 30% of the Club evenings at that time were conducted by members. Maybe this was through necessity as talks by manufacturers and alike were becoming more difficult to arrange and certainly quite expensive. To improve the quality of speakers and presentations, the Clubs invested £59 on a PA system. A microphone was supplied by Mr Glenister once St Oswalds agreed to the Club making use of the Hall speaker system. There was a proposal to change the Club marking system at the AGM to the more common “out of 20” system instead of 1st, 2nd, 3rd & commended, but this was defeated.
The seventies ended with Len Smith being awarded his FRPS for Audio Visual work, Dick Hassell his ARPS for his creative 3D lithographic sandwiches and Kath Howard her LRPS. Croxley Camera Club was on a high – a high that was subsequently to prove a peak.
With thanks to;
Paul Bradley (Chairman, Croxley Camera Club, 1999 to 2009 & May 2007)
Mike Loose
Croxley Camera Club
Paul Bradley (Chairman, Croxley Camera Club, 1999 to 2009 & May 2007)
Mike Loose
Croxley Camera Club
