OUR FIFTY YEARS: THE STORY OF THE WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND INSTITUTE UNION. Together with Brief Impressions of the Men of the Movement.

First impression of the true first edition - published on June 14th, 1912, the 50th Anniversary of the Union. Illustrated with many fascinating photographs. ***Very good in brick-red cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are quite worn and faded, and the gilt has also faded slightly. The cloth of the spine is slightly faded, and there is a 3cm closed tear at the bottom of the spine. Corners slightly bumped. Internally, the contents are very good, with just a couple of small tears and creases at the top of pages 9-12. No inscriptions. ***220 mm x 140. 349 pages including a detailed 10-page index at the back of the book. ***Contents: 1. Premonitory Symptoms. By the (late) Reverend Henry Solly, M.A.; 2. The Union Founded: The Directorate of Solly; 3. The Movement Established: The Triumvirate - Pratt, Paterson, and Herbert; 4. Lord Rosebery gives a straight lead and a clear course; 5. Advent of Dent and Democratic Government; 6. Progress and Development till to-day; 7. The Branches; 8. The Convalescent Homes; 9. The Club and Institute Journal; 10. The "Beer" Problem; 11. Clubs and Legislation; 12. Policy and Aim; 13. The Clubs; 14. The Workman in the Club; 15. Men of the Movement: - (1) Henry Solly, (2) Hodgson Pratt, (3) Stephen S. Tayler, (4) Herbert Praed, (5) Thomas Paterson, (6) William Minet, (7) T. F. Hobson, (8) J. J. Dent, (9) Jesse Argyle, (10) B. T. Hall, (11) Rodolphe Cuerel, (12) Richard Gaston; 16. The Executive of the Union. 1910-1912; 17. Appendices and Tables; The Hodgson Pratt Memorial. **'Working men's clubs are a type of private social club first created in the 19th century in industrialised areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands, Scotland and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families. The first recorded working men's club opened in 1857 in Reddish. Gregg set it up for his workers. He identified that many of his workers were shut out of their lodging throughout the day and evening, with nowhere to cook or even read a newspaper, and were forced to spend their non-working lives in a public house. Greggs Reddish Working Man club aimed to give them somewhere to relax. There are four working mens clubs in Reddish, this one, the North Reddish Working Men's Club and the architecturally significant Houldsworth Working Men's Club. The Holbeck Working Men's Club, is possibly the UK's oldest working men's club still running, as of 2018. Despite the original educational ambitions, most working men's clubs are now mainly recreational. Typically, a club would have a room, often referred to (especially in Northern England) as a vault, with a bar for the sale and consumption of alcohol, snooker, pool or bar billiards tables, as well as televisions for sport entertainment; many provide food. A much larger room would be connected, often called the concert or entertainment room, with a stage and a layout of tables, stools and backrest sofas. They often provide night time entertainment, mainly on the weekends such as bingo, raffles, live music cabaret and comedy, playing popular music. They are also known for their charitable works. In recent years, declining membership has seen many clubs close down and others struggle to remain open. Some groups try to raise the profile of clubs, pointing to their historical legacies and their community roles.' [Wiki] ***A first edition of this interesting book on the story of the Working Men's Club and Institute. An excellent reference book on the subject. Overall, a well-preserved copy of quite a fragile book that is now over 100 years old. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.***.…