The Heath Old Boys Club

The Heath Old Boys Club was revived on in part as a result of the work of the Old Heathens’ Association.

The original club had used a room beneath the school which had become a dining room before the outbreak of World War I to support the growth of the school. Without a room and with the outbreak of War the club ceased to exist. But with the end of the War, the Old Heathens’ Association had been formed to bring Old Heathens together. They found a room to accommodate the club at 21 King Cross Lane which they redecorated and furnished and in which they installed a billiard table. The plan was for the club to run cricket and football teams.

The Right Hon. J.H. Whitley MP was present at the General Meeting and he congratulated those elected to the first committee and hoped that the club would offer ‘something special’ [unspecified] beyond just being a social club.

Rules as drafted and proposed by the Sub-committee on , and passed at the General Meeting on :—

  1. —That the Club be called the ‘Heath Old Boys’ Club.’
  2. —That the Governors, Masters, and old Boys of Heath Grammar School shall be eligible for membership, and, subject to the Committee’s approval, shall become members on payment of the current subscription.
  3. —That the objects of the Club shall be to promote social and athletic intercourse amongst the members and amongst associations of a similar character, and to afford to its members and visitors all the advantages of the club.
  4. —That the management of the Club be vested in a committee, which shall consist of: President, vice-president, honorary secretary, honorary treasurer, and 12 full members of the Club, and five members shall form a quorum.
  5. —That the officers and committee shall be elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting; one-third of the committee shall retire annually in rotation, retiring members being eligible for re-election. Nominations to fill vacancies to be sent to the Secretary in writing, ten days prior to the Annual General Meeting (of which the Secretary shall give 14 days’ clear notice), which shall be held in the month of October.
  6. —That the Subscription, payable in advance on October 1st in each year shall be as follows:— Full members £2 2s. per annum (21 years and over); Junior Members, £1 1s. per annum (under 21 years of age).
  7. —That any member intending to withdraw must signify his intention in writing to the Secretary on or before Sept. 30th, otherwise the member shall be responsible for his subscription for the ensuing year.
    7a.—That in case the conduct of any member, either in or out of the club premises, shall, in the opinion of the committee, be injurious to the character and interests of the club, the committee shall be empowered to request such member to resign, and if the member so requested does not resign within a month after such request, he shall cease to be a member of the Club.
  8. —That temporary members, being Old Heath Boys, may be elected on such terms, and subject to such conditions as the committee may from time to time determine.
  9. —That a member may introduce a visitor once per week, at a charge of 6d. The names of the introducing member and visitor shall be entered in the Visitors’ Book, and any charges incurred by the visitor shall be defrayed by the introducing member.
  10. —That the committee shall have power to deal with all affairs of the club not provided for in the foregoing rules.
  11. —The above rules can only be varied or added to at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose, by a majority of two-thirds of the members present at such meeting, Notice of any proposed alteration or addition to rules must be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least ten days before such meeting, and he shall post such proposal on the notice board seven days prior to the meeting.
  12. —That the Club shall be open daily, with the exception of Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., except on special occasions, when the committee may, on application, accord such extensions as they in their discretion deem reasonable.
  13. —That the hours for the sale of intoxicants shall be from 12 p.m, to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.