We don’t know exactly how the Good Companions Club came about but from the Minute book for the Elders Club there is a gap of 4 years between the last Elder’s Club meeting & AGM in March 1985 to the meeting recorded on 3rd February 1989: “The final meeting of Benhall Sternfield Elders Club – henceforth to be known as the Good Companions.”
The Good Companions Club met every year and they originally aim to have an outing every month, some in 1989 were:-
Feb 1989 – Saxmundham School for tea
Apr 1989 – Colchester trip
Sep 1989 – Afternoon tea with Sir John & Lady Lapsley
Nov 1989 – Christmas Lunch at the Queen’s Head, Saxmundham
They also fund raised with coffee mornings, Draws and collections. In August 1989 they raised £50 for Aldeburgh Hospital Appeal. The Flower Show also kindly donated funds to support the group.
In 1990 members who had not got smoke detectors were given money toward their cost and Saxmundham Middle School sent each member a parcel containing tinned or packet food.
In 1991 the Minutes sadly mention that the group is “not very well supported by the village people”.
In 1991 Ivy Gissing joins the group and outings include visits to Norwich followed by Lowestoft, Thursford, Felixstowe, Kings Lynn, Bury St. Edmunds, Clacton, Romford and Lowestoft again!
In 1999 the group are left £500 by Ella Page “to take the members out to lunch and have a coach tour”. So, the group went to the Craig Path Hotel, right on the seafront at Southwold and then had a tour round the countryside.
Each year Christmas is celebrated with a Christmas Party, entertainment and a present from Father Christmas (such as a diary & pen).
In Oct 2002, due to the passing of Lily Rothwell, it was decided to reform the Committee and the next meeting was held at Connie Conn’s house. Present were Nellie Friend, Connie Conn, Ivy Gissing, Judy Spatchett and Lew Park. It was suggested that “in the new season the possibility of some ‘NEW’ places for outings might be explored.”
New places suggested were Wells Next the Sea, Clacton, Swaffham and Hunstanton. However Coach costs had increased so therefore outing costs to members would have to be paid for, the Hunstanton trip would cost at least £10 and “it was felt that all could afford this but that it must be made clear that unless the money is forthcoming then we will not be able to run/subsidise trips and give a free Xmas party & dinner.”
On 7th October 2003 “concern was expressed over outsiders not paying up front for outings causing loss of revenue. In future all outsiders must pay in advance.”
This is the last meeting recorded in the Minutes.
Did the lack of upfront payments cause the end of the Good Companions Club or did they reform into another group? Please let us know if you have the answer.
