Here are a selection of Town Hall events held in the years of WWII, extracted from Neston Urban District Council records in my possession.
Some of the events listed were held regularly, but I’m only listing them once. Events were also held in the Institute.
Why don’t we have Dances and Socials nowadays?
1941
September 26th: Dance for ‘Z’ Company, 9th Battalion R.N.F., Leighton School, Parkgate (Richville/Parkgate Hotel/now residential units)
October 10th: Wirral Conservative Association, dance for War Weapons Effort (Annie Smith, Bridge Street)
November 7th: Dance for Clatterbridge Sports Club
November 8th: Public auction of land by farmer Robert Scott of Ivy Farm, Little Neston
November 10th: Formation of a Town Committee for Red Cross Penny-a-Week-Fund
November 11th : Application for Dance to raise money for War Weapon, (Mrs A.E.Smith and Reg Chrimes) Response from Town Hall that as Mr Chrimes was a minor, his application could not be accepted
November 27th: Chester Co-operative Society Ltd, payment of dividend (and regular subsequent dates)
December 6th : Home Guard Supper and Entertainment, (2nd Lieut. K.B.Montgomery, No.3 Neston Platoon, G Company, 20th Cheshire Home Guard
Home Guard are asked to make sure that beds etc are removed from the stage on the occasion of dances being held in the hall.
1942
February 11th: Cheshire Education Committee, Neston & District Local Savings Committee, General Meeting in connection with Warships Week
February 13th: Cheshire Regiment Meeanee Day invitation dance, B Company, 5th Btn, Cheshire Regiment, Leighton School
February 26th: Dance for National Fire Service Benevolent Fund, organised by Neston section
March 16th: Dance held by 608th Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers, Ashfield Hall
April 10th: Dance, 2nd Lieut. K.B.Montgomery, No.3 Neston Platoon, G Company, 20th Cheshire Home Guard. Transferred to the Institute
April 15th : ‘Colliery Effort in aid of Local Charity’ – concert in aid of Red Cross and St Johns, (F. Scoggins, Talbot Avenue). Warned to take special care regarding the blackout
May 1st: Russia Today society meeting.
May 5th: Regimental Dance for Railway Construction Company, Royal Engineers, Ashfield Hall
May 28th: Whist Drive for British Legion Benevolent Fund (W.G. Haughton) (frequent dances and whist drives held by BL)
June 20th : Dancing display in aid of Neston Cottage Hospital
July 3rd: Whist Drive for Cottage Hospital funds, organised by Miss Cochrane of The Mobile Unit, Park Street,
September 1st : AGM of Neston Council of Social Service, Citizens Advice Bureau
September 19th : Concert organised by Workers’ Educational Association with CEMA (Committee for Encouragement of Music and the Arts) (R.Buglass)
October 31st : a Social and Entertainment for 1st Neston Sea Scouts (J M Tomlinson, Scoutmaster, Parkgate Road)
December 16th : Concert for Red Cross Prisoner of War Fund
1943
January 21st : Horburys Factories of Heswall and Hooton, staff dance (Harry Sowden)
January 28th: Neston Rangers, a Dance in aid of company funds (Miss J.M.Barber, Hinderton Road)
February 6th : A.R.P Quiz for Wardens (Capt. J. Plummer, Chief Warden The Police Station, Park Street)
February 10th: 1st Neston Sea Scouts, Social and Entertainment for Baden-Powell Memorial Fund
February 26th: Mathews Monks Charity Trustees meeting
June 24th : Presentation to Rev J. Russell Edwards, curate, who was leaving Neston
June 21st : Dance for Officers and Sergeants of no. 10 Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Engineers, Leighton School
August : Wednesday evenings Town Hall used by Air Training Corps, also regular use for Miss Jackson’s Red Cross training
September 25th : Domestic Rabbit Show, K. Baldock of Puddington, to encourage production of more rabbit meat and furs. (Successful meeting with new members joining)
December 14th : Social evening for Home Guard and Friends, no. 3 Platoon, Neston Hotel ( opposite Town Hall)
1944
September 6th : Committee for Encouragement of Music and the Arts, Recital with Violet Carson, Soprano
Application refused : Evangelistic and Healing Meeting, Pastor Bowness, Wallasey
1945
February: Children’s Social organised by Rev. Bennett, Parish Church
May 30th : Stand-down supper and Entertainment for Little Neston ARP Wardens and their wives
