The History of Ruddington Depot
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The End Game
The swinging sixties
In 1959 the Prime Minister Harold McMillan told the nation “You’ve never had it so good,” as an economic boom brought a general feeling of prosperity. With more leisure time, and a little money to spend, there was a widespread desire for light-hearted entertainment and enjoyment. The Avenue Social Club on the Depot benefited from this mood and flourished as never before. It had been open to the local population for many years for an annual subscription of £1, and a number of people living nearby found it easily accessible, inexpensive and congenial. Facilities improved and the premises were extended as membership increased, making it more attractive and boosting numbers still further.
Mary Kenyon, William (Mac) McDaid and Ellen Bloodworth enjoying a good night
out at the Club in 1962. Roslyn Wilson’s parents were committee
members and much involved with running the club, particularly in organising
dances.
“We had a dance every Saturday night, ballroom dancing, and we used to go on to jive and things like that. We all enjoyed it, adults, children and teenagers all together. You couldn’t join until you were 18, because of the alcohol licence, but if you were younger you went in with your parents, because they couldn’t leave you at home.”
Tim Bloodworth went frequently to the Club with his parents.
“Mrs. Davies, one of my neighbours, used to sit in the snug beside the bar on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and had quite a few drinks. She was a real personality. She often used to play the piano and so did her husband Charles.
On a summer’s evening it was wonderful just to sit in the garden and listen to her playing the piano or Charles playing the piano. Something you would never ever forget. You would sit there at 9 or 10 at night listening to the music.”
The Club had a full sized snooker table and darts, table tennis and other games were played. The committee also organised coach trips to popular seaside resorts.
As car ownership increased members began to drive to the club and came from further afield. This caused problems.
“There were a few people who lived on The Avenue who were not exactly enthralled with it, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. They didn’t want people banging car doors late at night and waking the kiddies up. The piece of ground that was to the north-east of the Club was developed into a car park so that people could park there, and not cause so much disturbance to the residents.”
The Club closed in 1968 and was demolished along with the rest of The Avenue, and all the buildings in Box 10. This part of the Depot, adjacent to The Green in Ruddington, was returned to the community as the Basford Rural District Council built the Barleylands estate on it. Many people living in the village missed IOF, the main canteen, when the redevelopment had taken place, as it had become a venue for dances, concerts, whist drives and other events that local residents regularly attended, at the invitation of relatives, neighbours and friends who were employed at the Depot. The Ruddington Women’s Institute particularly felt its loss because for many years they had performed their annual pantomime in the building, to very large audiences.
The Story > Chapter 8 > Section 8.05