FOR MURRAY HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE AND YOUTH CLUB
Year 1966-1967
WEST STREET • NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE 4 TELEPHONE : NEWCASTLE 34912
X' = THE PRESENT MURRAY HOUSE.
'A' = OUR SELECTION FROM TWO PROFFERED SITES.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE A SWIMMING BATH AND CLINIC AND WILL BE BOUNDED ON THE WEST BY A NEW SHOPPING AREA.
IN LAST YEAR'S REPORT we had quite a lot to say about the future and the projected new Centre. A possible site had been discussed with the City Planning Authorities - Architects Messrs Williamson, Faulkner Brown and Partners had been approached and had expressed their willingness to draw up plans as soon as there was a definite site - the National Federation of Community Associations had been consulted with regard to the ideal requirements of a combined Youth Club and Community Centre, and a provisional brief for the Architects had been drawn up by a planning sub-committee under Mr D. R. Hall's chairmanship - consideration had been given to how the new Centre was to be financed.
Although during the past year the new Centre and problems connected with it have been constantly in the minds of the Committee and the subject of enquiry and discussion, very little of a concrete nature has happened. In late January a further approach to the City Planning Authorities resulted in a number of alternative sites being offered in an area already cleared of buildings and shortly to be developed. Members of the Committee who examined these sites had no hesitation in selecting one facing on to Stanhope Street and forming part of a development that will include a public swimming bath, health clinic and shopping precinct. The Committee's preference was reported to the Planning Authorities, since when there has been no further news.
On Finance, the grant position is complicated by the fundamental changes in local government structure on Tyneside that will have been announced by the time this report is read. Irrespective of what happens to the various local Authorities it is believed that we will receive a substantial grant towards the cost of a new building from the Central Department of Education and Science. As can be seen from the Accounts, Murray House's investments, built up over the years against the day when rebuilding had to be undertaken, are small. Our only other significant asset is the existing building, and whether or not we can embark on the building of a new Centre will depend largely upon what we get from its sale. This in turn depends upon whether or not a sale can be negotiated on the basis of what it will cost to erect a building of equivalent size. As this report is being written the answer to this vital question is not known.
Apart from the capital aspect of financing the new building, there is the cost of running the Centre in new, and we hope bigger, premises. In recent years maintenance of the old building has been restricted to essential repairs and renewals, and the cost has been very small. Despite this running expenditure has exceeded our income for three consecutive years, albeit by quite small amounts.
It is certain that the cost of running the Centre in new premises will go up, and only part of the increase will be met from grants. The Treasurer has done his best to estimate what the difference will be, so that before embarking on a new building we will have a fair idea of what our liabilities will be.
On the face of it, it looks as if we would have to increase our income from voluntary sources by anything up to £1,000 a year.
It will be apparent from this that we need continuing help from all our old friends and subscribers and new sources of income as well.
Once again keeping up membership has been difficult, especially in the Youth Group. The flats, although fully occupied, do not provide accommodation for families so we can expect no young people from that source.
That part of the surrounding area which was waste two years ago} now contains new houses into which families are moving; here there must be young people who are potential members for Murray House. On the other hand demolition has started in another adjacent area which means more families departing.
Regrettably, the time has not yet arrived when there exists a real community to present Murray House with the challenge for which it has waited so long.
We felt that our Report this year might be more colourful if we allowed the representatives from the various Groups to tell their own story. Here then are the reports, pretty well verbatim, as we received them from members.
Garden party at Mrs Swan's
We had a very enjoyable holiday, a lot of members and myself at Great Yarmouth. The weather was lovely and we were able to go on a lot of trips. I should like to thank Mrs Swan for the afternoon and tea that she gave us in her house. We also thank the Admiralty Social Service Association for the wonderful Christmas Dinner at Bainbridges. I am sorry we are losing Mrs Blackadder as she is leaving town so we gave her a nice present for her kindness. We have nice big meetings which are much enjoyed by the members. We are looking forward to the coming year and hope things will still keep going at Murray House. I should like to thank Mr Gresham for all his kindness.
We have lots of men - it's lovely!
Despite the poor summer the bungalow was used continuously and thoroughly enjoyed. Members themselves tackled many running repairs with enthusiasm.
During the past twelve months we have enjoyed many varied activities and our numbers have in¬creased. Visits were made to various firms such as Carrick's Bakery, British Railways' Travel Service, Persil and the Northern Gas Board, etc.
Talks were given by Councillor Mrs Starkey and Miss Mclntosh, a Policewoman.
In March we had a social evening for St Patrick's Day. We arranged a concert and were entertained by Mrs Stewart's concert party. At Christmas we went to the Eldon for dinner and on to Balmbra's Music Hall. Last summer's outing was to the Lakes and this year we are hoping to go to a holiday camp at Morecambe.
We are a small class, hoping to grow in the near future. One of my members is very obliging, she is a tailoress by trade and helps us. One member has made a number of children's clothes, we have also done alterations to members' dresses. Some are making aprons and others embroidery. We are learning two ladies to use the machine. We have a very nice evening together.
Despite depleted numbers due to the demolition problem, this group continues its activities with enthusiasm.
In the past few years this section has been dwindling due to members leaving our area. I think that if the
P.T. Group
Youth Section is to exist, and there is no reason why it should not, the young people should support every effort and activity that our Warden puts on. We have something to go out for and win, with new houses being built in the area there is no reason why we should not go on helping the Warden and our friends to build a new Murray House, remembering its past history.
The Football Team finished second in their league and won the Northumberland Association Youth Club five-a-side indoor football. A first-class award was won at the Northumberland Association of Boys' Clubs' Handicraft and Arts Exhibition.
The first camp of 1966 was held at Gosforth Park. It started off well on Friday night with the weather perfect, all we did was erect the tents and retire to bed. Saturday was also a fine day and we did a lot of work, we then went for a swim, the water was so cold we played Rugby to warm everybody up. We got to bed at 11 p.m. and were wakened at 5 a.m. by the sound of rain on the tents. All breakfasts had to be cooked on a primus in the big tent as the rain had not stopped at 9 a.m. Indeed it was still raining when we left at 2 p.m. We left the tents up to dry and collected them the next day.
Ready for Home
The Whitsun camp at Dilston went well, the weather was great. We went to the Divisional Camp at Chipchase Mill with four other troops. An inter-troop competition was run during the week-end, it took the form of a hike with incidents, the lads had to make and fly a kite and complete an obstacle course. The summer camp was held in the Lake District instead of Hexham due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak. The weather was bad, only two days of sun, the lads must have become hardened because they never complained.
Other activities included a tramp supper and a hike. On this hike one of the lads tried to prove he could swim as well with his clothes on as off - however, in this state they dried while he was walking. So far the numbers have increased and the troop is quite healthy.
The Judo Section at Murray House started about a year ago with very little but the bare essentials, now, every Wednesday there is a good attendance of young men and boys eager and willing to learn this exhilarating sport.
A Judo Session
I always like to think of Judo mainly as a sport and not a matter of self-defence led to believe, but it can be an advantage having the knowledge and skill of Judo in an awkward situation. It is an excellent way of keeping fit and a really good way to relax and unwind after a hard day's work, and of course anyone is welcome, big or small, light or heavy, they can all be sure of enjoyable evenings. During the year white, orange, green and yellow belts have been won.
During the past year the orchestra has slowly grown in numbers, particularly in the younger age groups. Rehearsals are held every Thursday evening throughout the year. As well as giving concerts at the Club, members have played in amateur productions in the city and county.
The Concert Party has enjoyed a successful season. Monthly concerts have been given at the Centre. A feature of the past year has been the number of visits to other Community Centres both in Newcastle and as far away as Consett and Birtley. Rehearsals are held each Monday and we welcome any members of the Club who are interested in drama and singing.
Throughout the year the Warden and members have attended a number of local courses. Murray House was represented at Ford Castle, the Rex Hotel, Whitley Bay and the Community Centre, Stocksfield. Lectures on a variety of subjects aroused keen interest and the discussion groups prove a valuable way of exchanging points of view and trying to find possible means of tackling various social problems.
A Film Show was held during the Easter holidays, the idea being to enable members of the younger generation, home from school on holiday, to attend. The turnout was rather disappointing but those who were there enjoyed the social occasion as a result of which £36 17s. 6d. was raised.
A Jumble Sale was held as usual in the Autumn. £54 4s. 8d. was raised and we would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who contributed, spent money and helped in other ways.
The Old Age Pensioners again organised a Christmas Sale which resulted in a contribution of £4 12s. 3d. to the Centre's funds. The Committee are most grateful to the old people for all the hard work put into this effort.
The Annual General Meeting was held on 28th July. We were delighted to have Sir Michael Gary, our President, with us again. An extremely interesting talk was given by Mr P. R. Kaim-Caudle on The Future of the Social Services.
During the year Viscount Runciman of Doxford accepted an invitation to become a Vice-President. He has been interested in Murray House for many years and is one of our regular supporters. We welcome him as a Vice-President and hope that he will honour us with a visit before long.
We welcome also Mrs B. C. Harvey as a new Member of the Committee. As will be seen from the list of officers, she has already undertaken special duties as one of our Hon. Secretaries.
It is with deep regret that we record the death of Lt.-Col. C. B. Carrick who during his 14 years as a Vice-President was such a loyal and devoted friend of Murray House.
Ex-Member Stuart Hall who first revealed his talents as an artist at Murray House, is making fine progress at the School of Art in Oxford. Murray House helped to get Stuart to Oxford in the first place and is now sponsoring his application to the local Education Authority for a grant to enable him to undertake an advanced study course for which he has been recommended. The National Association of Boys' Clubs has offered to buy two of his paintings for their London collection.
As always, the Committee feels deeply indebted to all those who have helped Murray House during the year. There are first and foremost the voluntary helpers, some of whose names appear in the body of the report. Others who have helped with activities are Mrs E. Stephenson, Drama and Music, and Mr W. Edes, Football, also Miss O. Angus who helps in many ways at West Street and Mrs L. Mulligan for her sterling work in the canteen.
Then there are those who give subscriptions and donations, whose names are listed in the report and, finally, the Admiralty Social Service Association whose interest in Murray House never seems to flag. To one and all the Committee expresses its deepest thanks.
Once again there has been an excess expenditure over income for the year. This has amounted to £282 and the reserves of Murray House have been reduced by this amount.
Salaries and wages were lower than last year because Mr Anderson, the Assistant Warden, left the Club halfway through the year and was not replaced. The effect on the Accounts however was slight, since the grant from Newcastle Education Committee was correspondingly reduced.
Subscriptions and donations were maintained at the same level as last year but a slight increase in expenses, other than salaries, has increased the overall deficit by £136 compared with the previous year.
It is obvious that the Centre cannot continue to make a loss each year and the Committee is actively grappling with the problem of finding the additional revenue to balance expenditure.
We end our report this year as we did last, by referring to what Murray House members are doing to help maintain a young native boy in a Mission School in Nigeria. Gratitude for this help is expressed in a letter recently received from Musa Jibo, the boy's father, which we have had to interpret slightly.
The Jibo Family
ECWA Bos 50, Bukuru via Jos.
6.2.67.
With much love I send you this letter. I hope it will meet you in good time and in the love of Jesus the Saviour.
After this, I, the father of Yahaya send you thanks for the help you have given us with Yahaya's school fees. Here is a photograph of us all that I am sending of myself and all the family. There are seven children. Yahaya is the one who has put on the white robe and hat on his head.
Remember us in your prayers.
I am yours in our Lord Jesus.
Musa Jibo.
