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Club History
A little about the history of the club and it's members past & present
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People that support HIBC
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News Reports
Here are our latest news articles
We as a club are all devastated at the news one of our longer serving members Roy Winsor passed away yesterday on the 16th December. Roy was a great guy to have around in the club, always a hard worker at our annual BBQ at Northney Farm, plus a great supporter of the ethos of the club. This BBQ was always followed by a celebration party at his house where all helpers and family were invited. Many of you will know Roy had a home with access to the creek, so the event was always arranged when the tides were high to allow him to treat every person who wanted to go to a boat trip round the sailing club. Canoes and windsurfers were always to hand for those who wanted a go. Roy loved his garden games and always had something different for us to play.
Roy joined the Businessmen’s club in 1989 which shows how much he enjoyed being a member. He was Chairman in 1994. Roy loved life even after he lost his sight in the later years, and led by example. He loved the sea and was a skilled sailor, he also had a love of flying. I do believe he was also a very skilled carpenter probably in the marine industry! We will miss him dearly at our meetings and events and send our condolences to his wife Christine and his extended family. Please look out for the funeral details which are not available at this time.
The picture is one of Roy when going on a recent flight.
In happier news, you may recall last month I mentioned about the minibus
being brought out of lockdown to be used by Mill Rythe Infant School. It was great to see the bus being put to use by a local school on a regular basis, as it is predominantly used by our more senior citizens.
being brought out of lockdown to be used by Mill Rythe Infant School. It was great to see the bus being put to use by a local school on a regular basis, as it is predominantly used by our more senior citizens.
the beach on Hayling. These lessons are known as Beach School. The letter said: ‘I work with Beach School at Mill Rythe Infant School and am so very thankful for the minibus you offer us.
‘The minibus enables us to take children on a regular basis to experience all
that our local beach has to offer. ‘By going to the beach, the children are developing their resilience in a number of ways and are learning about our fabulous environment. ‘We go out in all weathers and very often need our coats and hats – especially at this time of year.
Unfortunately we were not able to hold our street collection this year in
Mengham, which was the first time since 1964! It seems a long time and a
great number of collections, a staggering 55 in total. It reflects on the generosity of Hayling residents that after all these years it still provides a worthwhile fundraising event in our calendar. Despite the lack of events and income this year, some of the team still have to carry out essential jobs.
Our chairman, Bruce Mowatt, has become IT efficient in arranging our
monthly Zoom meeting and proficient in chairing them. Treasurer John Greenland still has to pull the accounts together and arrange for them to be audited. Trevor Slydell is looking after the minibus bookings plus essential maintenance, and our secretary Steve James is dealing with all correspondence and other admin duties.
We do hope we can move forward next year and recoup some funding with
our regular events, and maybe a new one or two extras thrown in as well.
Chairman Bruce, on behalf of all club members, wishes you all a very happy new year full of hope and optimism for a healthy future.
It seems a long time ago we had a non- virtual meeting, but Zoom has provided many of us a way of staying in touch with our friends and colleagues. We have held regular meetings by this means this year, but fear it will probably be at least another 2 to 4 months before we can all meet in person again. So much is depending on the success of the many vaccines being worked upon. I thought before the year end I would update our many followers as to what we have been able to do despite of all this going on around us.
We have always laid a wreath on Remembrance Sunday at the cenotaph and were pleased to have one laid upon our behalf this year due again to lockdown.
We were delighted to be able to support the Hayling Community Centre In sponsoring one of the overheads that would have been incurred had the Virtual Concert been able to go ahead. Unfortunately the current lockdown put paid to this, but the offer of sponsorship is still there for when it does go ahead.
Two events we do hope will be able to go ahead next year are the Annual BBQ and the Pig Racing evening. We need to wait awhile yet before we can confirm as we have to ensure the venues are available and we are free of any restrictions. So much is hinging on our scientists etc. We do hope to give plenty of notice as the pigs do need to get into training!!
We are delighted that the Bus, which is our main charity is out and about again, mainly being used by Mengham Infant School to take children out and about on various projects. If your Charity or good cause is in need of transport, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
On the subject of Mini Buses, we are delighted that Hayling Voluntary Services, now known as JT’S Community Services have their Mini Bus on the road which we helped sponsor and carries our logo on the vehicle. We were delighted to help such a worthwhile cause.
Whilst It’s not a great time for any of us we are pleased our members have generally managed to avoid Coronavirus. But, on a worrying note we have five members either awaiting hospital treatment or in hospital being treated. It’s a worry the problems being caused in society by delayed operations, reluctance to go to hospital or just not visiting or talking to your GP.
Thank you every one for your support this year and we do hope to be back in operation next year, but in the meantime from the Chairman and members of Hayling Island Businessmen’s Club a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Please contact our secretary for any info: Stephen James Tel : 07957 872307 E-Mail : secretary@hibc.org.uk
Following on from last month, I have had a number of comments as to how interesting readers of the Herald found the article about the history of the club and one prominent member. I thought I would for this month give a further insight into events of the past, rather than the personnel involved.
In March 1964 we did have a thriving Chamber of Trade in which a number of our founder members were active. It was suggested they formed a club of their own. They didn’t hang around, by April the Club was formed with Bob Green of the West Town Hotel the first Chairman. Members were very generous with early projects, with Cecil Walker providing a TV for Orchard Close. Several members were volunteer drivers and would drive the Mini Bus, although some would drive their own cars and take people on hospital appointments, a job done so well now by Hayling Volunteer Services.
In September 1964 the Club took 15 senior citizens on holiday for a week to Swanage. There were volunteer drivers, helpers and I am sure many of you will recall Dr Brenan, who went along as Doctor in charge.
In October 1964 it was agreed that the club would do its best to ensure no elderly or infirm residents went cold during the winter. We were very successful and provided heat for many homes. During December of our first year we offered a Chiropody service to our elderly at a cost of two shillings and sixpence per person (12.5p) It was estimated that 10 persons per week attended. We did purchase a screen to give privacy when removing stockings.
One of the best stories relating to the club is when a coach was laid on to take 26 elderly folk to the Pantomime in Portsmouth. Upon returning to Hayling it was found that we had 28, with two being oblivious to being on the wrong coach. Nobody had checked upon leaving Portsmouth!! Needless to say they were promptly returned with their correct coach still waiting for them.
The Club for 10 years sponsored a Berth for a young Hayling person on the “Winston Churchill” a sail training schooner at a cost of £200 per year. We were the smallest group to ever do this, but the ever increasing costs made it unaffordable. The same applied to the Swanage holiday scheme unfortunately.
I hope you realise from this, the camaraderie that exists within the club and why most of our members serve for a number of years. We certainly hope to be back soon, and if you have an interest, even if you are not a businessman in serving the community, please visit our website or Facebook page.
Since my last report much to our surprise our Chairman Bruce Mowatt arranged a virtual meeting. It was very successful with members enjoying the catch up. The whole team seem to be in good spirits albeit most are in isolation. Some are fortunate enough to have been able to return to work. A healthy debate as to the way forward took place, but we have insufficient numbers available to consider much change in our current situation. We have in fact notified the authorities and SORN our mini bus until such times venues are open and it is needed.
A great deal of thought has been going on during the current period and I have been reading about the history of the club which was formed in 1964, an incredible 56 years. Interestingly reading the notes it was considered setting up as a branch of Rotary or Lions, but the initial members decided at the time, being a small Island an independent group would work better and we would create our own constitution.
We have no original members within the club now, but we do have a very long serving member who joined the club in its 11th year which was 1975. That is an amazing 45 years of membership, serving the Community into which he was born. The man I talk of is John Cottle, who many of you will recall as a Heating and Plumbing Engineer on Hayling.
John joined HIBC in 1975. In the early days membership was by invitation, unlike today, where we welcome membership from gentlemen with an interest in our Island community, charity and friendship. Originally all the members were local professional and business men, hence the name of the Club and the reason for meeting during the lunch time.
Early fund raising events were many and included a Donkey Derby in 1966, followed by Dog Derbies, new car and bicycle raffles, 200 Club, Charity Shop, Carnival support, Cabaret Nights, Beetle Drives, Seafood and Cheese and Wine parties, Strawberry Fairs, Street Collections, Raffles and Solent Cruises, today we have our ongoing Pig Racing Nights and our popular BBQ at Northney Farm. When John mentioned the charity shop back all those years, it must have been one of the first and it was an important fund raiser. However in those days shops didn’t stay empty long, so it was only ever temporary.
The Club has a great record of serving the Community with the use of our Community Bus and support with donations to many worthwhile individuals and organisations, Schools, Health Centre, North Hayling Recreational Hall, Community Centre, Boxing, Football Clubs, Scouts, First Responders, Age Concern, Blind Club, Orchard Close, Churches and holidays and food parcels for deserving Islanders.
John was born and schooled on Hayling, he also married Iris and their children were christened in St. Marys and being in business locally, he decided he wanted to put something back into the community which has served him and his family well. He is very proud to be part of this small, dedicated team and is now a Life Member awarded in recognition of his service. Club social events have been fun and an opportunity to meet up with wives and partners to whom we owe much for their support and encouragement.
Any club which can retain the services and interest for this number of years must have the right mixture of camaraderie and business, so John hopes these reminiscences of his will encourage some readers to consider contacting the Club and join us as a guest at one of our lunch meetings and then hopefully join us.