Portsmouth music scene

The Foresters Hall - Hampshire Ex-Servicemen's Club, Fratton Road

The Foresters' Hall in Fratton road came into existence in early 1930. However there was no grand opening or inaugural meeting at the start.
The earliest Evening NEWS ad was extremely down played on January 4th 1930.
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Other functions soon followed
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13th Janauary 1930 --------------------- 16th Janaury 1930

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27th Janauary 1930

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24-1-1931
forest29-5-1931
29-5-1931
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20-11-1931
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5-12-1931
forest30-4-1932
30-4-1932
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1-7-1933
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7-12-1936
1945
May 1st PT Classes for Young Women at the Foresters Hall, near Clive Road.
1948
December 10th Harry Stares and his band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
1949
October 1st Saturday, Billy Bennett's Merrymakers play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
October 22nd Billy Bennett's Merrymakers play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
November 5th Billy Bennett's Merrymakers play at the Foresters Hall Fratton Road.
November 12th Saturday, Len Ashdown and his Music play at the Foresters Hall Fratton Road.
December 24th Saturday, Saturday, The Teddy Hanks Dance Band play at the Foresters Hall in Fratton Road.
1950
September 22nd Teddy Hanks and his Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
October 6th Teddy Hanks and his Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
October 13th Teddy Hanks and his Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
October 27th The Teddy Hank's Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
November 3rd Teddy Hanks and his Band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
November 11th Saturday, Dick Whichello's Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road for an Armistice Dance, tickets 1/6d.
November 17th Teddy Hanks and his Band play the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road. Also there is Kaleidoscope lighting two-beat music, plus a beautiful legs contest.
December 1st Teddy Hanks and his Band now playing every Friday at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
December 15th Teddy Hanks and his Band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
December 22nd Teddy Hanks band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road and celebrate their 15th birthday!
1951
January 5th Teddy Hank's Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
January 12th The Teddy Hanks Band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road.
February 9th A men’s knobbly knee contest and the Teddy Hanks Hot Club De Forester’s Band, at the Forester’s Hall.
March 9th Bill Cole and his Clubmen play at the Forester's hall Fratton Road.
March 16th Teddy Hanks Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
April 6th Teddy Hank's Band play at the Forester’s Hall Fratton Road for a special teenagers dance.
April 16th Kay O'Dee Quartet play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
1953
November 7th The Portsmouth Irish Society hold a Ceilidhe at the Foresters Hall, Fratton Road with music from Cyril Rice and his Band.
1954
June 10th Johnnie Scott and his Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
June 17th Johnnie Scott and his Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
August 13th The Ace Dance Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
August 20th The Ace Dance Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
September 3rd The Ace Dance Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
September 17th The Ace Dance Band play at the Foresters Hall Fratton Road.
September 24th The Ace Dance Band play at the Forester's Hall Fratton Road.
1956
November 17th Ted Neil's Band play at the Forester's Hall, Fratton Road.
1957
May 4th A Spring Fair at the Foresters Hall with proceeds to the Portsmouth Opera Company.
April 1968
newly opened Paradise Found Club at the Foresters Hall in Fratton Road.

Entires from the Portsmouth edition of Kelly's Direcvtory
for 226 Fratton Road Portsmouth.

1918 Morgan Mrs J M confr.
1926/27 Morgan Mrs J M confr.
1929/30 Ancient Order of Foresters (Alfred Hollis District Sec)
1935 Ancient Order of Foresters (Alfred Hollis District Sec)
1936/37 Ancient Order of Foresters (Alfred Hollis District Sec)
1939/40 Ancient Order of Foresters (Alfred Hollis District Sec)
1940/41 Ancient Order of Foresters (Alfred Hollis District Sec)
1948/49 Ancient Order of Foresters (Reginald H Boniface District Sec) tele 4441
1951 Ancient Order of Foresters (George E Batchelor District Sec) tele 4441
1958 Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society (George S Bridger District Sec) tele 4441
1960 Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society (George S Bridger District Sec) tele 21684
1964 Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society (George S Bridger District Sec) tele 21684
1976 228/230 Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society
1976 226/230 Hampshire Ex Servicemen’s Club

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One of the founding members of an ex-servicemen's club is appealing for help to stop the club from closing. After existing for almost four decades, the Hampshire Ex-services Club in Fratton Road faces closure due to lack of funding and a falling membership. The club was founded in 1971 by Doug Smith, 85, and William Doyle.
At its peak it boasted a membership of around 1,500, but in recent years this has dwindled to 400. Figures from the trustees also show the venue is running at a loss of almost 8,000 a month and if this doesn't improve the club would close on New Year's Eve. Betty Smith, 75, wife of Doug, said: 'It is such a shame to see it come to this. From the beginning, my husband and I have put everything we had towards this. 'We gave our life savings to start the club and I door-knocked to get members signed up. 'If it carries on like this then our last event will be held on New Year's Eve and that's it.'
The club had been set up for ex-servicemen and their families, but now it has been extended so anyone can come along. Gerry Jones, 81, president of the club, said: 'We're losing about 400 a week or possibly even more. 'We're only getting 20 to 30 members at the weekend, last weekend we only took 700, but the outgoings was more than 1,000. 'We have so much to pay with increasing rates and VAT as well as maintenance costs and we're struggling.'
The club was first designed for the friends and family of ex-servicemen, which is how Eileen Cooper, of Wykeham Road, North End, was introduced to the club. The 67-year-old said: 'I came here when they first opened with my family who were members. Being here has provided me with so much over the years. 'Over the years there have been dancing classes, children's parties and fancy dress parties, where we all got enjoyment. 'I will be sad to see it close, I used to bring the kids here when they were little as it has a great family vibe.' And her daughter June Watson, 46, of Newcome Road, Fratton, is also a regular visitor.
She said: 'I have been coming here since I was eight and have great memories of children's parties and having a great, family vibe. 'We always feel safe here and if you want someone to walk you home, people are always willing to help. I would be really sad to see this place close.'

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The last dance is over, the dancers have gone, no more names of the 'Entertainments for' board,
but in the hall, you can still hear the band playing.


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