I suppose the most important affair associated with the village during my lifetime was the organisation known to us as "Winsham Club". It was known as a friendly society, which ended with the advent of the National Health Insurance, as the main aim of the club was to help members who were unemployed. There was no other assistance in those days, beyond what was known as "Parish Pay", which amounted to half a crown a week, but if you sunk so low as to have to accept it, it would be known for miles around, and you would not be allowed to forget it for the rest of your life. Having once accepted Parish Pay, registered you as a beggar, or pauper, so the club was the alternative to avoid this ever happening. 

I have no idea at what time in history it was formed, but it was already a going concern when I arrived. It "Broke", as they called it, every seven years, and if at that time, there were any surplus funds, they were shared out. 

There was also a very active social side to the club, and once a year a Grand Fete took place. This was always held in a field up New Road, and this was known as "Club Field". This was an occasion that was looked forward to by every one in the village, from one year, until the next. Children who had married and left home always came back for a great reunion. It was an occasion when you met people you hadn't seen for years, while others made a ritual of coming home on this specific day, and all the children saved up for it all the year round, but everyone looked forward to the great day. The night before the event, the Round-a-bouts, Swing Boats and all the fun of the fair arrived, together with a very large marquee. By this time spirits would be running high, by both young and old. It was a case of the coming events casting a shadow before them. When dawn broke on the great day, everyone would be up and about, preparing themselves for the occasion. 

Here we are most graciously received and served with drinks and refreshments, even us children are given (rare treat) bottles of ginger beer. I can recall the corks in those days were wired on and it was great fun when the cork finally "popped". After this hospitality the Band played several tunes before moving on. We were all put back into line and at the given order, the band struck up a martial air, and we were on our way to the next stop which was Whatley farm, where we are again regaled by Mr Fred Fowler. We don't stay so long on this occasion, as there is a long way to go, but before leaving Whatley we pay a short visit to Farmer Pym, further down the road. We are however, soon back on the road, heading for Whatley Bottom, and then on through Cutting, and down into the village, we progress up Fore Street, and head for Broadenham. 

At Broadenham Farm we are the guests of Mr and Mrs Budge, where we are again refreshed, and we take the opportunity of a well earned rest. The Budge family were another family very much associated with village life. (One of their daughters married the Vicar's only son, Ernest). Time passes, and we amass for the last lap, but by this time we have all covered quite a few miles. The final route takes us back through Ebdon Lane, High Street, down Back Street, to end up in the club field where we are ceremoniously dismissed. 

Now, in the marquee I spoke of earlier, was always served a most magnificent spread of Roast Ribs of Beef, with Yorkshire pudding in abundance, together with locally grown vegetables. There is also a fully licensed bar. Mrs Forsey, from the Bell Inn, was always in charge of the preparation and cooking of the joint, and the Spurdle family, that is brothers William and Charlie, are responsible for carving and serving. The meal was free to all paid up members and their wives, but everyone outside of the club was invited to sit down with us at a cost of one shilling. The Fete was soon in full swing, all the kiddies are soon up in the Swing Boats, trying to out-do each other, and the Round-a-bouts, or Hurdy-Gurdys as they were called in those days, are also very popular, in fact there was all the fun of the fair. In the evening, there was dancing on the green to the music of the Brass Band and by the light given off by paraffin flares, and this went on until past midnight. Before leaving, everyone would have bought Rocks, Dumps and Gingerbread from the stalls that used to serve this kind of confectionery, which was special to fair grounds. (Dumps were the common term for large lumps of Humbug). And so the day came to a close, and it would be another day in our lives to remember.