Peckham Liberal Club

[dontpanic]

You may have seen some threads on the Peckham Liberal Club on Elm Grove in SE15:

Here's a little more about it, and an invitation to get involved:

ABOUT PECKHAM LIBERAL CLUB

The Peckham Liberal Club continues to offer the facilities of a typical working men?s club to its members (women as well as men): It has the sort of community space that most inner city communities can only dream of. It has NO polital affiliation at all and is a member of the CIU (Club and Institute Union) It's called the Liberal Club for historical reasons (same as many were Labour or Conservative clubs). If you want specifics it is an 'industrial and Provident Society - which is something between a cooperative and a charity - run for the benefit and use of members.

The Club has a large and pleasant detached (and thus sound-insulated) hall suitable for a wide range of activities at any time of day (250 capacity). It has a vast snooker hall with four full-sized snooker tables and a billiard table. It has three large bar spaces; and a garden.

As stated in the rule book "The objects of The Club are to afford to its members the means of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, and rational recreation" - this is still as relevant now as it was in 1903.

You may have heard mention that the club has opened its doors a little bit more in recent months, and its now possible to hire it if you are a non member group.

If you like the club do join! membership for 2014 is now open, and we really need lots of locals to come, join, get involved, and above all USE the place. Its definitely a case of 'use it or lose' it.

Membership is ?20 PA - and you need to go and have a few drinks there - and get the signatures of two existing members to join. Membership forms are available from the club - ask for Charles or Janice

The club is available for booking form external groups; negotiable rates depending on if you are a community or nonprofit group and so on. There's plenty of room. There have been some great evenings there in 2013 - so roll up. We have a Burns night evening this month with reeling and haggis run by one of our members (here: http://www.wegottickets.com/PeckhamLiberalClub). There's yoga starting too, and quite a few other things going on which I will try and post.

Some examples of recent events:

Holy Holy Bowie night

Peckham Chamber Orchestra Concert

Tango night

Barn Dance

Jazz with Peckham Pandemonium and Kansas Smitty's

Darts tournament

Bingo weekly

Christmas and Halloween members' parties for adults and children

Snooker tournaments

If you join and get involved you can of course suggest any new activities you want to happen/run yourself

http://www.peckhamliberalclub.org

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peckham-Liberal-Club/233915243450505

twitter @peckhamlibclub

[toffeese15]

Hi there,

I live locally, have been there a couple of times and am interested in joining. How does one become a member if one doesn't know an existing member?

[dontpanic]

Buzz the door - ask to come and have a drink as you are interested in joining. Maggie is in charge of the bar.

Trying to organise informal open evenings. In the meantime ask and chat. Also come to any events open to non members.

[dontpanic]

I know its not immediately easy - but it is a members club - and its open to anyone who wants to come and be part of it. Members own and run the club, and there are only 4 employees, so they do need to agree to new members. It will become easier as there again becomes a network of people who regularly go...

[M Appeal]

I joined in October and its great to start being part of such a rich community institution with such fabulous potenial for the area. Come on down!

[bob]

I'm going there to night with 2 others to see about joining .

Bob S

[toffeese15]

I went down on Sunday with a mate with the intention of joining. We filled out the forms but at the time didn't have the necessary proposers or seconders. There was an older chap dealing with membership and he seemed unsure about how we should proceed. Meanwhile, a younger woman, wife of the person who helped ensure the place remained a community asset (possibly the partner of don'tpanic?) turned up and was more helpful. Although we are not yet members I got the impression that the process - which apparently used to involve going in front of the committee - will gradually become more efficient in order to encourage new people. Anyway, we stayed for a couple of pints and a game of snooker and had a pleasant time. We shall be back.

[bob]

toffeese thanks for that info but we are not going in cold we all know 4 or 5 members but don't give up just pop along for a pint and get known.

Bob S

[JoeChuff]

I'm a member and yes just to reiterate, it is a non-profit members' club not a commercial organisation so please be patient with the application process (and carry on enjoying the club while your membership is pending, I'm sure someone will sign you in).

If you're keen to join but can't find a proposer send me a PM and I might be able to arrange it for you (if I like you :))

[bob]

Well said JoeChuff

Bob S

[dontpanic]

Toffee it was me - yes, I am Don't panic ;-) I do the web and social media stuff.

I saw Charles today - he's the president - and you will be members. pending your membership card do feel free to come to the club!

What will happen - subject to committee approval - is that new members will be listed on the club notice board (in case there are any objections- though I'm sure unlikely). Once we have 20 or 30 new members we will do what used to happen, which is a new members evening where you're introduced to the club and the members get to meet you.

We need lots of new members - the more local the better. Anyone with ideas or skills to contribute is very welcome to get involved. We now have emails on our new membership form so we can have a proper newsletter available on paper in the club too.

[toffeese15]

Thanks for the info folks. And it was nice to meet you dontpanic.

[unlurked]

Hi Dontpanic. Does the membership of the club

> represent the ethnic and cultural make up of the

> area the club is located? I'm not asking for

> tables of stats,just general info. Thanks.

[dontpanic]

Hi Unlurked,

Not at the moment no: there hasn't been an influx of new members for a very long time. It needs to do this though to continue and to again be something useful to and properly part of the community.

The club knows that this is part of the revitalisation of the club. Recent events open to non members have noticeably brought in a lot of people who do indeed reflect the ethnic and cultural make up of the area, and a much broader age range. The hope is that we can get people who have visited to become members. Its something to build on, and new members is a way to do this. Suggestions welcome - join, hold events...

Its less than a decade since the club allowed women in, and you wouldn't know it now ;-)

Are you going to join?

[unlurked]

Thanks DontPanic. I am seriously thinking about joining, but haven't visited yet. I will def pay a visit. Just hope I don't get 'black balled' if I apply to join! Good luck.

[dontpanic]

Oh do visit Unlurked.

Off the top of my head things at the club open to non members:

Yoga classes , Saturdays 10am, ?9 per class. Ideal for beginners and lovers of a good playlist: http://lucyoga.co.uk/

and on Saturday 25th January

"Mrs. Peel?s Gallic Sympathies"

A celebration of the Swinging ?60s from the other side of La Manche.

"Lose yourself in the spirit of l'amour fou in a tribute to the panache of ANNA KARINA, JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO & SERGE GAINSBOURG.

Put on your Mod togs & grooviest garments for an evening of 1960s-style entertainment.

Featuring the extraordinarily hypnotic Rory More on the Lowrey Heritage Organ.

2 Go-GO dancer troupes.

Psychedelic Light show & Movie Projections.

And fabulous European Loungecore d-i-s-c- o-t-h-?-q-u-e

Time to swoop on Mrs Peel's early bird tickets - ?15!

https://www.facebook.com/mrspeelsjoys"

[Jah Lush]

I was rather gutted I had the man flu and missed this excellent night at the club. That's my mate on lead vocals.

 

[Earl Aelfheah]

East Dulwich has a constitutional club - anyone know what the coup is there? Is it a similar type of thing?

[JoeChuff]

I thought it had shut but it looks like it is still kicking, as of November last year anyway:

https://www.facebook.com/dulwichclub

will have to take a look!

[dontpanic]

OOh I say. Another great place!

[Roundabout]

Any news on an open day?

[bobbly]

The sound is as bad as it was when I was there last.... The engineer works backstage :(

[Jeremy]

bobbly, there's no house PA or engineer, so I think it will be different every time

[dontpanic]

That's right Jeremy.

We had sound courtesy of Dimension Audio (stadium and large music events specialists) as a favour for our Bowie night in Dec.

there's no PA and we've had all levels of sound equipment brought in for events. We've had sound desks to stage right and at the back.

No open day but there will be new members' evenings once we have a good number. Do knock the door and also come to non member events. This Sat its Mrs peel's joys lounge night, and next Sat its Burns night.