194 THE AGRICULTURAL CLUB. 



of trained organisers were required to initiate village 

 enterprises. 



About a year previously I had ventured to introduce 

 the subject of " Village Life after the War," and had 

 suggested that an organised attempt should be made to 

 promote the formation of Village Clubs on principles suited 

 to the new conditions of rural life. The reception of the 

 idea tentatively thrown out for discussion was highly 

 favourable. Among the speakers who supported it were Sir 

 Ailwyn Fellowes, Mr. H. Padwick, Mr. W. S. Gibbard, Mr. 

 John Evens, Mr. Rea, Mr. George Edwards, Mr. Orwin, 

 Mr. Dallas, Mr. George Nicholls, Mr. Hewitt, Mr. T. Lovell, 

 and Mr. Haman Porter. From other representative persons 

 landowners, labourers, farmers, and parsons I received 

 communications welcoming the proposal which encouraged 

 me to proceed, and in due course the Village Clubs 

 Association was formed, based on the following fundamental 

 principles : 



1. The Village Club should be the centre of all social 

 activities, and of all forms of physical and mental recreation. 



2. It should be self-supporting and free from the elements 

 of patronage. 



3. All inhabitants of the village, without distinction of 

 class or opinion, and, when practicable, of both sexes, 

 should be eligible for membership. 



4. The entire control should be vested in a Committee 

 elected either by (a) the members, or (b) the members and all 

 residents of the parish. 



These principles were adopted after careful and prolonged 

 discussion with representatives of all classes and of all 

 interests in rural life, and they have been widely accepted 

 throughout the country. 



In spite of somewhat exceptional difficulties and of very 

 inadequate resources the Village Clubs Association has 

 done much to stimulate the development or resuscitation 

 of the community spirit in rural England and to promote 

 the provision of social, educational and recreational facilities 

 in the villages. 



