MEMBERS of Warrington Gentlemen’s Book Society celebrated their 175th anniversary during their annual dinner at Statham Lodge Hotel, Lymm.
Believed to be the oldest society in Warrington, the group meet once a year and auction current books helping raise funds for local charities.
Senior member, retired dentist Roger Bingham hosted proceedings, while local solicitor John Spittle auctioned off the books, helping raise funds for local charities including St Rocco’s Hospice, Warrington Disability Partnership and Warrington Youth Club.
Club records revealed that the society met in Statham Lodge 101 years ago, when it was a country house.
It has met at various other locations over the years, including the Warrington Club in Bold Street, but in more recent times has settled at Statham Lodge.
2 Comments
Well done to them and I hope they raised a lot for their chosen charities.
I’m not wanting to appear rude here but I’ve never heard of the ‘Warrington Gentlemen’s Book Society’ and google doesn’t return any info about them either which seems a little odd considering the society is said to have been in existence for 175 years. Was it a sort of members only secret society or similar which has just continued…do they just read books and then compare views and notes etc or is there more to the society than that? Just wondering because I’m nosey and intrigued 😀
Hi Dizzy – google wasn’t around for much of the society’s existence – and it is one of those old historic by invitation only groups, which gets on with its business without seeking any publicity – until a local journalist is invited along 😉
They had their first selfie a few years ago on twitter 😉
It has strong links with the Warrington Club, who form about half the membership. Membership is limited to around 20 “good souls.”