Wimbledon Circle (No. 33) was the first London suburban circle. It was inaugurated, with the name Thames Valley Circle, by Grand President Brother Henry T. Sandy on 9 May 1918 – assisted by Brother T. Baines. Nineteen Brothers transferred to the new Circle and three candidates were formally enrolled into the Association. The Founder President was Brother A.C.J. Charlier – a post he held for four years. One of the Founder Members was Brother P. Briggs, who became Grand President 1929-1931.
The Circle flourished and grew in numbers from the start. By 1923 there were 84 Brothers, a figure that, although approached, has never been equalled since. One reason for this has been the number of Circles opened in the Greater London area, as exemplified by the creation of our Province 19, containing 18 Circles - to become 19 in February 2009.
Wimbledon Circle took an active interest in the formation of new Circles at Sutton, Croydon, Richmond & Twickenham, Guildford (both the present and the original, now West Surrey), Wandsworth & Putney (now London South West) and Epsom.
All these Circles are pre World War II, and subsequent to 1945, Esher, Weybridge and Kingston-on-Thames Circles were formed, with Wimbledon providing Founder Presidents for the last two.These developments resulted in the name of the Circle being changed in 1928 to Wimbledon & District, and again in 1932 to Wimbledon.
Inaugurated during World War I as we were, it was felt inappropriate to organise any elaborate social function and the first dinner of the Circle was held on 13 January 1919 at Wimbledon Hill Hotel, (now known as The Dog and Fox) – the cost being seven and sixpence each.
The second annual dinner caused some discord as, due to restricted accommodation, only Brothers and male friends were admitted. Not to be disheartened, the following year the event was upgraded to “Town”, the venue being Harrods’ Georgian Restaurant, wives were admitted, and the cost, twelve and sixpence, to include wine and all beverages. A loss of £1 11s 11d was incurred. This of course was much before the time of the late Brother Larry Posthuma (our Treasurer for many years), who had just celebrated his third birthday!
As befitted a Circle founded during a war, our forebears were a militant bunch – in 1923 rejecting unanimously a proposed new set of bye-laws, submitted by Grand Council and countering with their own. Complaints concerning late publication of the Year Book (now the National Directory) began in 1919. By 1922, Catena first experienced our stern criticism.
Activities of course have not been confined to hostile comment. The Midsummer Gathering – a social and sports occasion which flourished from 1930 to 1937 – owed its inception to Wimbledon, attracting attendances of 400 on an inter-provincial basis.
During World War II a handful of Brothers kept the Circle alive, although regular monthly meetings were not possible, otherwise, we would have reached our 1000th meeting a good deal earlier.
Post-war years saw a resurgence in the strength of the Circle – although slowly following the founding of neighbouring Circles. Socially, dances were held to assist local organisations, which served also a further purpose in enabling young Catholics to meet one another.
The Golden Jubilee meeting of the Circle in 1968, celebrating 50 years since inauguration, was attended by 40 members of the Circle and 131 visitors from 27 circles, including 18 Presidents. Contrast that with our 100th meeting on 9 September 1926, attended by 28 Brothers plus 1 visitor.
Our 800th meeting in February 1987 was celebrated with a superb Banquet and Ball, attended by 200 at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Wimbledon – the first occasion that an outside organisation had been granted permission to use the Club’s private Debenture Holders Lounge.
1990 saw the Circle literally “go to the dogs” – Wimbledon Greyhound dogs that is – in a very successful effort to raise funds for charity – with an inter-Circle competition which sadly foundered after that one year.
In June 1995 our 900th meeting passed by fairly quietly but our 1000th meeting and celebrations in October 2004, with Mass at the Sacred Heart Curch and a banquet at Epsom Race Course's Blue Riband Suite, were a very happy and memorable series of events.
Over ninty years have passed since Wimbledon Circle was born and we celebrated our 90th birthday meeting in style on 9th May 2008 - the year of the Association's centenary. After an excellent banquet we received a stimulating address from (now the late) Sir Michael Quinlan on The Role of the Catholic in Society (reported elsewhere on this site).
The Foundation Meeting of the Wimbledon Circle 33 (then known as the Thames
Valley Circle 33) took place at the Wimbledon Hill Hotel on Thursday the 9th May
1918 Present :
The Grand President, Bro. Henry T Sandy
Grand Director,
Bro. Thomas Baines
Grand Treasurer, Bro. Bernard Heylwn
(Being the
delegates appointed by Grand Council to conduct the opening of the new Circle.)
Also the following members of Association, who had intimated their intention
to join the new Circle:-
Brothers Theodore Barton, P. Briggs, George
Brinkworth, F.J. Burge, J. H. Butterfield, Edward Caldin, J. H. Cantopher,
A.C.J. Charlier, D.W. Clarke, A .De Weck, J.W. Fitzgerald, Patrick Geoghegan,
J.L. Guilana, J.E.G .McSheehy, J.J.Martin, J. Mertens, Sir Westby
Perceval(KCMG., KSG), H.R. Prince, and E. Vincent Wareing.
The following
members of other Circles:
Brothers Dr. J. Elford Dupiging(President of the
South London Circle). B.C. Wright, (President of the Brighton Circle), H.A.
Whitehead (representing the North London Circle), G.J.Alexander, J.I.Allman,
Frank Beer, A.J.Bonnevialle, Charles Bourke, J.E. Burge, G.I.Philips Bussy, John
Carnegie, J.P. Collins, G.J. Corden, J. Dobinson, W. Finn, P.A. Grammel, J.G.
Greenwood, J.H.E. Harber, E.K. Heyburn, C.H. Nickolls, James Ryan, P.A. Spaul,
F.H. Tandy, T.J. Tierney, J. Kenrick Welby, and C.A. Winham.
Recognitions:- Brothers Thomas Baines imparted the method of recognition to the new members, who then signed the Roll
Election of Officers: A list of the following nominations for office in the
new Circle was handed to the Grand President, and, there being only one
nomination for each office, the candidates were declared unanimously
elected:-
President:- Bro. A.C.J.Charlier, Proposed by Bros. T. Barton and G.
E .H. Butterfield
Vice-President:- Bro. G.E.H. Butterfield, Proposed by Bros
A.C.J. Charlier and F.J Martin
Chamberlain- Bro.G H Cantopher, Proposed by
Bros. A C J Charlier and F J Martin
President’s Marshal- George Brinkworth,
Proposed by Bro. A C J Charlier and F J Martin
Vice President’s Marshall-
Bro. F J Martin, Proposed by Bros. G.E.H. Butterfield and A de
Weck
Treasurer:- Bro. H. R. Prince Proposed by Bros. P Briggs and E. Vincent
Wareing
Secretary:- Bro Edward Caldin, Proposed by Bros . E .H. Butterfield
and P Briggs
Guard:- Bro. Patrick Geoghehan Proposed by Bros. P. Briggs and
G. E.H Butterfield
Registrar:- Bro. F.J.Burge Proposed by Bros. G.E.H
Butterfield and F.J Martin
Induction of Officers:- The Grand President
inducted the new Officers in due form and order. There being no other business,
the Circle was closed by the President.
Signed A. C. J. Charlier.
President
Date 13/6/1918
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This information is valid at May 2010