The birth of the Old
Dartmothians' Association was by a chance meeting between Major W.H. Fox,
Alderman, J.H. Moses, Lt. S.C. Legg, RN., and Fred Voisey on
the North Embankment one Regatta day in 1923 when the formation was suggested,
upon adjournment to the Ship in Dock Inn where their intentions were
sealed with a little liquid refreshment. To commemorate this event an in
scribed brass plate was affixed to the parlour of
this
Alderman W.H. Welsford was the first President with Fred Voisey as Secretary and a first membership of 30. On the death of Fred Voisey, Herbert Tucker took over as Secretary. At that time to perpetuate the memory of the first President, the Association presented a Cup for Rowing known as The Welsford Cup, then in 1927 to perpetuate the memory of the first Secretary presented the Fred Voisey Shield to the Swimming Club.
In 1928 Captain John Pillar presented to the Association a flag, and the Association purchased a tabernacle and Flagpole which was erected in the Royal Avenue Gardens, the new Flag was dedicated at a special service conducted by the Rev. F.R.B. Simpson and the Rev. W.J. Zeal in the presence of the President Robert T. Pillar and a large company of members.
Lt. S.C. Legg, RN presented an
Album to contain the photographs of the Presidents of the Association and a
President's Collar and Badge in gold plated on silver and enamel which was
provided for state occasions, to the collar is added each year a silver bar
bearing the President's name
In 1938 a Fund was started in the name of John Fox known as the "John Fox Benevolent Fund" such moneys to assist the Almoner in looking after the old folk and widows of deceased members.
During the World War II period normal activities were curtailed, but the Committee kept in being with the assistant's Secretary's help while Engr. Cdr. HE. Pillar, the Secretary, was on active service, and sent out an annual Christmas letter to each member. The Association also assisted the Dart Valley Spitfire Fund to the extent of £61. 14s. Od., and also gave active support to the War effort by investing in Defence Bonds from our available funds.
With the restoration of Coronation Park after the war, the Association was able to put into effect the long standing project of erecting and presenting to the Town an Old Dartmothians1 Shelter, being completed and handed over to the Town in 1951; in the following year we were honoured by being permitted to supply the final link to the Historic Mayoral Chain, this taking the form of our Badge in gold and enamel.
In 1956, members garnered on the North Embankment when twelve trees were handed over to the Town by the Association. These trees had to be replaced in 1985 due to their removal to make way for the new embankment scheme on completion of which twelve new trees were planted and handed over to the Town Council and to commemorate the event a plaque was produced and is fixed on the North Embankment.
On the 25th February, 1965 members met 22 ladies who were interested in forming a Woman's Section of the Association. Mrs. Webb of Warfleet was elected the first President with Mrs. G. Jewel as Chairman. Mrs. G. Broom was appointed the first Secretary. Permission was given for them to use our badge with the words "Woman's Section" on it, in a form of a brooch.
1973 - Jubilee Year celebrating
fifty years since the formation of die Association. The name and emblem of the
Association was laid out in the
Towards the end of 1979 a cross
tree was added to the Association's flag
pole in the
In 1980 the Association presented a new flat) staff above the Town Guildhall to celebrate the 80th birthday of H.R.H Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
During his year as President in 1981, Mr. D.I.J. Owen held a Presidents' Evening in the form of a formal Dinner with their Ladies and also inviting the Women's Section to join in as well. It was well attended and has been held annually ever since.
To perpetuate the memory of the late Alderman George A.C. Perring, who was a Past President of the Association and who had very generously left legacies to many of the organisations in the Town including our Association, a metal flower holder had been erected by the Boatfloat near to the Association's flag pole with a plaque depicting -"Donated by the Old Dartmothians' Association in memory of the late G.A.C. Perring".
In 1983 to commemmorate the Centenary of one of the Association's oldest members Alderman Bertie Lavers, the Association presented a Cup to the Dartmouth Athletic Association to be competed for annually.
In 1985 a new flag was obtain together with a new alloy flag staff replacing the old wooden one and in 1998 a further new flag was donated to the Association by Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Simmons in memory of their uncle Mr. Sydney C. Rundle, DSM., BEM., who had been a member of the Association for over twenty years.
In 1988 a
Shield was presented to the local Athletic Association to be awarded annually
to the "Best Junior Member" it had been donated by a
member of the Association who wished to remain anonymous.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Association in July 1989 a Sponsorship Fund was opened through a generous donation of £1,000 by a member who wished to remain anonymous. The interest raised through such fund would benefit the youth as well as the elderly of the town as set out in Rule 2 of the Association's Rules
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At the Half Yearly Meeting in January 1991 the Secretary confirmed that the War Bonds had been deposited with the Dartmouth Town Council for safe keeping.
Also in
1991 the draft outline of the proposed new wrought iron arch for
the entrance to the
In January 1993 it was agreed to have a Past President's Board which would be fixed in the entrance of the Guildhall. Mr. M. Stone agreed to do the calligraphy and Mr. A.K. Brook agreed to make the frame and glaze the finished work.
In
February 1993 the Association remembered those of the Town who lost
their lives in the bombing of
At Evensong on Sunday, 23rd April, 1995 at St. Saviour's Church members attended the Service which included the blessing and laying up of an old Association's Flag .
For several years now members of the Association have been invited to Beacon Court Residential Nursing Home for a Buffet Lunch on the Wednesday of Dartmouth Regatta so that they could bring a bit of the Regatta to those who now only have memories of Regattas gone by.
In March
1996 it was suggested that the Association celebrates the Millennium by refurbishing
the Fountain in the
Having received approval from the South Hams District Council and confirmation that a grant would be made from the National Heritage Fund so long as they could see the Association was making a collective contribution in labour and finance. Social and other fund raising events were undertaken and tremendous enthusiasm was injected into the project by receiving large donations from various families in the town with the result that not only did the final grant of £22.000 enable the Association to refurbish the Fountain but also to place new railings around the Gold Fish Pond, the small statue nearby the fountain, the War Memorial and also to replace the windshields in the Bandstand which culminated in an Official Opening taking place on Thursday, the 3rd June, 1999 when the President, Mr H.W. Hutchins supported by those who had assited in the restoration work together with the Chairman of the South Hams District Council, the Mayor of Dartmouth officially unveiled a plaque commemorating the achievement and switched on the Fountain viewed by a large gathering.
Several
other things have been undertaken by the Association in the form of
gifts of seats, loud speakers for Broomborough
Nursing Home at Totnes in memory of the late John Ball in accordance with his
wishes, a drugs refrigerator for the
The
Association has a membeship of well over 200 and continually
brings in new members. It is proud of its record, both as a body for
the welfare of members and the home town and for the fine achievements
of its individual members, many of whom have obtained positions of honour both in the services and in civil life, particularly
by the number of members who have occupied the Mayoral Chair of Dartmouth,
formerly as the Corporation and since as the Town Council and
trusts that in the years ahead there still lies a glorious sphere of active co-operation
with all Dartmouth lovers.
June 1999.
David I.J. Owen, Hon. Secretary.