Yeovil's Virtual Museum, the A-to-Z of Yeovil's History

The old barn club

The Old Barn Club

A successful Silver Jubilee community project

Text and photographs by Roger Froude

The Old Barn Club originated from a meeting at the Yew Tree Inn during May 1977 of people who lived in the area and were interested in doing something to celebrate The Queen's Silver Jubilee, 7 June 1977. Those present were Charles Bishop (local builder), Tony Olde (Councillor), Roger & Barbara Froude, Henry (landlord of the Yew Tree Inn), Jim Flood (Charles Bishop's Foreman) and a few others. After various ideas, an afternoon fancy dress and knock-out competition for children were decided upon, but a function for the evening for adults was difficult. Then Charles Bishop (Charlie) came up with the idea of clearing out the old barn on the old Yew Tree Farm (which he owned, along with the surrounding land on which he was building Plantagenet Chase) and have a barn dance. The barn could be cleaned out, rig up some lights, get some hay bales for seating and book a group plus Henry offered to do the bar. Sorted.

The next day Charlie Bishop with Jim Flood met up with Barbara Froude and Tony Olde and suggested looking at the barn in order to do a bit more than just clearing it out, but make it into a more permanent facility for the community. Within two weeks all of Charlie Bishop's builders were transferred from building the houses on the Plantagenet Chase site to renovating the barn. Tony Olde assisted with planning with the Council and a number of sub-contractors were arranged by Charlie Bishop, plus he was supplying all the materials. The Old Barn was transformed. The roof was removed, new trusses erected and tiles replaced, interior walls cleaned, a new floor was laid and tiled. New doors were added, an extension was built which included a kitchen, cellar room, boiler room for central heating of the centre, a bar, entrance hall and toilets.

Many thanks to Tony Olde for the following...

"I was one of those present at the first meeting at the Yew Tree Inn to consider creating a social club from the derelict barn, initially for the purpose of holding a community party to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. At the second meeting a Provisional steering Committee was set up and I was appointed the first chairman. Charles (Peter) Bishop was present at both meetings - the property belonged to his company. He subsequently donated it to the community via the eventual formally elected Old Barn Committee where I was again elected chairman, and Peter Bishop Honorary President. I formulated the Constitution along with a sub committee and acted for the club attending court to obtain it's club registration certificate, later also negotiating a deal with a major brewery to finance further developments of the building including the addition of a skittle alley - which again Peter Bishop constructed and donated to the club. He was an amazingly generous benefactor for the local community who was fondly remembered by all who knew him. The very first use of the building was for the Silver Jubilee Party for residents and the building workers which again he paid for. It was only just completed in time though, I remember fixing coloured foil strips from high up on the wall behind the stage until around two-o- clock in the previous morning. Painters and carpenters were still working on the property until less than an hour before the Mayor was to declare it open - I am not aware whether he got any wet paint on his suit though - but it would be quite unsurprising!"

The old farm cottages at the rear of the Yew Tree Inn, seen at top right. Photographed around 1977. The Yew Tree Inn had been the original farmhouse of Yew Tree Farm.

The old barn at the beginning of the alteration project. 1977.

The Old Barn Club, photographed in 1977.

While all the building was taking place fund raising was organised for furniture and prizes for the children’s fancy dress which took place in the afternoon of the Jubilee along with “It's a Knockout” competition for the older children to be held it the Lysander Road playing field. Jubilee Day arrived and the Toddlers' Fancy Dress was judged by the Mayor, James Gardener, in the afternoon. At the same time there was a painter in the toilets painting the windows, carpenters in the hall erecting a stage and Henry, the landlord of the Yew Tree pub, setting up the bar. In the playing field Roger and Barbara Froude, with helpers, ran the “It's a Knockout” competition for the older children.

For the adults, after the “It's a Knockout” competition, a football match featuring the men against the women was organised - the difference being that the men and women changed roles, the men had to be dressed as women and vice-versa.

A fundraising jumble sale held in the Yew Tree / Forest Hill car park. Photographed in 1977.

The evening dance was an overwhelming success with over 200 attending, with majority dancing on the recently laid and tiled floor. The floor began to heave and was awash with a white chalky moisture which covered the bottom of the ladies' long dresses and the men's trousers. The next morning, on visiting the aftermath, the floor had dried and required the hire of industrial cleaners to restore it.

The next question was “What to do with this new community centre?” To enable it to operate and obtain a licence it had to become a private members club, so The Old Barn Club was born. A committee was formed with Charlie Bishop nominated as President, Tony Olde as Chairman, Roger Froude as Secretary, plus 9 other members. Membership was opened; Tony Olde and his wife were members 0002 & 0003, Roger & Barbara Froude 0004 & 0005. Membership annual fee was £5 and soon over thirty members were signed up, a licence was applied for and a bar stocked. Initially members suffered having a drink on several occasions in freezing condition due to the heating constantly breaking down and sparse furniture and fittings but they battled on as they believed in the Club for the community.

Many thanks again to Tony Olde for the following...

"Further to the Silver Jubilee Party at the Old Barn, there was still quite a bit of work to be carried out on the building, particularly as it then comprised just one large room, but when everything was eventually completed, including equipping the kitchen and other improvements, Peter Bishop wanted to hold a thank you party for all involved in the project - the committee, helpers, and those workers involved in the construction. He arranged for the owners, chefs and staff of the then Sutton Bingham Manor Restaurant to close for an evening, and for them to prepare and serve a fillet steak dinner at the Old Barn for all of us, at his expense! The building was packed!!!"

By 1978 a brewery could see the potential and sponsored the club financially, so better furniture and fittings could be purchased making the bar area more comfortable and appealing. Fund raising had to continue, a sponsored walk Yeovil to Sherborne and a barrel race were organised for Good Friday. The latter consisted of teams rolling a beer barrel from the Club along Lysander Road, up Pine Tree Avenue, along Rowan Way, through Forest Hill shops' car park and back to the Old Barn with drinking stations on the way - which obviously was a pint of beer. A Summer Fête was arranged which included a Tug-of War competition.

The barrel race in progress.

The barrel race pit-stop being enjoyed by one of the teams.

The tug-of-war took place on the waste ground that is now Holy Trinity School and Plantagenet Park. Photographed in 1977.

The Club started a darts team and skittle team; the skittle alley was a temporary wooden alley that was borrowed and had to be laid in the hall whenever a match was played. But soon it was decided to convert the old cattle stalls adjacent the entrance to the barn into a skittle alley and again with help from the brewery a separate bar and function room was feasible. The initial work however, which was pulling down the old cattle stalls, had to be done by mainly the male committee members to save money.