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Get Adobe Flash player THE STORY OF THE L.T.U., C.I.D.A. AND STAPLES SOCIAL CLUB IN THE 1960s. In the period early in the 1960s the Social Club did very little for its members who had 6p per week stopped from their wages for the club funds. The main event of the year was the annual works dance at Christmas time. Although this was well organised and well attended, it very seldom appealed to the younger members of staff. A group of workers whiling the time away playing cards and darts during the long, one and a quater hour lunch break decided to liven things up one weekend, by organising a seaside 'beano.' After some sorting out they hired a coach from Rochester Coaches, in fact there was only the one coach at Rochester Coaches and that was a bit ramshackle. Big George from behind Delce Road in Rochester, was the owner and driver. After some planning a coach load set off for Clacton on a lovely sunny Saturday and a good time was had by all.----------- At work later everyone said that they ought to have another outing. This started a period over the months, when more excusions were made, to Margate, where I can clearly remember that ours was the last coach standing in Dreamland car park as the place was closing, to Southend and another to Ramsgate. As it went on, more members of staff joined in and the back seat of the coach was often filled with a crowd of Berilyn Gash and her friends, (they all seemed to be dizzy blondes). ----At the start, the travellers were mainly friends and family of the original arrangers, but more and more Staples workers joined in. It was about that time that somone, when asked if they were going on one of the outings, said,-----"not with that bunch of layabouts." So was born THE LAYABOUTS TRADE UNION---(L.T.U.).--- More excursions followed, to Kew Gardens, to Chessington Zoo (which by this time needed a double decker bus and a coach to cope with the 117 people attending.) Then, to London Shows.----- More things were discussed, like football matches or a car rally and something for the girls to go on, specifically for them,-----------more things were organised including a dance and a party. The group of people putting a lot of time and effort into what was happening were centred around, Ken Morrist, John Collins, Roy Howe, Bob Dunn, Bernard Jackson and Geof Curtis and at this stage it was suggested to organise a motor rally and have the works departments compete against each other. Someone would have to get it all organised. Later as a try out, a rally was organised between some of the local Medway printers, Staples taking on Mackays of Chatham, Clements Printers and Kent Photoproductions from The Brook Chatham. It went very well and ended with a good evening get-together at a local pub. So then was born the Committee for Inter-departmental Activities. C.I.D.A.----- The Social Club Officers (most of whom had already joined in with some aspect of the entertainment and trips), were approached to let the members of the new committee work on behalf of the Social Club, without handling any money, so that the main treasurer could maintain proper standards. The treasurer at the time was Keith Jarrett and it was all agreed to let it happen and there started a good lot of activities for staff. The only stipulation made by C.I.D.A. was that only the members of that committee could vote people on or off of it. The reason for this was that if you served on it you were handed a job to do or event to organise and you went out and did it. No leaving it for someone else. The Chairman of C.I.D.A. was Dick Chandler ( later Len Fairbrother), Secretary was Geof Curtis and amongst members who served were Paula Horlick, Bob Dunn, Ken Morrist, Bernhard Jackson, John Collins, Peter Brookes, Brenda Burford, Pat Brewer and John Zurawaski. Many of the photo's on social events sent to the site are of occasions organised by C.I.D.A. and the pages of the Grapevine, churned out on an old fifth hand duplicator that follow, can testify to the great deal of enjoyment and hard work that was put in by so many people. -GTC

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