South Cerney Old and New
Parish Societies and Activities
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South Cerney Female Provident and Friendly Society

This is the earliest village society of which there are records.  It was established in 1839 and was registered in 1897, with the Vicar, the Rev W E Haddow as Trustee.   A copy of the rules survives, belonging to the late Miss Kate Willis.

South Cerney Amicable Society

This was founded in 1849, and held its annual meeting at the George Inn.  In 1852, upwards of 100 members attended the meeting and proceeded to the parish church, headed by a band of musicians.  After the service ‘the member then returned to the George Inn and dined in a spacious booth erected for the occasion; but we are sorry to add that several members were very dissatisfied with the accommodation, being obliged to dine with their hats on, and to make use of their pocket handkerchiefs to keep out the rain, which was penetrating through the booth in all directions.  After the cloth was removed the usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly responded to.’

(W & G, June 1852)

Foss Inn Benefit Society

In 1852 the annual meeting was held.   A procession of fifty people went to the church and attended a service.  They returned to an ‘excellent dinner of roast beef and plum pudding prepared by the host, Mr and Mrs Pollard, which was very enjoyable’.  This was held on 5th June, 1852.

(W & G, June 1852)

The Women’s Institute

The Women’s Institute was started in South Cerney in 1917, with Mrs Cripps as President.  Forty years later, thirteen of the original members still lived in or near the village.  A hundred people were present at the first meeting.

Clubs

There were at least five clubs in Cerney parish:  ‘The Miller’s’, ‘The Oak’, ‘The George’. ‘The Eliot Arms’, and ‘Horse and Groom, and ‘The Plough’.

Club days were held at Whitsun and each club has its own banner.  The day started with a march to the church, the leaders carrying big sticks.  After the church service, a return march with the Vicar leading ended at the public house and a dinner.  Dancing followed outside the inns in a paddock with a band, side-shows, and horse-driven roundabouts, often hired from Ambrose Smith of Ashton Keynes.  When dusk came everyone played ‘Kiss-in-the-ring’ and began to pair off.

Long afterwards Mr R Stait found one of the big sticks, which was used when they marched, in a barn behind the Plough Cottage, Station Road.  It was very worm-eaten.

The Girl Guides

The South Cerney Guide Company was formed in 1921, and the first Captain was Mrs Smyth, with her two lieutenants, Mrs A C Stephens and Miss Whitcombe(Mrs Cooper), and sixteen girls.  There were two patrols: the Wrens with the older girls, and the Oak patrol with the younger members.  The first uniforms were made by the Guides themselves, no doubt with the help of their parents.

This Company has been going continuously for the last fifty years without a break.

The highlights during the first years were the Rally held in the Abbey Gardens, Cirencester, when South Cerney won the District Shield and came fourth in the County Shield Competition.  In 1933 the South Cerney Company was chosen to be the Company to be visited by representatives of the Indian Civil Service.  In 1937 Miss Myrtle Street (Mrs Crowther) was chosen as one of the five Guides from Gloucestershire to attend the coronation of King George VI.

During these fifty years the South Cerney Guides have entered many competitions and have done extremely well.  They have helped with innumerable activities in the village, and they have attended camps all over the County.  They have raised money for Air Ambulances, Army Rest Huts, Recreation Huts and Mobile Canteens among other things, and they have never missed, even during the war, giving Christmas parcels each year to the older inhabitants of Cerney parish, and also parcels to the Cerney men serving during the last war.  Mrs Whiteman is the present Captain and has been for many years, and with a full company is continuing the Guide tradition and her Company have been doing extremely well.

COSY Club

This club was started in 1958 by Mrs Waddington-Jones for the older people in South Cerney.  The initials mean ‘Cerney Over Sixty Years’.

South Cerney Players

This dramatic society was started in 1936.  They began with one-act plays which were produced in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Society.  In their first year they made £2.18.1d and they were also able to give £5.16.2d to the Village Hall.   Since then they have performed many plays which have been greatly enjoyed.  During the last war this society lapsed, but it was revived in 1966 and since then it has put on four plays, which have been greatly enjoyed by the audience as well as by the actors and members of the company.

The South Cerney Flower Show

The Flower Show was started in 1891 and has been held in various fields in the parish.  In 1896 the Rev Hadow was president and the Cirencester Military Band was present.  There was a large horticultural tent and there were sports, of which a large number of races were cycling, the longest distance being two miles.  There was dancing in the evening.

It is not known why the Show was not held from 1900 to 1904.

In 1907, in the horticultural section, there was an industrial section which included a prize for the best pair of trussed ducks, and the best ironed white shirt (which was won by Mrs C Wheeler), and home-made bread.  In 1908, as well as the horticultural section, there were flat races, a Gretna Green race, zig-zag race, sack race and a needle and thread race.  There were also sleight-of-hand tricks by Mr Brockman, and the Oaksey United Brass Band for dancing.  Entrance 2 – 4 pm 1/- and 4 – 7 pm 6d.

1920:  The show was held in incessant rain, but there was a good fancy-dress parade.   There was a ham-cutting competition, and bowling for a pig and an umbrella.  There was a show by Taylor and Rose, ventriloquist and dancer, and Mr Prichard, a Dame impersonator.  Swindon Town Military Band was present, and Nichols’ Fair.   In 1924 the admission was 1/- for adults and 3d for children.  There was dancing, a concert party and J Smith’s world’s fair and galloping horses, as well as a carnival parade and the horticultural tent, refreshments and sports.  In 1928, among other things, there was the Daily Mail Push Ball Competition.  In 1929 there was a Baby Competition with the usual other attractions.  The Rev A M Coode was president, and it was stated that ‘the only pass-out check will be a stamp on the wrist’ (which is still used today).

1932:  Mr Luker, the honorary secretary for 24 years, resigned.  At this time the receipts for the previous show were £23 and the bank balance was £34.12s.  Since he started in 1908 the prize money had increased by 75%.  The 35th show, was held in the Village Hall, as they could not get a fair, but there was dancing.  This was the last show until it was re-introduced in the 1950’s.  The profits were put towards a playing field for South Cerney.

It was at first held on a Saturday, but then moved to August Bank Holiday, and was a great success, with a horiticultural tent, sports, athletics, and cycle races.  During the last seven years of the Show half the profits have been given to organizations in South Cerney and half to a charity.

(W & G)

The South Cerney Trust

The Trust was started in 1963 by Mr E C R Hadfield.  This is a civic amenities society, whose aims are to support all activities which increase the pleasure of living in South Cerney and to support the best modern standards of industrial and residential planning.

Bands

Before the first World War, Mrs White of The Limes got a fife and drum band together, and had as instructor from Cirencester.   They practised in the stable building backing onto the road in The Limes yard (now Century House).  Old Mrs Harding said that after the South African War when the Gloucestershires came home, they detrained at Watermoor station and the Cerney Fife and Drum Band played them home to the Barracks at Cecily Hill, Cirencester.

(Mrs Bert Harding)

Entertainments

Village entertainments were organized by Mrs Cripps with the co-operation of the school from 1908.  The programme usually consisted of songs, duets, mono- and duo-logues, and ended with an item by the children from the village.  These items were written for the occasion, incorporating anything up to twenty children – ‘The Months of the Year’ and so on.  These entertainments were held at the school.  The proceeds were for the rebuilding of the church spire, but this never came about.  During the first World War prices rose so much that all the funds were needed for restoring the church.

At this time County Dancing was started in the village.  Only women took part; there was never any revival of Morris or sword dancing.  However, the women attended many gatherings and entered many competitions.  They wore green dresses.