A Sick and Dividing Club (1920-1965) appears to be one of many of this type of club which was run from a village public house, working man’s clubs, or places of employment.  These clubs were a safety net for the working man before any kind of help came from the Government_1. Its object was to raise funds by contributions and fines of members, for the purpose of rendering assistance to members when bodily sick and unable to follow their usual employment and and unable to work.  The member would be able to make a claim on the club’s funds for financial assistance when unable to work due to sickness.

A committee of usually around eight people, with a chairperson, secretary and treasurer would run the club throughout the year, collecting weekly sums, and then at the end of the year, usually around Christmastime, all the money that was left in the kitty would be divided up between the members.

The Club at Woodnewton was run from the White Swan public house in Main Street.  From a newspaper record in 1960, which reported that Mr Ramsey had been the Secretary of the club for about forty years, that would confirm that this club commenced around 1920. 

However, the first record that can be found was reported in the 1926 December edition of the Peterborough Standard about a village club named the ‘Helping Hand’.  This must have been the precursor of the Sick and Dividing Club and then obviously changed its name.   The officers at that time were: Mr Harvey Fitzjohn as President, Mr George Hull (d.1927) as Treasurer and Mr Archibald Ramsay as Secretary.   A committee, including a representative each from Apethorpe and Fotheringhay and six further men from Woodnewton would decide on how the money was shared out throughout the year on sickness claims and what the annual share-out would be. 

The total amount to be shared between the 93 members that Christmas was £73 4s 9d, providing 15s 9d each.  This was the balance from the total annual income of £125 1s 6d., after sickness benefits of £41 13s 3d and expenses had been paid out.

The following December’s newspaper report confirms the change of name of the club.   There had also been a change in the position of treasurer as Mr Hull who had failing health had sadly died,  so Mr Frederick Quincey had taken on that role  There had been so much illness that year that the sickness claims had been £62 17s 0d, which only left just £45.0s 2d to be shared out among the 82 members.

Mr Joseph Shelton Dixon became the new landlord of the White Swan in 1930 and after that year, Mr Dixon would become the treasurer and remain until the end of the club’s life.  During the 1930’s  the annual Christmas pay out would fluctuate between 8s 6d₂., and 19s 6d., depending on how many sickness claims they would have to pay out on. 

The forties and fifties saw little change in the format of the club except maybe a change in an officer or committee member.  The annual share-out would still remain between the amounts of 4s 6d and 17s 6d.

Little more was reported on the club in the 1960’s, but by 1965, the club appeared not to have existed as no more newspaper reports can be found.

2023

1. The National Health Act was passed in 1946 and a welfare state was introduced with the National Health Service commencing on 5th July 1948. 

2.  Pre decimal coinage conversion – one pound was made up of 240 pence, with 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound, i.e., 4s.6d converts to 43p.