About ten years ago our former team vicar, the Rev William Marston, thought it a good idea to set up a club for the age group 7 to 11 years. It would meet from 6:00pm to 7:15pm on Wednesdays in St Alban's Church hall.
Six of us turned up to see what William had in mind and what we should call this new club. My first question was how do we go about getting the children? 'Word of mouth' was the reply.
William said he was due to take an assembly during the week at the Gossops Green Middle School and would invite the children to come along the following Wednesday. Also put it on the church 'news sheet'. The name suggested was 'The Adventurers Club'.
On the opening night about fifteen children came along and were told it would mainly be a games club and at the end prayers and notices would follow. It was stated that we would also do various other activities. The weekly sub would be, and still is, 40p a week to help cover some expenses for club equipment, drinks & sweets plus the odd party. After a month I was asked to become co-leader.
A new football plus some other equipment came along with William in a cardboard box, having been purchased with a loan from the church. This was paid back in just under a year and it is nice to report that our finances are still in good shape thanks to our hard working treasurer. Just before William left I was asked to become club leader.
We are lucky, being a church youth club, to have the use of a rent-free hall. As a thank you, the club has made several donations to the church, the most recent being towards the re-ordering fund for St Alban's church audio system. The club has also supported the 'Link Romania shoe box appeal' and some starter pack food boxes for STAY, a local project. In both of these cases we were able to have a guest speaker come and visit.
On lighter evenings, weather permitting, we like to 'venture' outside on the church grass.
We were able to have our usual end of term parties. Our Team Rector, Rev. L Doolan, has come along to some of our Harvest Suppers and helps make it an enjoyable evening. We hope to round off our last club evening this year with a party, games and carols by torchlight. We hope that our Team Vicar, Rev. Doris Staniford, can make it, the children, leader and helpers would appreciate the visit, as we like to involve the clergy some times.
We do have an intake from Kingfishers Club and some of the older members, when leaving Adventurers, have joined The Alban Club (TAC). There is a limit of 30 children on our books for safety in the hall. At the moment we have a waiting list.
The club has been enriched by a good band of helpers who come on a rota basis, all of who put in their time being cheerful and efficient, thus helping James Wright (Co-Leader) and myself in the running of club.
Last Updated 20rd Julu 2002