Bedford Club - A hive of activity
GPS: 32°40’34” S 26°05’13” E
The charming Bedford Club, located in Graham Street, will be hosting the Bedford's Curry Club who will be presenting a generous curry buffet with all the frills (including vegetarian) on Friday and Saturday nights.
The historic pub will be open throughout the festival.
On Saturday you are welcome to watch the Currie Cup.
So sorry, credit cards not accepted.
Tel: 082 467-0817
RUSTIC CLUB: The late Douglas Trollip, former Chairman of the Bedford Club, near the spot where his father's Cadillac crashed through the club's hedge in 1948.
ARTIST'S IMPRESSION: An artist's impression of the Bedford Club, showing the "broekie-lace" veranda and the old hedge before they were replaced in the early 1950s.
FARMER'S COMMITTEE: The Bedford Farmer's Committee used to organise horse races every year until the outbreak of the South African War of 1899-1902. Many of these men were members of the Bedford Club.
Ivor Markman
A trip to the rustic garden town of Bedford, in the Eastern Cape, led me to the beautiful old red-and-white Edwardian building known as the Bedford Club.
I found the building, separated from dusty Graham Street by an unusual concrete fence and a lush green lawn, rather attractive.
"The wall with the pipes was built during the wool boom when tremendous prices were paid in the early '50s, from '50 to'53," said club chairman Douglas Trollip.
A verandah, with brick pillars supporting a curved, corrugated iron roof, and lined with sash windows, runs the length of the building.
Being drawn to the cool-looking interior, I stepped inside and was greeted by the stoic stares of the club's founding members staring out from old photographs hanging on the walls, a constant reminder to visitors of the club's colonial origins.
In the large bar area, I relaxed on one of the tall barstools and ordered a cold beer.
The gentle chatter from the club's bowling green drifted through the quiet building.
Nowadays, when the farmers and residents of Bedford get together for functions, it's automatically assumed the function will be held at the club.
No one knows who the building's architect was as all Bedford's house plans went up in flames when the town hall burnt down in the 1950s.
The club was started in 1904 by a few townspeople who needed somewhere to relax and simply enjoy one another’s company.
Prominent Bedford families such as the Wienands and Pringles were the main movers for the formation of the club, but the Ainslies, Trollips, Van Niekerks, Rennies, Evans and Ross families were also involved.
In the pre-motorcar days, members travelled to functions on horseback or by buggy.
"Initially, only men could be members of the club.
"Women were not allowed in the bar area and had a separate lounge.
"If they wanted something to drink, they had to ring for service," said Trollip.
When Trollip was a kid he and the other youngsters had to sit outside as no children were allowed in the club.
"We'd sit outside while our parents were inside, my mother in the women's lounge and my father in the bar area," he said.
It was tough for the kids because the club didn't serve cooldrinks and the parents would sometimes be in the club for hours.
It was the era when children had to be seen and not heard.
Bedford Cricket Club
Winners of the Midland Bat 1958 - 59
Back row: P Shone, B Dewey, J Arnold, JA van Niekerk, D Ainslie, H Vosloo
Front row: E Ferguson, VP Court, JS van Niekerk (Captain), W King, T Pearson.
Trollip has good reason to remember the old hedge around the club when he was a child in the late 1940s.
"I remember being left out there by my parents, when I was around seven or eight. I got bored and released the handbrake in my father's car, a Cadillac, - it ran straight into the hedge. I was in serious trouble."
During the late 1980s, when D A D Adams was secretary of the club, he persuaded all the families who had inherited club shares to donate them to the club.
Even though they had a monetary value, nobody was paid out.
With the exception of Sir Gavin Arthur, a past Lord Mayor of London, who could not be traced at the time, everybody donated their shares.
Trollip said although Sir Gavin technically still owned his shares, he had lost them by default.
The constitution was changed 22 years ago to allow women to become club members.
"It wasn't easy to sell the concept to the men but we eventually got it through.
"Had we not taken the step then, this club would have ceased to function," he said.
Shortly after women joined the club, the kitchen was improved and the clubhouse extended.
Functions became an important aspect of the club, more important than subscriptions.
Along with the admission of women came the need to cater for children.
Attractive showers and a bath were installed so babes in arms could be bathed and mattresses and a TV were made available.
"At the moment, we're in a building phase. Right now, with 110 members, we've got the biggest growth in membership in the history of the club," said Trollip.
In 2008, 21 new members joined and many out-of-towners have become country members because of the very active bridge club.