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The Centenary Of the Present
Building of the Prescot Parish Church
Men's Institute
by former PGS Allan Richardson |
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We are told
by both psychologists and sociologists
that the 'gregarious instinct' is one,
which has the greatest social importance,
as it moulds the form of society and
groups within that society and
functionally keeps members of the group
together, be they a secret society,
pofitical party, trade union or Church
group. It also particularly and
peculiarly determines our recreations. In
this respect some are introduced to these
and form a small group al an eariy age.
probably late adolescence, others later
in life, when domestic influences cause
us to settle or move into an area of
employment or eventually, retirement. |
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was one who exemplifies the former case,
in so far that four very adolescent boys
from the Parish Church, Ray Grimshaw, Ron
Preston, Richard Lawrenson and myself
were encouraged to join the Parish Church
Institute and then be tutored, seemingly
by venerable senior members, whom we
perceived always to wear flat caps, even
when playing Billiards, cocooned in a fog
of 'thick twist1 tobacco smoke and
sometimes huddled around the solitary gas
fire, because someone had forgotten to
light the boiler, or the wood chips were
so wet, it was impossible to ignite it.
Even worse the coke had not been
delivered, as the Institute is a very
cold place without heating. It would seem
incongruous today to witness many senior
players, perpetually wearing flat caps,
whilst sitting or playing Billiards or
Snooker in the Institute. We four joined
at the same lime over 50 years ago and
still bear witness to the adage 'catch
them young, keep them forever'. We are
still members of the Institute to this
very day. |
| It is a
privilege and honour to be invited by our
present Secretary Colin Taylor and the
Committee to write this small book as a
record and tribute to the hundreds of
members who have enjoyed every minute of
being a member and sharing together,
common backgrounds, humour, fun, joys and
sadness, whilst holding in our hands a
long tapering piece of Ash timber, in a
bent body position, endeavouring to
caress or bash either 2 white or 1 red
ball, or 15 red balls and a variety of 6
coloured balls into 6 pockets over a
green baize table, under the glare of
very bright lights, surrounded by inky
darkness, accompanied by the slow ticking
of the Institute clock as time marched
ever onwards . They also say ESKIMOES
have fun!!!!!! |
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What I have
presented here is not a complete, fully
documented, account of the Institute.
That would be impossible, I have tried to
present from the extant records, what I
perceive as a tangible record of the
Institute on the occasion of its
Centenary. Another person would have
perceived perhaps a different slory and
sketched a different picture. It is
therefore all too subjective, coloured by
my own interests, observations and
insights. |
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| Printed by
Colin Ball Printing [01744 889914] |
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