Tamyouth History Project

"Youth Club That Grew Out Of War"

The story of Tamworth Youth Centre begins in 1944 - but its early origins date back to 1937. It was then that former Vicar of Tamworth, Rev Arthur Coxon, and his wife formed St Editha's Mixed Club.

Providing you were over 16 and had 4d in your pocket, attendance was yours every Wednesday evening in the old College Lane School.

By the time war was declared between Britain and Germany there were few Tamworth teenagers who were not members.

But all that would change. Against a backdrop of blackouts and young men being called up into the Forces, youth services were no longer a priority.

Government intervention was required, and on November 27, 1939, a directive went out to local authorities and voluntary organisations to encouraged the formation of local youth communities.

Captain R W Steventon was appointed as Staffordshire's county youth officer, and across the country money was set aside for the blacking out of every premises where a youth centre was due to be set up.

Records suggest that clubs began popping up across the county - except in Tamworth! By 1942 still no centre had emerged.

Then finally, on June 11, a meeting was held at the Miners' Welfare Society offices in Colehill.

Watton's Yard and its associated house and out-buildings in Albert Road was chosen as a suitable location.

One attendee was noted as saying: 'A brilliant idea and if run properly nothing but good can come out of it'.

Miss Margaret Bardsley was appointed as leader of the girls' section. Hans U Rom, a German Jewish refugee, took charge of the boy's section.

While discussions continued over the suitability of Watton's Yard, the centre took up a temporary home in the upstairs rooms of the Tamworth Co-op building in Orchard Street.

It officially opened on May 2, 1944 - and by May 17, 25 members had enrolled.

A dizzying array of activities were on offer, including ballroom dancing, swimming, drama, hiking and cycling.

And for those who enjoyed a quieter life over 200 books were available in the well used library.

Come September there was good news, and some not so good.

The Albert Road premises had been secured and membership had risen to 150. But tensions were on the brink of boiling over.

Margaret Bardsley complained about the timetable of 'frivolous activities' being offered and worried that she and Mr Rom shared no common interests. External influences were taking their toll, too.

National Service, together with food, clothing and fuel rationing had a knock-on effect and membership started to drop as young people sensed the disharmony between the warring leaders.

Miss Bardsley was the first casualty. After her departure 60 applications were received for her post.

Peter Barrett, a polio sufferer, was appointed leader of the whole centre, with Mr Rom assuming the role of deputy.

Meanwhile Watton's Yard was earning a reputation as nothing more than a junk yard.

Finally, on February 15, 1949, the debris was cleared and the new centre was unofficially opened.

But facilities were less than adequate. The floor was likened to a swimming pool and ladies had to wring out their dresses after dances.

Young people liked it, however, and the substantial waiting list was set to swell as a result of the Birmingham 'overspill' agreement.

Just when the centre's future was looking rosy, bad behaviour became a serious issue and what had started out as an innocent club for Tamworth's young people became known as a 'Teddy Boy Club'.

Mountaineering weekends in Wales and a winter camp in Wetton could not restore the balance and 10 per cent of members were branded 'actually or potentially delinquent'.

When the centre reconvened after the summer break in 1962, however, there appeared to be turn-around - and success followed.

Newly installed youth leader Arthur Deeks was there to witness it.

"It was a golden time," he recalls. "Parents were happy to let their children wander into town.

"We could do things on the spur of the moment, there was a lovely freedom to it."

The table tennis team won the area league and the centre's play was awarded an 'A' certificate at the County Drama Festival.

By the time England's World Cup team was claiming victory in 1966, a purpose-built youth centre for Tamworth was included on the county's 1967/8 building programme at a proposed cost of £33,500.

Back at the old Albert Road huts, pop groups were hired to play on the Youth Club stage including an up-and-coming band called Earth - whose members included Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Tony Iomi, and a singer by the name of Ozzy Osbourne.

On the night of their appearance at Tamworth Youth Club they changed their name to Black Sabbath... and went on to become one of the world's top heavy metal rock bands.

July 1968 saw membership rocket to 1,027. Then, on October 7, 1970, after over 30 years of hard work, Tamworth's brand new Youth Centre was finally opened - and still stands today.

Copies of Tamworth Youth Centre, A History 1939 to 1970 are available to buy from the centre.

Story from Tamworth Herald