The Long Haired & Semi Long Haired Cat Club

05/07/2008

The early days of the club.

The inaugural meeting of The Long Haired Cat Club – the forerunner of our current Long Haired and Semi Long Haired Cat Club – took place at the YWCA in Great Russell Street , London on December 4^th 1969 . although the club was officially formed a few weeks earlier on 14^th August 1969 .

The officers appointed at that meeting were Mr. De Ferry, Chairman, Mrs. Cordell, Treasurer, Mrs. J. Crockart, Secretary, The committee appointed on that first day were Mrs. Dollimore, Mrs. De Ferry, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. King, Miss Page, Mrs. Ruffell, Mrs. Smart and Mrs. Silverman..  Membership fees of 10 shillings (£0.50) per annum were agreed with a joining fee of an additional 10 shillings !!!   It was also agreed that Mrs. Barron became the Honorary President in recognition of the fact that she was the prime instigator in the forming of the club.  

At a subsequent meeting in January 1970 the clubs rosette colours of purple and gold were agreed (still the same today) and it was proposed that Mrs. Pond, Mrs. Brunton and Mrs. Spiers were appointed Vice Presidents.  At the July meeting that year Mrs. Dollimore was appointed Cup Secretary.   By the end of the first year the club had over 150 members and 180  by the end of March 1971.  

The clubs first “conference” was held in September 1971 at the Zoological Society of London. – hire of hall £30 for the day !  It was later reported that this conference made a loss of  £8.25.  

The first show was held at Chelsea Town hall on October 11^th 1972 .  Mrs. Pond and Mrs. Johnson were appointed joint show managers. Entry fees in those days seem to be somewhat different from what we know today. Open classes £0.40 for members (£0.45 for non members) Side Classes £0.35 (£0.40)  Club Classes £0.35p. Penning – single £0.25, double £0.50, Exhibition pens £1.50, Catalogues £0.20.  Entry to show hall £0.25 A quick calculation would seem to indicate that you could enter a cat in an open class, three side classes, have a catalogue and entry pass and still have change for a cup of tea out of £2.50. Oh where have those days gone !  The profit on that first show was about £250  

By this time our present day patrons Mr. Wickham-Ruffell & Mr. John Strang were on the committee. Because he had been in office for five years chairman  Mr. De Ferry had to stand down and Mr. Wickham-Ruffle was appointed Chairman in 1974.  

The club seems to have continued doing well for a number of years and by the time 1978 comes along the chairman is still Eric Wickham Ruffle, John Strang is now Secretary and Miss Bench treasurer.

The clubs finances were quite healthy with over £2,500 in the bank. Membership seems to have peaked at about 300 and fluctuated then between 200 and 250  

Reading through the committee minutes they seem to have been concerned then, as we are today, with similar matters. The show,  how to keep membership numbers at a constant level, trophies, GCCF etc etc.   

The clubs name was changed to The Long Haired & Semi Long Haired Cat Club in 1992/3 following the formation of the new semi long hair section by the GCCF. 

The following people have been chairman since the clubs inauguration. :

                                                                                        1969 - 1974            Mr. De Ferry

                                                                                        1974 - 1979            Mr. Eric Wickham_Ruffle

                                                                                        1979 - 1980            Mr. John Strang

                                                                                        1980 - 1985            Mr. Eric Wickham-Ruffle

                                                                                        1985 - 1988            Mrs. Jean Walkley

                                                                                        1988 - 1992            Mrs. Coral Allam

                                                                                        1992 - 1996            Mr. Ken Langford

                                                                                        1996 - 2002            Mrs. Pat Sandford 

                                                                                        2002 - 2005            Mrs. Joyce Green

                                                                                        2005 - 2008            Mr. Geoffrey Tarr

                                                                                        2008 -                     Ms. Lynsey Thomas