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twenty-five years. Later on, it was evident that the membership would
become unwieldy, and the qualification was increased gradually to
reach thirty years in 1952.
 Members
of the association enjoy special consideration as regards loss of
employment and receive the gift of a gold watch (or equivalent)
from the Company after thirty-five years' service. Their subscription
of 6d per week provides funds out of which grants are made to members
in distress from any cause such as long sickness, accident, or domestic
affairs, and also to their dependants. In 1928 the Company began
an annual payment to a 'special grants account' designed to provide
relief as necessary to members compelled to give up active work.
(Later this account was replaced by a works retiring grants scheme.)
The
association organizes social events, such as bowling competitions
and theatre nights, and it holds an annual social gathering in the
form of a supper and concert.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Social activities at the works revived rapidly after the war, centring
on the rechristened Metropolitan-Vickers Club, which was considerably
extended: a new dance floor was provided in 1923, and more tennis
courts and a bowling green in 1925. Among the many affiliated organizations
that sprang up at this time the Rugby football club, the male voice
choir, and the debating society may be taken as representative.
The
'rugger' club is believed to be the oldest in industry. It started
in 1923 and draws its players (mostly college and school apprentices)
from all parts of the world, a unique distinction outside the universities.
The fixture list includes Bowdon, Furness, Rochdale, and most of
the northern university clubs. Four teams are fielded regularly,
and a member has been capped for Lancashire. A thirteen-acre ground
was secured in 1934, largely through R. B. D. Lauder who was chairman
from 1923 to 1944. It has three pitches and is being planted with
trees in memory of sixteen members who fell in the war. Two years
ago the club decided to run a cricket section, and it is now the
Metrovick Rugby football and cricket club.
The
male voice choir also founded in 1923 gives frequent public concerts,
often with well-known soloists, and has raised over £2000
for charitable causes. It has won five first prizes and six seconds
at northern and midland choral festivals. The choir assists regularly
at canteen concerts in the works, a voluntary service that is particularly
welcome on festive occasions such as Christmas dinners when the
proceedings are enlivened by decorations and community singing.
The
debating society, formed by D. B. Hoseason with the encouragement
of J. S. Peck, originated in the lunch-hour discussions of 1925.
The society, whose motto is quot homines tot sententiae
(so many men, so many opinions), has been fortunate in a succession
of active presidents and has provided much experience in public
speaking.
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