Formed in 1902 as a local Tradesmen’s Association, the first President was Mr W. G. Beckett, with Mr Rowe Secretary. Mr Beckett had a drapery business in the High Street, thus was the beginning of the Southall Chamber of Commerce. The 58 names on the board reads like a Who’s Who of many who have shaped Southall over the past 80 years, for named are ten builders, seven works owners, 26 of the very old established tradesmen. These have all been past Presidents of the Chamber, some of whom have held office for two or more years. Only two women have been in office – Mrs G. W. Taplin 1965, and Mrs M. E. Hilton 1975. What the board does not show is the Secretaries and Treasurers and, among these, have been Mr Rowe – Secretary for ten years, Mr F. C. Loaring – Treasurer for twenty years; Mr E. A. Weeks – Secretary for thirteen years. It was February 1937 that the name of the Southall Chamber of Commerce was adopted.
Over the years the Chamber has had its meetings at various places but a breakthrough came in 1970. When in 1965 the Borough of Southall was incorporated into the Borough of Ealing, the Manor House – which had housed several Council Departments – became redundant and remained empty for several years. In 1968 Mr Harold Hallett, who had retired after several years as warden of the Southall Community Centre, became the Chamber’s new Secretary and he had ideas of a permanent headquarters so, with the permission of the Chambers Executive started to negotiate with the Ealing Borough for a lease on the Manor House. After many months success came and, on June 27th, 1970, the Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs Crook) formally handed over a lease at a nominal rent.
Work was put in hand to get the building fit for use and the Chamber added its own furnishings. Thus it came about that the Southall Chamber of Commerce, which must be the oldest organisation, is now housed in the oldest house in the town. Over the years the Chamber has at all times kept the tradesmen’s welfare in mind and reported anything that they wished to improve in the town to the proper authorities. One such – in 1909 members felt that the GPO were not giving enough facilities. There were only four deliveries a day – the last one being at 8.15 p.m. They wanted a fifth but the GPO could not grant this because there would have had to be 50,000 letters a week, not 30,000. What now in 1982? Only two, nothing after 12 noon! The first letter addressed to the Council complained that the streets were not being watered enough. The tradesmen of King Street said that they were obliged to expose goods and keep their doors open be it ever so dusty please, more water carts.
The social side has always been catered for and, at the Manor House, they have a Conference Room which serves for Executive Committee Meetings and social events. Mr Gilbey is the present secretary.
List of Presidents:
1902-05 W. T. Beckett 1951 R. J. Ramsey
1906-07 E. Cheal 1952 W. Wilson
1908 W. C. Talbot 1953 C. W. Cook
1909 E. Cheal 1954 A. E. Smith
1910 W. C. Clements 1955 G. A. Phillips
1911 T. J. Hallam 1956 J. Edkins
1912 C. Thomson 1957 A. Green
1913-18 W. Haigh 1958 C. W. Crook
1919 H. S. Naylor 1960-61 J. R. Gray
1920-22 R. J. Puge 1962 H. C. Clark
1923 W. A. Rowe 1963 J. Hilton
1924-27 B. J. Hanson 1964 B. S. L. Sargent
1928-29 C. Thomson 1965 F. G. Rosier (Dec’d.)
1930 C. Wadham 1965 Mrs. G. W. Taplin
1931 C. Hutchings 1966 P. L. Bolding
1932 F. Cooper 1967 S. J. Evans
1933 D. Easton 1968 A. H. Barber
1934 P. G. Soulsby 1969 D. J. Sinclair
1935 H. W. Welsh 1970 B. Bass
1936 P. Hopkins 1971 H. E. Meak
1937 F. Cooper 1972 H. G. Hallett
1938 D. Clifford Evans 1973 A. A. Hurst
1939 H. Baker 1974 R. H. Freeman
1940-42 C. Quinion 1975 Mrs. M. E. Hilton
1943 W. J. Brown 1976 A. G. Jennings
1944-45 S. C. Cutland 1977-78 J. S. Beeston
1946 F. S. Honey 1979 A. T. Frost
1947 W. O. Wood 1980 D. Casey
1948 E. W. Ward 1981 D. Spires
1949 S. Sabel 1982 R. J. Kew
1950 F. J. Richards