Where Are The Boys Of The Beachcombers' Club?

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1949, Page 4

Where Are The Boys Of The Beachcombers' Club?

It was not long after the war when it all started. No one can recall with accuracy exactly when or how, but there came into being in Levin an organisation which was to have a brief but colourful career. Known as the Beacheonlbers, Club, it provided for its members, the majority of whom were young men in their 20's and 30's, an avenue of escape from the mental and physical strain of' business life until it went out of existence — as quietly and gradually as it had come in.

"Citadel" Corner was where they used to meet, "The Citadel" being a well- known buil'ding in Oxford Street, so named by members of tjbe club, and used as a headquarters. The club was run on, very strict lines, having a president,. secretary-treasurer and committee, all formally elecfced annually in true constitutional style. And what of their activities? Your "Newsman" found a little 'difficulty here as members are now Widely scattered and many who are now tied by matrimonial bonds are more than somewhat . reluctant to give away too many secrets which might he used against them at some future date by irgte spouses. From all that "can be learned from very depen'dable sources,.it was all quite harmless— so harmless that very few people knew of the existence of the club. Hokio Beach was the favourite meeting place as the club's name implies, and many were the evenings spent there with wood fires hurning, fishing nets out and much music and goodwill. The fish caught were cooke'd over the fires — Maori • fashion— and eyery member had a job to do — there were no spivs. There were the driyers of the two jeeps attaehed to the club, the fishing crew and net repairers and, of prime importance, the cooks. Meetings were hel.d when required to arrange the various expeditions and a minute hook kept and balanee sheets presented on demand. The annual subscription was 2s 6d, besides which there were the nsual donations for speeial pur-

poses. When a member had a hirthday the occasion was celebrate'd and with due formality a round-the-campfire presentation was made. ,,The same thing happened when one of their number got married — but in most cases this was also in the nature of a farewell, as they were seldom seen on beach nights thereafter. The presents were always some article which it was known the member wanted, and usually it could be supplied from the §hop of a member. "Spike Jones" Orchestra. Spike Jones could have found many reeruits had. he sauntered down Hokio way of a moonlight night, for many and varied were the "instruments" in the club's orchestra. Improvisation was the order of the day. There was certainly no lack of talent or enterprjse and when one night someone twas so illadvised as to remark, "It's 'a pity we didn't have a piano," he 'started something far beyond his expectations. Off went the - jeep with six good men and true to "get the next best thing." An hour passed and back they came — lumbering through the darkness with a full scale organ! For a week or more the boys were a bit apprehensive of going down town thinking they might meet an irate wearer of the "cloth" looking foru his church organ. Under due pressure, however, - the sextette eventually confessed that the acquisition of the organ was strictily orthodox.