RESIDENTS of a certain age will remember the phenomena that were slate clubs.
Held at pubs across the country, members contributed anywhere from a few shilling to £1 per week to be deposited into a bank account so interest could be gained.
Kennet Arms Pub on Pell Street, was no different. With money coming in throughout the year, participants would look forward to a healthy payout at Christmas.
Whitley Community Museum curator David Turner explained: “On the due day for payout members would meet in the main bar and the money then distributed. As you can imagine these were lively evenings as money was available for a few more drinks.
“The majority of the money however was to enable families to enjoy Christmas with presents, drink and food for everyone.
“Some pubs also used Slate Clubs for locals as a means of enjoying weekly credit, hence the phrase ‘put it on the slate mate.’”
He added that a resident had gifted the museum with a certificate from the Kennet Arms’ slate club.
“The pub sadly closed in 2012 and reopened as a shop,” Mr Turner said.
“The certificate is in a gold frame with the original thin wood backing. It was presented in April 1905 and hung in the main bar of the pub until the pub closed.
“No slate clubs now of course, we all use contactless credit cards. Oh the good old days.”
With more than 5,000 followers on Facebook, the Whitley Community Museum is an accessible online and in-person resource.
The group serves as a platform for residents past and present to share memories through photographs and comments.
It also allows group members to reconnect, with members reacquainting themselves with friends and schoolmates from decades ago.
The museum held a Whitley Way Back When event at the Community Cafe on Northumberland Avenue earlier this year to showcase its photographs and exhibits in-person.
For more information, search: Whitley Community Museum on www.facebook.com
