Dunmow pavilion gets new lease of life
ONE of the original builders of a 60-year-old football pavilion has expressed his delight at the facility being given a new lease of life. Bon Harrison, of Springfields in Great Dunmow, was part of the Eastons and Duton Hill Football Club league winning s
ONE of the original builders of a 60-year-old football pavilion has expressed his delight at the facility being given a new lease of life.
Bon Harrison, of Springfields in Great Dunmow, was part of the Eastons and Duton Hill Football Club league winning side during the 1950s. He has recalled the moment when club members completed the pavilion on Laundry Lane, Little Easton in 1953.
Mr Harrison said: "Seeing the photograph in the Broadcast two weeks ago with members and supporters of the football club in front of the clubhouse brought back memories of when it was built.
"It was the home of Eastons and Duton Hill Football Club for many years and in the early 50s a decision was taken to build clubhouse."
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Currently the same pavilion is being refurbished by its new owners, Dunmow United Football Club, and will be back in use again for this coming season.
Adding that he was delighted to see the clubhouse back in action, rather than falling into disrepair and consigned to the history books, Mr Harrison said: "Before we built the proper clubhouse, an old wooden shed stood in its place - visiting players were invited to use it if they wished.
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"The players then built the pavilion themselves because a large number of them were tradesman, anyone that was not toiled away as labourers".
The building took an entire summer to complete with players and committee members working during the evenings and weekends. It was eventually opened by England cricket captain Peter May in November 1953.
Mr Harrison said: "Peter was a friend of Philip Curtis, one of the players, so we managed to get him to come down for an opening ceremony which was great. He was and still is a cricket legend."
He added: "I believe Dunmow United has managed to acquire one of the best pitches in local football. It never flooded and the only time it ever closed was during very heavy snow.
"It is really good to see it up and running again".
Pictured, the pavilion was opened in 1953 by then England cricket captain Peter May (back row, second from left)
Eastons and Duton Hill Football Club players during the 1953/4 season
(Back row, from left) - Len Ledgerton, Cyril Monk, Bon Harrison, Ray Thorogood, Eric Mead, Rusty Chopping, Peter May, Jess Barltrop
(Front row, from left) - Doug Harrison, Arthur Steele, Phillip Curtis, Tommy Cowell, Percy Perry, Bob Shelley
ARE you in the picture? Do you remember the opening of the pavilion in 1953? Tell us about it. E-mail editor@dunmow-broadcast.co.uk or write to us at 54 High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1EE.
