A Brief History

The Nottingham City Business Club (NCBC) was founded in 1924 with John McMeeking as its first president.  The original aims of the NCBC were to “discuss all matters pertaining to the business and social interests of its members”, and to arrange fortnightly luncheons at which “prominent men and members” would speak on matters of commercial interest. The Club’s regular venue was the Mikado Café, and the inaugural luncheon was addressed by Mr J Taylor, President of the Glasgow City Business Club, who spoke of America’s increasing economic influence.

Early in 1926 the NCBC was addressed by Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade.  His speech noted the importance of “buying British” if trade was to prosper.  Later that year the Minister of Health, Neville Chamberlain, was the speaker and drew a record audience of 230, which also left the Club with a record bill.

In the 1930’s Club members took the view that business should co-operate with the City Council if local problems were to be successfully overcome.  In an attempt to exert political influence three members stood in local elections, but only Clarence Hayden was successful.  As part of an effort to support local commerce, the Club entered into discussions with University College, secondary school representatives and the Rotary Club, with the intention of introducing more commercial subjects to the education syllabus.  It also argued for more incentives to attract new industries to Nottingham.

During the early years of the Second World War the NCBC began schemes to alleviate the effects of food shortages and petrol rationing.  A major scheme was in support of the Lord Mayor’s Services Comforts Fund which provided lifts for people all over the city, with any donations to drivers going to the Comforts Fund.  Towards the close of the war attention was focussed on the future of local industry.  Members felt it was necessary to work in co-operation with trades unions “as it is very rarely that they have an opportunity to get to know employers, except during disputes”.  As a result trades union representatives were regularly invited to attend luncheons.  Particular talks included “Employment after the War”, “Whither the Independent Retailer”, and “The Nationalisation of Transport”.  A 21st anniversary dinner was held at the Mikado on 28th September 1945, by which time membership had risen to 200 and subscriptions were £1.5s.0d.  The club abandoned the Mikado and moved its venue to the YMCA in 1948.  In 1949 much of the energies of the NCBC and the Rotary Club were taken up with organising a pageant to celebrate the 500th anniversary charter celebrations of the city, the highlight of which was a visit by Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on June 28th.

The direction of business in the 1950’s was of prime importance to NCBC members and Club lunches were lively affairs with a variety of viewpoints being put forward.  The Archbishop of Canterbury had declared that “television was just another means of wasting time”, but an address to the Club in 1953 by BBC’s Midland Region Controller hotly disputed this and was widely covered in the national press.  In 1955 the Club was addressed by Victor Reid, Systems Manager for Lyons Catering which had installed one of the world’s first computers.  Reid remarked that “the clerks we know today will tend to disappear and be replaced by machines” and that there would be “a revolution in business methods”.

In 1960 the District Manager of the AA, Mr G Ewing, addressed the NCBC to speak in support of better roads for the motorist and about the impact of cars on modern life.  He considered that modern cities would soon be dependent on their road networks, asserting that “other countries have realised the motorist is vital to the city economy and should not be driven away” and predicted that “underpasses and shopping walks will make our cities look a little Wellsian but they must come”.  In 1963 Club members began to look at ways to bridge the widening generation gap, and explored the possibilities of improving links between young people and the world of commerce.  The Club established a Careers Advice Bureau which soon became a busy and successful institution, and Club members were in frequent demand to give talks to local schools and PTA’s.  The Club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1964 and recognised the contribution of two of its founder members and Past Presidents, John McMeeking and Joseph Littlefair with the specially created office of Honorary members Extraordinary.  At the 40th Anniversary Luncheon McMeeking gave a challenging speech expressing alarm at the “growing dominance of financial empires”. He believed that these new giants would only flourish “at the expense of family businesses, proprietors and specialised enterprises”.  The Anniversary year seems to have considerably revived the NCBC’s fortunes, which had been suffering from falling attendances.  A major recruiting drive attracted new members and also led to the formation of several activity groups concerning subjects ranging from industrial training to public speaking and the stock market.

In 1965 the Club relocated from the YMCA to the Midland Design and Building Centre at the bottom of Mansfield Road.  This proved a popular choice with average attendances of 85 for the first eight meetings in 1966.  This year also saw the introduction of a members’ newsletter and a Club tie which soon became a much-prized possession.  The Club’s surviving minutes reveal members’ continuing support for a number of charitable institutions.  For many years members had donated funds to children’s charities and the Salvation Army.  Many ruses were employed to extract money from members, including the imposition of fines during luncheon meetings.  On one occasion the President achieved a record donation to the Salvation Army by fining anyone not joining in the singing of Christmas carols, at the rate of 2d per verse.  Those who did sing were fined 1d per verse!

At the beginning of 1970 the Club again relocated to the Victoria Hotel in Milton Street.  A number of speakers spoke their minds on the changing face of Nottingham’s architecture and rapidly expanding road network, reflecting a growing public opinion against some of the changes that were taking place.  To reflect the changing times, a sub-committee was set up to look at the Club’s structure and objectives.  A few amendments were made to the rules and membership categories, but the basic aims remained constant.  There was some discussion over the issue of “Lady Members” who would attend occasional Ladies Days, but the Club minutes of 29th September record that “the Constitution expressly referred to Business Men”.  No further discussion was recorded at the time.

1974 was the Club’s Golden Jubilee year, celebrated in December by 200 attendees at a grand Civic Ball at the Council House.  Guests included the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and Alderman Eric Foster.  A celebratory lunch in March was addressed by Sir Marcus Sieff, Chairman of Marks and Spencer, who spoke on the subject of “Human Relations in Industry”.  He stated that “No asset in any organisation is more important than human beings – too often top management pays insufficient attention to the care of human resources”  At the time, labour relations across the UK were very poor.  Towards the end of the decade business conditions were difficult and members found less time for meetings.  In 1979 Club president David Teague, Marketing Director of T. Bailey Forman, introduced a number of changes including improved publicity, a  printed programme, a relaxation of the attendance rules and an emphasis on better quality speakers.  Despite these changes membership numbers fell and attendances at meetings fluctuated considerably. 

In 1981 after lengthy consultation meetings were moved from Fridays to Thursdays and lunches were on a “buffet basis”.  These changes proved unpopular and a year later meetings reverted to full seated luncheon on Fridays.  The consultation exercise continued and demonstrated that those who persevered with their membership considered the Club to offer an ideal opportunity to meet business and professional colleagues, to share work experiences and listen to topical speakers.  The 1980’s saw several famous names speaking at Club meetings; Enoch Powell, Edwina Currie and Deborah Devonshire were amongst them.  In 1989 the Club formed an affiliation with the Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry which continues to this day.  Many local businessmen were members of both organisations and the link made economic and administrative sense.

On its affiliation to the Chamber the NCBC took the opportunity to revise its constitution and related membership rules.  One of the most significant changes was to henceforth admit women to membership for the first time.  This change enabled the Club in May 1992 to elect Janet Saunders as its first woman President   In her inaugural speech Janet declared “I am pleased that another barrier has been removed in the acceptance of women in the business community”.  Since then there have been several lady Presidents.

As the Club moved into the 21st century, its long-term meeting place at the Savoy Hotel, now Moat House, on Mansfield Road, became unsuitable and other accommodation was sought.  After much debate and trial runs at various venues the Club Council settled on the Park Plaza Hotel on Maid Marian Way, this modern setting being in line with the Council’s intention to raise the Club’s profile and membership by appealing to a wider audience.  Meetings are now held monthly, usually on the second Friday of the month at lunchtime.