Through the Decades: Our Club History

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 Where It All Began
The Camberley & District Club opened its doors in 1903 during the reign of King Edward VII, offering local gentlemen a dedicated space to socialise and play billiards.

In that same year: The Wright brothers took the world's first powered flight, the inaugural Tour de France was raced, and British motorists were issued number plates for the very first time. The first transatlantic radio broadcast also took place, while future icons George Orwell and Bob Hope were born.

Yet the modern world was only just taking shape:  Construction on the RMS Titanic was still five years away, the First World War was more than a decade off, television hadn't yet been invented, and the BBC wouldn't make its first broadcast for nearly twenty years. 

George Gray Visits the Club
Found in the cellar of the District Club, this signed photograph is dated 16th March 1911, indicating that Australian billiards sensation George Gray visited us just two days before setting a legendary record.

The story behind the signature: Sponsored by table makers Riley's, Gray arrived in England in October 1910 and almost single-handedly sparked a nationwide revival in billiards. On 18th March 1911, at London's Holborn Town Hall, he scored an extraordinary 2,196 unfinished break against Cecil Harverson in a match of 8,000 up.

Wartime Spirit & The AGM
Dated 1st February 1943, this surviving AGM agenda, signed by Club Secretary W. Cowgill, offers a fascinating glimpse into how the club operated in the midst of the Second World War.

Between the lines: Despite wartime pressures, the club held a healthy £4,447 9s 11d in the bank alongside £200 in "Australian Stock." The minutes also capture the community's wartime generosity, detailing donations toward Air Raid Precautions (ARP) expenses, the local Prisoner of War fund, and collections for the British Red Cross.

A Rare Street View
Tucked away in an alleyway off London Road, the club’s unique, hidden location meant that early street photographs of the building were few and far between.

Look closely: Captured in 1963, this street scene shows a number 3 bus heading toward Reading—with the club’s front entrance just visible to the right of the bus. 

  The Street-Front Neighbours
While the club sits tucked away behind the high street, the front section of the building facing London Road has always housed a separate local business. Captured here in the 1970s, the shopfront was occupied by Shorts Jewellers.

Local connections: Shorts was run by the grandmother of Camberley local David Rice. For many years, the space was also well known locally as the home of Five Sixes Taxis, before they moved out in 2021.

A Star-Studded Annual Dinner
Held nearby with members of the local police attending as guests, this surviving programme captures the club's 1972 Annual Dinner, an evening packed with live variety entertainment.

On the bill: The line-up featured comedy actor Felix Bowness (later famous as jockey Fred Quilley in Hi-de-Hi!), accordionist Maria Hyde, and acclaimed magician Alan Shaxon, who went on to teach Tom Cruise sleight-of-hand tricks for the 1996 blockbuster Mission Impossible

Image courtesy of Richard Stone 

Inside the Entranceway
Captured in 1980, this view looks down the club’s entrance alleyway, showing the remnants of a small office that once stood along the passage.

Still visible today: While the office itself has long since been removed, traces of its original felt lining can still be spotted embedded in the brickwork of the Cabin Bar wall.

Image courtesy of Lee McCormish

  An Evening with Lord Charles
Held at Camberley’s Civic Hall on Friday 9th February 1990, this surviving programme captures another memorable Club Annual Dinner, featuring a very famous guest on the toast list.

From the running order: Alongside formal duties led by John Martin (Grace and Loyal Toast), Chairman Alex Stark (Toast to Guests), and Bert Broster (Vote of Thanks), the reply and toast to the club was delivered by legendary British ventriloquist Ray Alan, accompanied, of course, by his monocled dummy, Lord Charles.

Image courtesy of Richard Stone 

Longest Serving Business Award
Pictured on the night are Kaitlan and Minty proudly holding the Longest Serving Business Award on behalf of the club at the Collectively Camberley Business Awards.

A proud milestone: Held at Camberley Heath Golf Club in September 2023, the ceremony officially recognised the club for more than 120 years of continuous service to the Camberley community, as chosen in a public vote by local residents.