Local Worthing historian Chris Hare launched his new book Through the Hard Times and the Good at Guild Care’s Healthy Living Centre on Tuesday 6th October. It was standing room only at the lunchtime session and another full house in the evening with over 150 books sold in the first day. The book is not just another local history but it is the unique story of English society in a state of flux, seen through the eyes of the people of Worthing.
This book is the culmination of a two year process that began with a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to finance a project to celebrate Guild Care’s 75th anniversary. That bid was successful, and local historian Chris Hare was appointed to manage what became known as the ‘Time for History’ project ~ to research and record the history of Guild Care in the broader context of Worthing’s social history.
Chris Hare said ‘This has, without doubt been the most exciting, interesting and rewarding project that I have ever been involved with. I believe that this history offers new and thought-provoking insights into the social history, not just of Worthing, but of society in general. The Guild Care archive was extensive with newspaper cuttings files going back to the 1930’s as well as all the annual reports and the minute books of the charity’s committees.’
A team of volunteers was assembled to help with the archival research and over 80 oral history interviews with Worthing’s older residents were recorded.
‘The rich source material and the exceptional interviews bound together by the author’s skill and enthusiasm for the founders’ ideals and the town’s social conscience has culminated in a ‘living’ historic account of an organisation that still thrives today in helping those in need’ said Julia Johnson, Communications Manager for Guild Care.
The memories of sixty-three Worthing residents born between 1910 and 1945 bring the history in these pages alive. These oral history interviews include eye witness accounts of hardship and unemployment during the Great Depression and the challenges of the wartime years. Issues such as illegitimacy and sexual relations are talked about with candour, highlighting the enormous shift in public and private morals that has taken place over the last 75 years.
‘The book follows the development of the Worthing Council of Social Service (today known as Guild Care) from its founding in 1933 through to the present. This organisation was a local welfare state providing services for the town establishing the Citizens Advice Bureau and introducing free health care’ said the author.
Many similar organisations across the country followed the Worthing example and thousands of people enjoyed a better life because a small team of dedicated pioneers decided that they would create a kinder, more caring society. Effie Methold, Frank Cave, Arthur Linfield and many others, gave freely of their time in the hope of creating a new society. Their impact was felt locally, but their example was followed by others across the country, helping to usher in the era of public health care and social services.
The book is now available to purchase at £10 including DVD at all Guild Care Charity Shops, Waterstones and Bookstack in Worthing and local libraries in and around Worthing.