Update: Although Fred's notes name it the 'Cheerio Club', Andrew Suddaby has written in to let us know that the official name was the 'Cheero Club'. If you search on the web, several people mention it as the Cheerio Club, so maybe that's what it was called informally. (The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English lists Cheerio and Cheero as synonyms).
A couple of Fred Evans' photos are of the club. First is a photo of the club taken from a passing tram:
Then he returns the favour and takes a photo of a tram from the club:
Because it overlooks the cricket ground, now Chater Gardens, the photograph must have been taken from the the North edge of the old Murray Parade ground (where the Cheero Club was in 1957/8). Later, the Hilton Hotel was built on this site. I took a similar photograph from slightly further to the West.
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We've been sent a map confirming the club's location along the northern edge of the Murray Parade Ground - about where the main entrance to the Cheung Kong Centre is today.
Received by email
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The same person sent in a good bunch of photos of the area in the 1950's:
Received by email Received by email Received by email Received by email Received by email
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It was a recreation club for the British Armed Forces, incorporated in January 1935, and run by the YMCA. Here's another mention, in a recollection of visiting Hong Kong in the late 1930's, on the way to Shanghai:
We spent about a month in Hong Kong and during that time we used to spend a lot of our time in a club called "The Cheerio Club", where you could get English meals and there was plenty of entertainment available.
Photos that show this Place
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You may have noted that I used the words the new "Force", for it is intended that there shall be one Force embracing all three arms of the Service, that is, Naval, Military and Air, together with an Essential Services arm, including Civil Defence should the need arise.
Negotiations are taking place with the trustees of the Cheero or Harcourt Club, with the idea that The Club should early next year be handed over to the Force. It will be used for messes and a canteen.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
15th December, 1948.
As a result of the increase in British forces in Hong Kong in 1927 (probably through events in China), the YMCA of Hong Kong was requested by the parent YMCA in England to provide additional facilities for the entertainment and recreation of British troops.
A Committee was formed and funds were obtained through public appeals. Premises were found at the Queen's Building and later accommodation was granted at the Old City Hall. It was known as the "Cheer O" (HK Daily Press 15 March 1927). From then, until the City Hall building was declared unsafe in 1933, facilities for entertainment and recreation were carried out under the name of the Cheero Club.
On the closing of the City Hall, an appeal was launched for sufficient funds to enable new premises to be built. The appeal was successful. In 1934, a building was erected on a site granted by Government at the corner of Murray Parade Ground which had been handed back by the War Department on the understanding that it was to be used for the benefit of British Forces.
The new building was opened by Lady Peel on 8 November 1934. The building was built by Leigh & Orange and comprised a main recreation and social hall with a ladies room attached, large dining room, billiards room and library. In the opening ceremony, Lady Peel thanked the architects for erecting 'a very attractive building on a small and difficult site'.
1n 1935, an Ordinance to provide the incorporation of the Cheero Club was passed into law.
I think the three-storey building opposite the Old City Hall and HSBC was the premises of the Cheero Club prior to WWII. See:
Hi Moddsey, that looks likely. I can't imagine the low hut in Fred's photos being called 'a very attractive building on a small and difficult site'!
Checking the Place for the Murray Parade Ground there are a couple of photos dated 1934 & 1940, neither of which show the low building from Fred's photo. So that gives us at least three sites for the Cheerio club over the years.
Regards, David
It would appear that the Cheero Club had moved around after WWII
China Mail 2 July 1949
The newspaper reported that the building opposite the HSBC was taken over by the NAAFI in 1948 and turned it over into the Harcourt Officers' Club. But due to lack of support, the building had been taken over by the Hong Kong Defence Force with the intention of re-opening the Cheero Club.
China Mail 15 December 1949
Apparently this was not the case. A newly constructed Servicemen's Centre, the Cheero Club was formally opened on 14 December 1949 at the Murray Parade Ground by Sir Alexander Grantham. The major cost of construction was borne by the Government. I reckon the one storey huts in Fred's photos were indeed the premises of the Cheero Club.
China Mail 11 July 1960
The newspaper reported that the Cheero Club had moved to new premises in the Naval Dockyard, Murray Road as the land where the former premises were sited had been sold for the construction of a luxury hotel (Hilton).
I think the original building opposite the HSBC shown: http://gwulo.com/node/10940 was the Cheero Club.
Sorry David - I've been trying to upload the picture and when that didn't work, I tried to delete my comment but couldn't work out how to do that :/
I'll read the instructions to that page you posted for me on FB and hopefully will be able to show you the picture I was referring to :D
Thanks Nona. After uploading the photo, here's how to insert it in the text: http://gwulo.com/node/1929
Apologies that it isn't as straightforward as uploading photos on Facebook.
Regards, David
Oh wow! It worked! Great instructions, David, if I managed to work it out by myself! Thank you :D
The date of the photo is June 8, 1952, and my mother was in the Army Reserves. There was a parade and the Governor did his thing, walking up and down - I assume this was taken after the parade but you can see the sign of the Cheero Club in the building behind us.
In June 2016 the BBC's "Flog It" program got in touch asking to use a couple of photos of the Cheero Club. I put them in touch with the owners, then it all went quiet til this April when they let me know the show would be broadcast.
I thought it's a shame I can't see it, but today I received an email from Jenny saying the show was on Youtube! If you click Play, it should start at the 27-minute mark where a gentleman named James introduces a couple of dishes including one from the Cheero Club that was given to his mother. The photos also appear for a moment:
Thanks to Jenny for sending the link.
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Murray House Sitting-out Area
Looking at the photo sequence and the metal fencing from the previous photo, this tranquil spot would most probably be the garden area adjacent to Murray House in Central. The road (western end of Queensway) in front curves to the right of picture to meet up with Garden Rd.
The Cheerio Club
Fred mentioned that the previous photo was of a tram, taken from the Cheerio Club in July '59. Then this photo was taken in the other direction, from a tram looking towards the Cheerio Club.
I agree. I am almost
I agree. I am almost certain that this is a view of the back of the large hut that contained the cafe and lounge of the Cheero Club. The Murray Parade Ground / Cheero Club stood about 4 metres higher than the road, suggesting that it had to be taken from a passing tram.
Cheero Club
Yes. That is the Cheero Club building, I have a photograph of me - as a kid of 6-7 - sat on that same bench.
Off picture, to the right, is a path leading down to some steps and out onto the road. You could walk around either end of the building, or go through it and reach the main entrance and the car-parking area, on part of the old parade-ground, the other side.
Looking over the car-park, south towards The Peak, you would see HK Cathedral.
Cheero Club
Can you tell me - was the Cheero Club a forces only club. Could servicemen take civilians there?
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To be honest I can't remember. I was 6 when I went to HK in 1956 and was there until 1958.
I do know that servicemen (and visiting forces USN etc.) were regulars and certainly family members of servicemen were allowed.
Additional.
My father Sgt. W. Jones was the sergeant in charge of the Cheero Club, under a management committee. I spent fair bit of time there and can remember the layout quite well. I also have some photos of the place.
Cheero club
Gareth, thanks for the extra information. If you ever post the photos up to the web, please let us know the link so we can see them. (Or you can upload them here to the batgung website, or even just email them to me and I can put them up.)