Society seen through eyes of Worthing folk

ENGLISH society in a state of flux is seen through the eyes of the people of Worthing in a fascinating new book from town historian Chris Hare.

The book includes hardship and unemployment during the Great Depression and the challenges of the wartime years.

Its publication is the culmination of a two-year process that began with a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to finance a project to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Guild Care provides which residential care for older people.

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Chris came in to manage what became known as the Time For History project, a task which meant researching and recording the history of Guild Care in the broader context of Worthing's social history.

"This has been the most exciting, interesting and rewarding project that I have ever been involved with", Chris said.

What emerged were new and thought-provoking insights into the social history, not just of Worthing, but of society in general, he says.

"The Guild Care archive was extensive with newspaper cuttings files going back to the 1930s as well as all the annual reports and the minute books of the charity's committees."

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A team of volunteers was assembled to help with the archival research and more than 80 oral history interviews with Worthing's older residents were recorded.

The memories of 63 Worthing residents born between 1910 and 1945 bring the history in the pages alive. As well as poverty and the war, 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, Chris says.

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. 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.

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"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 a DVD, at all Guild Care Charity Shops, Waterstones and Bookstack in Worthing and local libraries in and around Worthing.

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