Dorset men’s club admits female members for the first time in 120 years!
Elizabeth Day from Wareham is the first lady in the Society of Dorset Men. The society, founded in London in 1904, did not allow women members until she joined it in 2024! Elizabeth tells Love It Local about this historic club she is now a member of…
Society of Dorset Men est. 1904
The founding meeting was held on Thursday 7th July 1904 at the offices of Mr William Watkins. It was well attended and supported by letters from many prominent Dorset men including Thomas Hardy and the Editor of the Dorset County Chronicle. There were many men from the county living in London who seldom met a brother Dorset and there were many young people moving to London from the County seeking employment.
One of the principal objects of the new Society was to assist young people to find employment and to make them feel that they were not separated from the County. It also aimed to establish a feeling of brotherhood between Dorset men residing or visiting London and to improve their knowledge of their native County. Additionally, it was felt such a society could represent the county at the centre of government to ensure the county was not overlooked when it came to decision making.
Famous members...
Sir Frederick Treves GCVO, CB, LLD, the eminent surgeon became the first President of the Society. He had been born in Dorchester and attended the school run by William Barnes. He became a professor at the Royal College of Surgeons and as well as operating on King Edward VII to remove his appendix two days before his coronation, he also cared for Joseph Merrick, who was hideously disfigured with elephantitus.
Other notable presidents were Thomas Hardy, the author, Lord Shaftesbury and Lord Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey.
The Society’s emblem on the Coat of Arms is a silver tower which bears the wording “A Silver Tower Dorset Red Banner Bears” whilst the familiar motto “Who’s a-fear’d” was chosen by Thomas Hardy.
Today, the Society has over 750 members, which includes those living overseas and those based in Dorset. The common bond is to have a love of Dorset and a desire to support all that is in the best interests of the county.
No women members allowed!
Although women partners were always encouraged to join in social events organised by the society, they could not be members and therefore could not participate in discussions or vote for any motions proposed at plenary meetings.
The society held its AGM in August 2024 and a motion to admit female members was proposed. After much discussion the motion was put to the vote and overwhelmingly was carried to admit women.
Immediately it went through the possibility of a name change was raised but I was pleased no decision on that was made. I think we need to wait and see how things progress. Man can refer to all mankind as opposed to animals. It never used to be seen as sexist.
Before the company dispersed I had asked to become a member and thus I became the first woman to join the Society of Dorset Men. It took a few weeks to put procedures in place for women to join such as deciding joint membership rates, life membership, new forms etc and so it was early December before I became a paid-up member jointly with my husband, Bob.
As I told the BBC and the Daily Telegraph on 6th and 7th December 2024 respectively, ‘I feel privileged and excited to be the first female member of this wonderful society.’
Events at the Dorset Society of Men
Examples of the events organised by the society include an annual dinner, a Christmas lunch, trips to sites of local interest such as Minterne Gardens with a talk by Lord Digby on the history of his family and the estate, an outing on the PS Waverley, guided tour of Gillingham with afternoon tea etc.
My life and Career
I was born in Verwood and went to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Wimborne. After becoming a chartered librarian, my first professional post was as Dorset Local History Librarian, based in Dorchester. Through this job I became very interested in the history and writers of my home county.
It was here I learned of the Society of Dorset Men and wished I could join. I then married Robert and we moved to Southampton with work. I first worked for Pirelli General Cable works and later in the Electricity Supply Industry. We later moved to Nottingham which is where we had a son. I worked part time after he was born and then, when we retired, we returned to Wareham.
I became a volunteer at Corfe Castle and for the last 11 years have taken school groups on tours of the castle, as well as helped with children’s activities in the school holidays. I love singing and joined the Lady St Mary’s church choir in Wareham and the Purbeck Arts choir in Swanage.
I belong to a book group, enjoy playing bridge (I belong to the Allendale Bridge Club in Wimborne) and we regularly walk the hills and coastline of Purbeck in all weathers. Wherever I have lived, Dorset has always been very important to me and I am so pleased to be able to identify with a group of like-minded people and am proud to be the first lady in the Society of Dorset Men!
Find out more about the Society on their website: www.societyofdorsetmen.co.uk
