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| As far back as 1878 the Council of the Union considered the
possibility of establishing a Seaside Home for members, their
wives, and families but an initial
attempt foundered, "its principal achievement being
to add another heavy financial burden up on the slender and
embarrassed finances of the Union". |
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At a meeting of the Council of the Union, held at the East
St Pancras Reform Club on Saturday, 6 February 1892, the Council
resolved to " take into consideration the advisability
of a Convalescent Home, and that a committee be appointed for
the purpose of drawing up a scheme".
The appointed committee, N W Oviatt, F Campbell, Ben Ellis,
J W Dorman, J H Holmes, T J Mason, and Jessie Argyle, who had
agreed to act as honorary secretary, met and produced a very
modest scheme, estimating an annual expenditure of £600
per annum, and subscriptions from the clubs varying from one
guinea to £4 4s per annum. The proposal was to lease a
large house on the South East coast and adapt this for the residence
of 15 "patients". Circulars were sent out to all of
the clubs but response was insufficient for the project to proceed.
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| The following year, June 1893, Hodgson Pratt reported to B
T Hall, Secretary of the Union, that he had spoken to Passmore
Edwards who would like to see a deputation on the matter. At
the ensuing meeting Passmore Edwards sought assurances that
that the Union would guarantee to keep a home going if he gave
them one. After giving such an assurance the meeting ended with
Passmore's response of "very well, go and find your site,
and I will buy it, and build you a home on it". |
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However, the search for a suitable
site proved as difficult a task as any and it was Passmore Edwards
himself, who in May 1894 informed them that he had purchased
a disused hotel and grounds at Pegwell Bay and that he thought
that this would suit their purposes. An inspection by the Secretary
followed and found that the builders and decorators were already
in attendance, the conversion almost complete. |
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