Forum Club facts for kids

The Forum Club was a special club in London just for women. It was located at 6 Grosvenor Place and started in 1919. The club was first called The London Centre for Women's Institute Members. It was open until the early 1950s. Many important women were members. This included suffragettes and early feminists. These were women who worked hard for equal rights. Some famous members were Elizabeth Robins, Mary Sophia Allen, and Sybil Thomas, Viscountess Rhondda.

What Was the Forum Club?

The Forum Club opened its doors on November 1, 1919. It quickly became one of the most successful clubs for women of its time. It had over 1,600 members. The club was a place for women to meet and connect. Many famous female authors, artists, and speakers joined. Public figures and political activists were also members. Even some early suffragettes, like Emmeline Pankhurst, were part of the club.

Why Was the Club Started?

The idea for the Forum Club came from women who used to be members of another club, the Lyceum. Some of them felt the Lyceum was "too serious" or "too intellectual". They were also unhappy when the Lyceum sold its old building. The building was sold to the RAF Club. The Lyceum then moved to a smaller, more expensive place.

So, Alice Williams, Francis Abbott, and others decided to create a new club. They worked with the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI). The Forum Club was meant to be a meeting place in London. It was for regional Women's Institute (WI) groups. It also welcomed successful professional women. The goal was to offer support and celebrate women's achievements.

The Club's First Home

The club's first building was at 6 Grosvenor Place. This building used to be the home of Henry Campbell-Bannerman. He was the Prime Minister of Britain from 1905 to 1908. The building was a great example of Victorian architecture. It was designed by Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto. During the First World War, the building was used as a hospital. It was called Princess Christian’s Hospital for Officers.

Important Guests and Members

Princess Marie Louise was the club's President from 1919 to 1925. She was Queen Victoria's granddaughter. The princess helped the club connect with other clubs around the world. The Forum Club had links with 40 clubs. These clubs were in places like Monaco, South Africa, and Australia.

Many important people visited the Forum Club. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited four times. Other guests included the Princess Royal and Lady Mountbatten. The Crown Prince of Norway also visited. Anne Chamberlain, who was the wife of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, was a guest. Even General de Gaulle from France visited the club.

Club Facilities

The Forum Club offered many different rooms and services for its members. Members could even stay overnight at the club. They could also bring their maids.

The club had a dining room where members could eat. There was a comfortable lounge for relaxing. It also had a special darkroom for developing photos. A salon could be rented for art shows or other events. For games, there was a bridge room and a billiard room. The club also had a library filled with books. And for personal care, there was a hairdressing room.

Moving and Closing

In 1952, the club's lease at Grosvenor Place ended. The Forum Club needed a new home. They found one at 42 Belgrave Square. The club reopened there on May 27, 1953. The new location even had an outdoor tennis court.

The Women's Institute (WI) had many members. In 1948-49, over 40,000 women were part of the WI. This helped the Forum Club get new members. The club took part in many WI events. It also held its own concerts, talks, and exhibitions. The WI magazine, "Home and Country," helped spread the word. It had over 100,000 readers. The magazine shared news about the club's events and campaigns.

The Club's Final Years

By 1953, some problems started to appear. There were disagreements between older and younger WI members. Also, between 1948 and 1956, some key members of the NFWI and Forum Club committees passed away or became ill. Because of these challenges, the club gave up its lease in Belgrave Square. The building was then sold to the actor David Niven. That same year, the building was used in a famous movie. It was featured as the home of Mr. Phileas Fogg in "Around the World in 80 Days".

In 1957, Alice Williams died. She was one of the club's founders and its President from 1925 to 1938. She was 94 years old. The club held a few meetings in early 1958. However, younger women felt the club was "out-dated." They were joining other new clubs for professional women. But none of these new clubs offered the same special chance for women from different backgrounds to connect and support each other. The Forum Club closed its doors for good in 1958.