The Women's Press Club Explained

The Women's Press Club
Founders:Phyllis Deakin
Defunct:1968
Type:Private members' club
Headquarters:52 Carey Street, London
Membership:Female journalists
Language:English
Leader Name:Phyllis Deakin, founder
Region Served:UK and the British Empire

The Women's Press Club (established 1943) was created in response to the prohibition of women from the men-only London Press Club. It was founded by journalist Phyllis Deakin and ran for 25 years, when, for financial reasons, it changed its name and began to accept men into its membership.[1] Prominent members included Phyllis Davies, Rebecca West and Marjorie Proops.

History

The club's establishment was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to England in 1943, when women on Fleet Street, with the exception of a few female magazine editors, were denied access to her.[2] Phyllis Deakin of The Times had expressed her "annoyance with the then official male-only Press Club's refusal to admit women"[3] and insisted that women should set up their own club,[4] saying, "As the men won't have us, we should have a club of our own.. What about it?"[5]

Sixty-two women attended an initial meeting at The Falstaff, Fleet Street on 1 April 1943.[6] The club was officially founded in August of that year, for women working in journalism, either on the editorial staff of a newspaper or magazine, or as an established freelancer. There were 200 members at the club's inception.[7] Clementine Churchill was guest of honour at the opening luncheon,[8] this being only the second time she had met a large group of female journalists (the first being in America).[9]

By 1944, membership had increased to 270.[10] The club planned to move into permanent premises – which included accommodation for women from Britain and around the Empire[11] – on Carey Street, London,[12] but the move was delayed by several months because of "fly-bomb attacks".[13] In 1945 a "christening party", attended by Lady Bonham Carter, Brendan Bracken and William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, was held to mark the official opening of the premises.[14]

By 1950, membership had risen to 500.[15] In 1958, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,[16] the club's president, made an "informal visit". It was reported as being "the first time a member of the Royal family has met journalists in this way."[17] In 1967, suffering from financial issues, the club took the decision to allow men to join, and to change its name to the Writers and Press Club.[18] Marjorie Proops of the Daily Mirror became the renamed club's first president in 1968.[19]

Notable activities

Members

Committee members

Other members

Notes and References

  1. News: 1967-10-09 . Nottingham Guardian . . Now they are all clubbing together . 4 . Nottingham, UK .
  2. Book: Sebba, Anne . 2013 . Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square . Faber and Faber . London, UK . 169 . 9780571302376.
  3. Book: Kent, Sylvia . 2009 . The Woman Writer: The History of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists . History Press . Stroud, UK . 50 . 9780752451596.
  4. Book: Chambers, Deborah . 2004 . Women and Journalism . Routledge . London, UK . 129 . 0415274443.
  5. Book: Sebba, Anne . 2013 . Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square . Faber and Faber . London, UK . 169 . 9780571302376.
  6. Book: Sebba, Anne . 2013 . Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square . Faber and Faber . London, UK . 169 . 9780571302376.
  7. News: 1943-08-12 . Berwick Advertiser . . Women's Press Club . 6 . Berwick, UK .
  8. News: 1943-10-06 . Liverpool Daily Post . . To meet Mrs Churchill . 2 . Liverpool, UK .
  9. News: 1943-10-15 . Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . . Mrs Churchill's Preferences . 2 . Leeds, UK .
  10. News: 1944-07-12 . Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . . Presswomen's club . 2 . Leeds, UK .
  11. News: 1943-08-12 . Berwick Advertiser . . Women's Press Club . 6 . Berwick, UK .
  12. News: 1944-01-19 . Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . . In Carey Street . 4 . Leeds, UK .
  13. News: 1944-07-12 . Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer . . Presswomen's club . 2 . Leeds, UK .
  14. News: 1945-03-07 . The Tatler . . Christening Party of the Women's Press Club of London . 26 . London, UK .
  15. News: 1950-10-11 . Huddersfield Daily Examiner . . Talk by woman reporter . 3 . Huddersfield, UK .
  16. News: 1958-11-08 . Eastbourne Herald . . Royal visitor . 6 . Eastbourne, UK .
  17. News: 1958-11-21 . Kent and Sussex Courier . . Royal Meeting . 1 . Kent, UK .
  18. News: 1967-12-22 . Kensington News and West London Times . . Press Party . 7 . London, UK .
  19. News: 1968-01-22 . Wolverhampton Express and Star . . Marjorie Proops . 1 . Wolverhampton, UK .
  20. News: 1947-07-20 . Sunday Mirror . . Behind the scenes . 4 . London, UK .
  21. News: 1957-03-08 . Sussex Express . . Palace post protest . 6 . Sussex, UK .
  22. News: 1946-02-05 . Bradford Observer . . Mrs Roosevelt praises UNO plain speaking . 1 . Bradford, UK .
  23. News: 1962-04-12 . Scunthorpe Evening Chronicle . . US invitation . 10 . Scunthorpe, UK .
  24. News: 1964-04-22 . Grimsby Daily Telegraph . . PM for Club's 21st birthday . 1 . Grimsby, UK .
  25. News: 1956-05-25 . Gateshead Post . . Visit of woman journalist . 5 . Gateshead, UK .
  26. News: 1959-01-02 . The Scotsman . . Order of the British Empire . 9 . Edinburgh, UK .
  27. News: 1951-01-03 . The Tatler . . A guide to London's clubs . 44 . London, UK .
  28. News: 1951-11-01 . Yorkshire Evening Post . . Indian Headdress Gift . 7 . Leeds, UK .
  29. News: 1953-03-16 . Belfast News-Letter . . Loved clothes . 3 . Belfast, UK .
  30. News: 1951-01-03 . The Tatler . . A guide to London's clubs . 44 . London, UK .
  31. News: 1959-09-18 . Portsmouth Evening News . . Famous women are set a poser . 11 . Portsmouth, UK .
  32. News: 1961-05-26 . Esher News and Mail . . On writing books . 3 . Esher, UK .
  33. News: 1962-06-28 . Nottingham Evening Post . . Thanks from Mrs Kennedy . 7 . Nottingham, UK .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Women's Press Club".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.