As the finale to our celebration of the Westwood Club's 125th birthday, today we share with you some memories of Maurice (Moz) and Patsy McPhilimey.
In September, 2023, Ian, Sue and Jill enjoyed spending time with Moz and Patsy McPhilimey and their daughter, Sarah. Moz and Patsy were stewards at the Westwood Club from 1969 to 2011 and we had a fascinating evening listening to their reminiscences.
Early days
In June, 1969, Moz and Patsy were recently married when Moz saw the advert for a ‘steward and wife’ at the Westwood Club. They were familiar with it, having visited as a courting couple. Moz began by working behind the bar and, proving satisfactory, he was offered the job as steward. He resigned from his existing job at Motor Panels, only to learn that the committee had actually voted for another candidate – who had also resigned his job! Luckily for Moz, the other man pulled out and Moz began working at the Westwood Club, which would also be home for the next 42 years. Patsy was so much more than the steward’s wife! She had been second cook at Laxton’s, a freight firm on Charter Avenue. She was well-qualified, holding a City & Guilds certificate in catering as well as having silver service experience…this stood her in good stead for the enormous number of delicious meals, snacks and party food she would provide for hungry customers over the years!
An interesting discovery
The 1843 cottage was a part of the building as Moz and Patsy knew it in 1969, although there had been some alterations and refurbishments made by then. The chimneys are visible on some photos from this time. Toilets were to the rear, down a passageway. The club itself was where the main bar area now is. There were two pillars in the middle of this room, which had one-armed bandits chained to them. Moz was told that a newspaper had been buried within one of these pillars and subsequently bricked up. Sure enough, when the building was altered in 1974, the pillar was knocked down…and there was the newspaper – The News of the World, dated 1843. Patsy and Moz keep this still and it is in pristine condition.
Modernisation
For five years, Patsy and Moz lived in a caravan in the orchard. These were happy times but hard, with no hot water or modern conveniences. Once their first child came along, the situation was far from ideal. The main club extension was completed in 1974 and the family – including Prince the dog - was able to enjoy living in much greater comfort. The Club was run – and still is – by a committee. The committee comprised Tommy West (president), Freddie Dash (treasurer) and Moz’s dad, Pat, was also a serving member – as well as selling eggs and potatoes!
Busy times
The local area was peaceful in those days. There were no houses apart from the old ones, including the schoolmasters’ house next door. On the other side was Westwood Farm, where the Barnet brothers lived. They had plough horses and goats. Apart from that it was just fields from Westwood over to Charter Avenue. In spite of the rural feel outside, inside the club was busy with local workers coming for drinks and meals, from places such as Coventry Gauge and Tool Company, Massey Ferguson, Standard Triumph and Covrad. On Friday nights, if customers weren’t seated by 7pm, there was no chance!
Special occasions
Daughter Sarah remembers growing up in the club in the 1980s. Christmas mornings were a busy affair as the local men descended for a drink or three while their wives were cooking the dinner at home. It became something of a tradition that the men would wear their new clothes, bought for Christmas – jumpers, hats…even pyjamas! And many had the labels still on – it was a standing joke.
The club hosted entertainment almost every Saturday night, whether private functions or larger ticketed events, such as the New Year’s Eve party and the children’s Christmas parties. Entertainers appearing there included Larry Grayson (then using the name Billy Breen), Bob Brolly and his band, Calvary, as well as Morris Dancers, hypnotists and the band, Mother’s Worry. Some Halloween shows were quite scary for Sarah.
Ghostly goings-on
Perhaps even more scary than that, were the ghostly figures that could be seen around the place. Sarah recalls a shadowy spectre – a man with a pointy hat and spindly fingers. This was a terrifying experience for her, waking in the night for no apparent reason to be confronted by this apparition. Moz remembers seeing the figure of a man just outside the old part of the club, passing in front of the windows. This phantom was dressed in the manner of the Pilgrim Fathers – his hat resembled the ones worn by them, but was definitely not pointed. Next door, at the old headmaster’s house, lights could be seen at night in the empty house, with shadows passing to and fro at the windows. And the house was known to be empty that night.
Long service
After serving an extraordinary 42 years as stewards, Moz and Patsy took a well-earned retirement in 2011. However, they remember their years at the club with fondness – the people, the events and all the fun that was had along the way.
The Westwood Heath History Group is very grateful to Moz, Patsy and Sarah for sharing their memories of the club, as well as photos and other fascinating treasures from their collection.
The Club in the 1960s
A social occasion at the club (Image courtesy of the McPhilimey family)
Moz and Patsy at the Club in the early 1990s (Image courtesy of the McPhilimey family)