1970

The report began with some encouraging words from the new Warden, who was clearly impressed by the calibre of Dingle lads: “This being my first year as Warden of The ‘Florrie’ I wondered if the old type of activity would be acceptable to the boys of the 1970s. I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that boys in the Dingle, (although they chat up the birds) still maintain a great deal of interest in sporting, creative, and social aspects of boys’ club ideals.”

During the Easter holidays, The Club entertained 36 members of the United Services Boys Clubs from Hartlepool, who were in town for a football match with The Florrie boys, who won one match and drew the other.

As ever The Florrie was facing financial difficulties, with an operating deficit of £941.00. They tried to eradicate this with weekly bingo evenings and discotheques, that attracted between 200 & 250 people. These popular activities contributed substantially to the annual operating costs, allowing for an ever-ambitious programme of club activities  including rifle rhooting and the mysteriously titled ‘Tropical Fish’.

Regular weekend camps took place throughout the year, which involved hiking and rambling. There was a significant and exciting change to the Annual Camp, which had previously been to Nash Court. This year, the boys decided on a tour that took them to London, Dover and France, which was ‘without doubt the highlight of the week, travelling from Dover to France by boat and returning by hovercraft’

Sadly, the death of Mrs Florence (Dolly) Thompson was reported. Florence was a highly respected and devoted friend of The Florrie who ‘spent many years in the service of young people in the Dingle’.