Following on from the last two articles, articles Keith Brookman showcases three more items in his collection, all dating from 1944.
In the summer of 1944, the Managing Director of the Greyhound Company that had purchased Eastville in 1939, Con Stevens, along with the Racing Manager and Company Secretary John Hare, were in negotiations to join the Football Club’s Board of Directors.
On 12th September 1944 Mr Hare attended a Rovers Board meeting and offered the club a cash injection of £3,000 comprising of the sum of £1,500 for new shares and £1,500 as a loan. The day after that meeting a letter was sent to Stevens, from the club secretary, Mr S. E. Hawkins, inviting him to become a member of the Board.
Presumably a similar letter was sent to Mr Hare, for at a meeting of Directors held on 29th November, both gentlemen were listed as having attended and one of the minutes states that; ‘An application having been received for 1,000 shares of £1 each from Mr Con A L Stevens and 500 shares from Mr J P Hare.
It was resolved that the shares be issued – 1,000 shares numbered 1501/2500 to Mr Stevens and 500 shares numbered 2501/3000 to Mr Hare. (Stevens was later Chairman of the Club for many years).
One other minute of interest from that meeting refers to the fact that it was felt that a statement be made to the Press to the effect that Bristol Rovers Football Club will continue and announcing the names of the present Directors, Secretary and Manager.
I’ve included three relevant scans relating to this article as they are, in my opinion, of historical significance and are documents that should be included in our Virtual Museum.
1 – Letter to Con Stevens inviting him to join the Board of Directors
2 – Extract from the minutes of the Meeting of Directors held on 29th November 1944
3 – Statement issued by the Club on 30th November 1944
If you would like to see your items in the Virtual Museum, please contact infobrheritagesociety@gmail.com in the first instance.
Bristol Rovers Supporters Club Website www.bristolroverssc.co.uk
