"If you belonged to the Centre, you always had lots of friends."

"You use the word 'community'; the Centre needs a much warmer word than that; we did feel mutually responsible for each other. The Centre became an extension or our home - not a clinic or a leisure centre, nor was sit political, racial or class motivated etc, but a place where the family could expand as a whole, and all in one building."Some families first joined for the sports, others for the nursery facilities etc, but once inside that building there was a feeling of complete relaxation, that I have never found in any community centre since."

It is impossible to access the importance of the Centre to many of its members. Dr Scott Williamson had the genius to set up an organisation in which families, and the individuals in them, could flourish physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Each member had to freedom and space to grow in their own time and in their own way. With this freedom came a developing awareness of responsibility, both for self and others. Very few people in the world have had such an opportunity, and with a world committed to targets and risk aversion the opportunities are reduced further.

Membership of the Peckham Centre was based on the family unit, although after the first periodic overhaul, individual family members could use the Centre facilities on their own. In those days, many women had to give up work on marriage and/or frequently stayed at home to bring up the children, often in small homes which lacked the many facilities the Centre offered. It is therefore, not surprising that the women and children tended to use the Centre during the day and early evening. However, the men found it a congenial place to be in the evenings and at weekends and shift workers could be found in the afternoons. Here it was possible for the family to belong to an organisation which allowed them to pursue their own interests. Moreover, parents could rest easy, knowing that their children were in a safe environment, and one in which a parent would check on them at any time without interrupting what the child was doing. The child could play knowing that Mum or Dad were nearby. "Friendships flourished - often between whole families. Every evening and all day Saturday, the building hummed with activity and families, friends and acquaintances would be sitting together over a drink or a snack at the tables beside the pool."

Besides the friendships and activities though, member-families had the opportunity to develop as families. Through the periodic overhauls, other consultations, watching people going about other activities, seeing how babies were looked after in the nursery, parents and prospective parents had the opportunity to develop their parenting skills. This was especially valuable for those who were worried by the thought of becoming parents.

"During the pregnancy I flitted in and out of the babies' and toddlers' nursery, discussed clothes with the sister in charge, and was allowed to handle the babies and help with odd jobs. This was tremendous, as I came from a small family, and had had no babies, or young children around me. So, when my baby was born, no difficulties or terrors." (Elsie)

More than one couple met and did their courting as members.
"The Radfords got married after meeting each other there; lots of them did." "John and I met at the camp at Sissinghurst (set up by the members), but I was only 14, and then the war came. We married a year after the war finished."

Although there had been fears that an increase in social life would lead to more marital breakdown this was not the case. On the contrary, there was plenty of evidence that marriages were strengthened.

Within the community that was the Peckham Centre one must also include the staff. The founders noted, " the relationship between staff and members was a completely mutual one. While we, the staff, found our material for investigation, they found their satisfaction in the opportunity to lead a fuller life.

In illustration of this latter point we append a letter - one of many- from parents written to us when the closing of the Centre was imminent.

Dear Doctor

With the Centre as my background, there isn't anything I would not tackle - it has given me such great confidence, a thing I never had before - when I realise that my children are having that background from the beginning, I know what a much fuller life they will lead. The Centre to them is something they cannot do without.
Alan took quite a while to settle, now he has taught himself to swim, play billiards, and he has a mind of his own in all things.
When we joined the Centre Joy was eighteen months old, not physically strong, which had an influence of her general development. Now she is a school girl with an individual personality all her own, and her health has improved to such standards as I would never have believed possible.
Now Valerie of the three children is a Centre baby - I could not have wished for a more natural child, she seemed to know her way in life from the very beginning, and nothing could shake her from that course - strangers have picked her out from a group for her personality, and her ability to know what she wants and get it.
Summing up from us all I would like to say, that we have been given something by belonging to the Centre, which should it close, will never be taken away. With gratitude, we all thank you for this.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) Harry and Gladys Coring"
(Taken from 'The passing of Peckham' by G Scott Williamson and Innes H Pearse)
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