Carterton’s best
kept secret
Sam Bennett visits Carterton
Social Club at Brownes Hall
People ask Graham Fitzgibbon where
he works. “Carterton Social Club”, he
tells them. They then enquire as to
where this is. “Building behind Aldi”, he
answers. “Really?” they ask. “I thought
that was a storage unit!”
I suppose you could store a hell of a
lot in Brownes Hall if you wanted to.
“We are a Tardis”, Graham says. The
land donated by Johnny Browne in
the 1960s has allowed for a building
of considerable size, which holds a
main bar, large hall, lounge, meeting
room and kitchen. This establishment
was originally Carterton and Black
Bourton Village Hall. The United States
Air Force, RAF Brize Norton and the
local community all worked to raise
money for its costs. Today it is known
as Brownes Hall; nestled inside is
the Carterton Social Club. Brownes
Hall is a registered charity run by
a committee of trustees; Carterton
Social Club pay the trustees rent to be
there, which gives them funds for the
upkeep of the building.
I met Graham in the main bar. A
recently emptied (but not empty)
swear jar sits on the bar just next
to the Tribute pump – so far it has
raised £107.00 for the John Radcliffe’s
Special Care Baby Unit. As we
spoke, members filtered into the
room, creating a murmur that wasn’t
apparent when we first started talking.
Kitted out in a Black Sabbath top, and
armed with a large coffee and vape
pen, Graham told the Crier about this
old-school hub of talk, sports and
affordable Guinness.
It was Carterton Social Club member
Mike Steward, who I interviewed last
issue, who described Brownes Hall as
Carterton’s best kept secret. “Do you
agree with that?” I asked Graham. “Oh
yes”, he confirmed. “It’s been here for
decades – how did you get on last
night?” He interrupted himself to find
out last night’s darts result from one
of his members. He went on to detail
the pub sports culture that grips the
club. “We have cribbage, dominos,
ladies’ and mens’ darts on a Tuesday,
we have a mens’ darts team who play
on a Thursday night in the Oxfordshire
Superleague, and we have the ladies’
Superleague darts on a Monday night.
There’s Aunt Sally, we have a summer
league and an indoor league for the
winter.” This indoor league takes place
in the main hall which is used for a
variety of events, a Real Ale, Cider &
Music festival included. (As we toured
the building it was being set up for the
Over 60s Club). There is also a pool
table in the lounge bar, and the club
are looking to try and enter a team in
next season’s local league.
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