In 1947 Tring had one cinema called the Regal. It was in Western Road, next door to the Church House (now the Youth Club). In June there was a meeting in the Victoria Hall to find out the community view about opening the cinema on Sunday. The usual views for and against were argued over, but a bus driver called Saunders put forward a down-to-earth argument when he said that if they did not let the young courting couples go to the cinema on Sundays they would go to the woods … if they did not go to the pubs. "Tring has been slow and dead for years and it damned well always will be" he declared. There was a show of hands, and 135 people voted for Sunday opening, and 96 against.
The religious element were unhappy, and quickly collected 100 signatures to force a poll of the electorate, in the hope that the first vote would be overturned. Polling was from 8 am to 8 pm and there was a poll of over 50% of the local government electors entitled to vote. Mr. H. J. Gurney was the polling officer and there was a large cheer when her announced the result.
For … … … 1262
Against … … 358
Majority in favour of opening 904
By September the Council were able to announce that Section 1 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, now extended permanently to the Urban District of Tring, which meant that the Regal could open on Sunday.
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Under the joint auspices of the National Council of Women and the Council for Moral Welfare Work, there will be an afternoon conference at Pendley Manor, Tring, on Thursday, November 20th Subject: Films and their influence on young cinema-goers 2.45 p.m. Lecture by Mr. J. Hemming, of the Association for Education in Citizenship, followed by discussion. Admission 6d. Tea 1/-. Parish Magazine, November |
| There were other entertainments available. Some were in the Victoria Hall which, on 1st April, was transferred to the Tring Council by Lord Rothschild. In April it was used by the Vale Players, who had been producing plays since 1927. They put on a romantic comedy called "Love in a Mist". The actors were Elizabeth Harrison, John Dole, Phyllis Park, George Luther, Marie Reche and Oswald Bossell (producer). There was a concert there in November in which the star appearance was of Mr Haydn Wood, the composer. The program includes a performance of the song "Princess Elizabeth of England" which he had written in honour of the royal wedding. There were also frequent dances there, put on by various local organisations. For instance, on January 17th there was a Gaiety Dance to chose Tring & District’s prettiest girl, with dancing from 8 pm until midnight to Douglas Cooke and his Orchestra. Admission was 3/- [15p], light refreshments were available, and a coach was provided for people from Berkhamsted. A similar dance, without the beauty competition, was held on the 28th March. | 
Bucks Herald, 21st March |
A number of groups had a regular programme of events. For example the Parish Magazine regularly reported the activities of the St Paul’s Youth Fellowship. On the morning of Saturday, June 28th, a party went on a tour of Bovingdon Airport. At the present time the activity there is not very great, but we saw all there was to see. We were shown through various hangers where the aircraft were being overhauled and had a chance to peep inside one of the beautifully fitted air liners of B.O.A.C. We also saw some well-known types of R.A.F. ’planes, such as the Spitfire, Mosquito and Meteor. Despite rationing they were able to report that A "Sausage supper" now seems to have become an annual event. Once again we went up into the woods where we lit a fire and fried our sausages – at least those of us who were lucky enough to obtain sausages; some of us however even succeeded with bacon, eggs and tomatoes. … Later in the year they decided to honour November 5th in the traditional manner, so between us bought fireworks to the value of fifteen shillings [75p], an impressive collection. These we let off on the Vicarage lawn, where some members were highly inconvenienced and others proportionately amused by a seemingly inexhaustible supply of "bangers."
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"New Mill Follies" New Mill Dramatic Club’s latest stage presentation is entirely different from anything the players have attempted before. It is a show like you see on the pier at the seaside. A dozen girls, all in their late teens or early twenties, give a light and frothy hotch-potch of laughs and catchy music, with just the right sprinkling of serious items for contrast. Calling themselves the "New Mill Follies," the bevy not only display bloom and freshness, as it is to be expected of them, but also go gaily through their 2½ hours’ programme with a competence and assurance that would do credit to regular troupers. … A take-off by Hilda Reynolds, of a lady helper at a jumble sale was considered by the reporter as being the tit bit of the show. Excellent, too, as a change from the general brightness, are Jean Illing’s sweet singing and Norma Webb’s expressive reciting. Jesse Gower helps the show along with some deft tap-dancing and Doris Baldwin does her bit with songs from musical comedies. Joan Grange, who takes most of the character parts, Audrey Mansfield, Aldwyth Smith, Daphne Ball, Daphne Hammerston, Phyllis Gates and Joyce Davies are prominent and pleasing in skits, sketches and song scenes. Miss Frances Buckland, who trained the girls in their singing, is a lively funster at the piano. Miss Joan Luxton is the producer, Mrs. Luxton wardrobe mistress. Mr. I. Sutton stage manager; and Mr. and Mrs. F. Ball and Mr. Hammerston were back-stage helpers. Bucks Herald, 25th April |
The Tring Show, which had been such a feature of the pre-war years, was no longer being held but the Church House (now the Youth Club), Western Road, hosted the annual shows of two societies which undoubtedly benefited from the "grow your own" culture of the War and rationing. These were the West Herts Rabbit Breeders Association in May, and the Mid-Herts Bee-keepers Association in September.
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EARLY GOALS INSPIRED TRING BOVINGDON MISSED CHANCES TRING: 4 BOVINGDON: 2 Extra time was necessary to decide the Final of the West Herts Minor Cup on Saturday when Tring defeated Bovingdon by 4 goals to 2 at the Crab Tree Lane ground at Apsley. … Tring: K. Dwight, E. Dallerson, C. Cumming, R. Harrup, R. Waterton, C. Price, F. Butler, A. Ball, R. Mills, W. Mills, D. Allan. Gazette, 30th May |
Tring football club was looking for a new ground. In April the Council met representatives of the Football Club in reference to their difficulty in securing a playing ground and decided to approach Mr Arthur MacDonald to see if he would let the Club have the use of his land next to the Cricket Field in Station Road. This was opposite the houses called Hawkswell and Hazely, and arrangements were completed in time for the start of the season.
Bucks Herald, 15th August
It was also possible to join the Tring Army Cadets who had an inspection in July, when the plan was that the detachment mustered in Miswell Lane at 2.20 pm will be headed by the 5th Battalion Band and proceed via Western Road to the Headquarters situated at the N.F.S. buildings in the High Street, where the Inspecting Officer will take the salute at 2.30 pm. Dorian Williams was the president of the West Herts District Boy Scout Association, and in May they held their annual meeting at Pendley. There was a flourishing Chamber of Commerce, with 101 members and political parties such as the Tring Conservative Association, were active.
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The town company of Girl Guides … is in great difficulty owing to shortage of officers. Mrs. Carter, of 8, King Street, is carrying on alone. … She urgently requires either an assistant of 18 years or over, who has no Guiding experience, whom she would train to work under her, or a Guider of greater experience than herself under whom she would be prepared to work. Parish Magazine, September |
Tring Conservative Association
Chairman Mr J. T. Kirk
Vice Chairman Mr Vere-Webb
Hon. Secretary Mrs George
Hon. Treasurer Mr T. S. Dole
Committee Mrs Dole, Mrs Fells, Mr. H. Jones, Mrs Maxwell, Miss F. Mead, Mrs Miller, Mrs Mowbray, Mr A. H. Randall, Mr S. I. Rowbotham, Mr K. J. Timberlake, Mr & Mrs Vere-Webb, Mrs Westron, Mr. F. L. Westron, Mr S. Wheeler.
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