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Date:  18 June 2007

60th Anniversary of the Bnai Brith Thursday Club at Jewish Cares Stepney Community Centre

There was singing and dancing and smiles all round at a party held at Jewish Care’s Stepney Community Centre on 14th June to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the B’nai B’rith Thursday Club. Central to the action was Joyce Saffron, the club’s organiser for the past 35 years, and one of the centre’s volunteer coordinators. She had arranged a special lunch, tea and an afternoon of entertainment.

The occasion was marked by a 60th anniversary cake, cut by Mrs Saffron and her helpers, Ruth Hollander, Betty Klein and Stella Ashley. Mrs Saffron had also arranged for 60th anniversary mugs to be given to all the members, staff and volunteers.

Mrs Saffron, who is in her 80s, gave a speech outlining the origins of the centre in Beaumont Grove. It was set up in 1925 as Stepney Jewish B’nai B’rith Clubs and Settlement, in those days the sole project of First Woman’s Lodge.

Joyce Saffron said: “The Thursday Club was founded in 1947, the nucleus being the grandparents of the members of the Girls’ and Boys Clubs’ which had been founded in 1938. In those far off days, there were no clubs for senior citizens, so Stepney was the first. It met on a Thursday and, if you belonged to the Thursday Club, you couldn’t go to the Tuesday Club and vice versa.

“The committee would all stand at the door, shake hands with each member as they entered and present them with an orange. In 1975, when Cissie Anholt retired as chairman of the Thursday Club, she asked me to take over from her. I will always remember the day she introduced me to the members. ‘This is Mrs Saffron and I have every confidence in handing over to her.”

Before cutting the cake, Mrs Saffron noted the changes in the Thursday Club since the days of ‘oranges at the door.’ She said: “The committee was aghast when I said that members should call me Joyce. They said: ‘They’ll have no respect for you. I do not think that has been the case.”

There were tributes galore for Mrs Saffron who is loved by everyone. Bernie West, one of the volunteers, described her as “an angel. She’s got a kind word for everyone and she really cares about people. She’s a treasure.”

Bow resident, Theresa Williams, 86, one of the Thursday Club’s oldest members, has been associated with the centre since the age of 12. She described the party as “fabulous. I do enjoy coming here. The way Joyce treats us… nothing is too much trouble. And you make a lot of friends.”

“What can I say that does justice to Joyce? We all love her,” said Ruth Hollander, adding: “If it hadn’t been for Joyce this club would not be the success it is today.”

There was also praise from centre manager Sandra Saintus and guests included Robin Jacobs, Jewish Care’s service manager for community centre services.

Talking about the club today, Mrs Saffron said the weekly format of tea and entertainment remained popular. The club also celebrated festivals, birthdays and anniversaries. She added: “They like dance music and occasionally we have more serious music – we’re very ‘with it.’ But one of the reasons that people like to come is that they can talk to me. They want someone to listen. So you see the Stepney Settlement is alive and well and still raring to go.”