A blue plaque dedicated to the rector who provided money to construct The Loughton Club nearly 120 years ago has been unveiled.

The Reverend William Dawson, arranged for the present clubhouse on Station Road to be built in 1901 and supported it for the rest of his life.

Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Tessa Cochrane hosted the dedication ceremony of the 43rd blue plaque in Loughton on Tuesday, January 21.

Councillor Chris Pond, Chairman of the Environment and Heritage Committee, then gave a talk on Reverend Dawson’s life and ‘Old Loughton’ to the New Vistas Group which regularly meet at the venue.

Arriving in Loughton in about 1892, Reverend Newman built a house for himself, Susancroft, in Upper Park, on what had once been the yard of the Crown Inn, before it moved.

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The Reverend William Dawson funded The Loughton Club until his death in 1927

An anti-drink campaigner, Reverend Newman said that the men and youths of Loughton in their time had nothing to do but go to the pub.

So he gave to Loughton a building where people could gather, for games leisure and recreation, which he supported for the rest of his life.

He died at Susancroft on November 1, 1927.

Speaking about the latest blue plaque addition, Loughton Town Council said: “He is one of Loughton’s great benefactors and it’s entirely appropriate that this plaque to his memory has been provided by Loughton Town Council, to remind passers-by of this man and his gifts.”

For more details of the blue plaques in Loughton, visit: http://www.loughton-tc.gov.uk/2bhpl.htm