The Sons of Rest

The Sons of Rest is a social organisation that has provided leisure facilities for men of retirement age in and around Birmingham and the Black Country in the English West Midlands since 1927, and more recently for women.

The movement was established when a group of retired working men, veterans of World War I, met in Handsworth Park, Birmingham, in 1927. One of them, Lister Muff (1852 -1938 ) proposed that they form a club. The name was suggested by W. J Ostler recognising that they had been "sons of toil" during their working years.

They originally met in an old cab drivers' shelter in the park in summer and the park's bowling pavilion in winter, but appealed for funding for their own building, where they could meet and play games such as cards, draughts and dominoes. Their appeal succeeded, and the first building was opened in Handsworth Park in 1930.



The appeal was supported by the chairman of Birmingham Corporation Parks Committee, Councillor George F. McDonald, who became the first president of "The City of Birmingham Federation of The Sons of Rest", on its inauguration in August 1932. The organisation's anthem, Sons of Rest, was written by one of the early members, Charles Smith, who was aged 81, and blind:

"United in our Brotherhood, Our aim is for the best We've passed our many milestones long, Still happy Sons of Rest.

We sit and talk of days gone by, And how we stood the test, Of hopes deferred and joys fulfilled, The stalwart Sons of Rest.

Then let us all with one accord Proclaim "how we are blessed," And let contentment fill our minds, God bless the Sons of Rest."

At its peak, the organisation had 3,000 members and 29 buildings, located in parks. A number of the buildings survive and are still in use.



The Handsworth building was replaced in 1937. A public campaign prevented its demolition in the 1990s and it was subsequently refurbished. It is now managed by The Friends of Handsworth Park A 2018 mosaic mural by Claire Cotterill, on an external wall, commemorates the movement.

Some branches such as that at Darlaston, rebranded as Sons & Daughters of Rest, and admit women.

Buildings

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and others at:


 * Coleshill
 * Willenhall
 * Hill Top, West Bromwich.



In addition to the above, other branches meet (or met) in hired premises. These include:


 * Hamstead, Great Barr
 * Eli-Fletcher, Oak Road, West Bromwich
 * Lightwoods House, Smethwick