Mysterious steel-encased book discovered in Sheffield's Crookes Social Club

Maurice Champeau, 53 year-old secretary and general manager of Crookes Social Club, found the visually striking book during last summer’s Covid-19 lockdown, when the club was forced to close.

“We took the time to go through our old cupboards, cabinets, and things like that. We have no idea how long it was there, because it was buried under accounts dating back to the 1950s – it’s probably been there since the mid-50s,” he said.

“I have no real concept of how the hell it ended up here.”

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The book appears to be some kind of ledger, presented on July 1, 1947 by a ‘Sir Thomas Oxley Esq of Dore’ to the Sheffield Joint Council of Ex Services Associations, in appreciation of Sheffield men and women who served during the Second World War.

The artefact kept track of donations of at least five shillings towards a war recovery effort, travelling to various social clubs and venues during the time it was used.

Countless donations are logged inside the book, but it’s difficult to determine who made them, as the book includes many signatures, yet no printed names.

Maurice decided to try to investigate the artefact, dusting off the book and searching through its pages for clues as to how it could have ended up in his filing cabinet. He found that donations had indeed been collected at Crookes Social Club, but it was far from the last entry in the ledger, which was used extensively in the 1950s.

Eager to find answers, Maurice spoke to the president of the social club, who has been in his position for at least 35 years. However, he had no idea the book existed either.

The tome was collected last Friday, March 4, by an archivist from Sheffield City Archives.

Maurice said: “It seemed too valuable an asset to have lying around in a cupboard or on display here, I automatically thought of the archives because I thought it was something that would go well with them.”

Research is now underway to try and answer some burning questions about the artefact.