A film was made by the ICI Billingham Unit, you can view it in RealPlayer or Quicktime Format

After buying the Billingham site, in 1922 the Synthetic was quick to set up a social club for its employees- the Billingham (Synthonia) Recreation club (or ‘Ace of Clubs’ as it was sometimes known as!). It was intended as providing athletic and social recreation club for its members. The club issued its aims and rules for its members. The rules included that: ‘the council shall have power to expel a member for conduct which in the opinion of the council, is likely to bring the club into disrepute’! At first the club met in just a wooden hut, but in 1931 the company Chairman Lord Melchett opened the brick club building that stands today. It had various social rooms, bars and also a stage (although the stage area was wrecked by a bomb in 1942). The Synthonia provided a range of activities and was a focus for new families in Billingham. In the 1950’s, subscription to the club was only 2d a week for employees and 1d for junior members At this time there were 28 different sections, including pigeons, photography, canine, boxing, judo, entertainment, small-bore rifle… The clubs membership was by no means confined to employees of I.C.I. Ltd. Over 3000 of the 15,000 members were ‘associate’ or ‘honorary members’. These members elected from the local community were not employed directly by I.C.I. The ICI Sportsfield opening took place at 2.15 pm Saturday 6th September 1958 by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby, M.C. The games took off with the men’s 100 yards race and ended with Association Football Northern League Synthonia v Bishop Auckland. Betting of course was strictly prohibited! Sports day was always a big event. After buying the Billingham site, in 1922 the Synthetic was quick to set up a social club for its employees- the Billingham (Synthonia) Recreation club (or ‘Ace of Clubs’ as it was sometimes known as!). It was intended as providing athletic and social recreation club for its members. The club issued its aims and rules for its members. The rules included that: ‘the council shall have power to expel a member for conduct which in the opinion of the council, is likely to bring the club into disrepute’! At first the club met in just a wooden hut, but in 1931 the company Chairman Lord Melchett opened the brick club building that stands today. It had various social rooms, bars and also a stage (although the stage area was wrecked by a bomb in 1942). The Synthonia provided a range of activities and was a focus for new families in Billingham. In the 1950’s, subscription to the club was only 2d a week for employees and 1d for junior members At this time there were 28 different sections, including pigeons, photography, canine, boxing, judo, entertainment, small-bore rifle… The clubs membership was by no means confined to employees of I.C.I. Ltd. Over 3000 of the 15,000 members were ‘associate’ or ‘honorary members’. These members elected from the local community were not employed directly by I.C.I. The ICI Sportsfield opening took place at 2.15 pm Saturday 6th September 1958 by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby, M.C. The games took off with the men’s 100 yards race and ended with Association Football Northern League Synthonia v Bishop Auckland. Betting of course was strictly prohibited! Sports day was always a big event.