Lily Montagu (1873-1963), with Maud Stanley, is one of the key figures in the development of girls clubs and work with young women. Her contribution was fourfold. First, she was committed worker with young people. As a young woman (19) in 1893 she set up the club with her cousin in two rooms at 71 Dean Street W1 (the club was later to move to 8 Frith Street, then 8 Dean Street). The character of her work can be gauged from her own comments: ‘A club worker must enter on her career in the learning spirit. She must not attempt to foist her standards on the girls among whom she intends to work. She must study their standards, and exchange her point of view with theirs’ (Montagu 1954: 24). She placed an emphasis on sharing the government of the club with members; and on educational endeavours. The later included discussions around various moral questions, citizenship, and citizenship. There was also a flourishing drama group. Second, Montagu placed a particular emphasis on campaigning and working for the improvement of young women’s working conditions - and this she carried into the political arena via organisations such as the Women’s Industrial Council. Third, she was central to the formation and development of the National Organization of Girls Club (later to become Youth Clubs UK). Last, she has left several important additions to the literature of youth work - including the account of her work at West Central (Montagu 1904; 1954).
In 1919 Lily Montagu and her sister set up the West Central Club and Settlement in Alfred Place (the site is now occupied by a rather undistinguished office building - Remax House used by University College Department of Economics). Tragically, on the night of April 16, 1941 the building was hit in an air raid and completely demolished. 27 lives were claimed. The club then occupied 5 different premises in ten years before moving into premises in Hand Court, Holborn WC1.
For a full biography see Lily Montagu by Jean Spence.
Montagu, L. (1904) 'The Girl in the Background' in E. J. Urwick (ed.) Studies in Boy Life in our Cities, London: Dent.
Montagu, L. (1954) My Club and I, London: Neville Spearman and Herbert Joseph.
© Mark K. Smith 1997.
