Percy Alfred William (1910- ), Stanley Bertram (1912-1996) and Jessie Eleanor (1915-2008) were the children of Percy Henry (Harry) Pledger (1884-1954) and Eleanor Elizabeth George (1888-1963). Percy was a tailor in Barnet, Middlesex and the family migrated to Australia in 1923, arriving in Brisbane on 11 December 1923. They settled in Surrey Hills. Percy had a tailoring and later knitwear business at 418 Canterbury Road, almost opposite Alexandra Avenue (? also at another time in Hansen's Terrace in Canterbury Road). The family was musical. After leaving school son Percy joined the staff at Allan’s Music House and rose to become their chief accountant. He also taught and played the violin in a number of orchestras. (See individual entry for him - SH1207) Jessie married Arthur John Marston Bate (1906-1994) in 1941; he was born in Birmingham and his father was also a tailor. Arthur gained BA and MA from the University of New Zealand. He was also primarily a musician, but worked in theatre, broadcasting and teaching in New Zealand and at the State Theatre in Melbourne and the ABC. He was a pilot during WW2 (SERN 255363), rising to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and also a RAAF Chaplain. Jessie and Arthur lived in Hawthorn, Ashwood and Mount Waverley. They are buried in Box Hill Cemetery (CE-213-0029) along with daughter Christine Elizabeth. In the 1920s Stanley Bertram Pledger, along with Harold Sydserf, assisted Stan's brother Percy to establish the Surrey Hills Musical Club. It soon increased to 12 or 15 members, giving 4 concerts a year. They combined with the Surrey Hills Dramatic Society to produce operettas. In time the group expanded to a total of 30 players and became the Camberwell Symphony Orchestra. Stanley Bertram Pledger (1912-1996) is listed in electoral rolls at a number of addresses around Surrey Hills: 1927 - 36 Suffolk Road; 1940s - Essex Road; 1977 - Burwood. All entries consistently give his occupation as manufacturer and it is assumed that this was with the family business. He retired to Kiama, NSW.A black and white photograph of two young men and a young lady standing in a garden setting. The men are dressed in suits whilst the lady is dressed in a short sleeved, knee length summer dress.canterbury road, surrey hills, pledger's knitwear, alexandra avenue, canterbury, victorian symphony orchestra, violinist, clothing and dress, mr percy alfred william pledger, mr stanley bertram pledger, miss jessie eleanor pledger, mrs jessie eleanor bate, mr arthur john marston bate, surrey hills music club

The urban development of Surrey Hills occurred largely followed the extension of the railway to Lilydale from 1882 and by the late 1880s a variety of sporting and other cultural clubs and societies had been established, many being associated with the local churches. Ken James researched this book for the Surrey Hills Historical Society, of which he is a member, using material and photos from the Surrey Hills Historical Society collection, material from TROVE and other sources. There is a history of 82 groups and where possible dates of operation are included.music, basketball, bowls, cricket, cycling, football, golf, gymnastics, hurling, netball, rifle shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, squash, walking, brass bands, choral groups, debating, dramatic clubs, musical club, operatic society, surrey hills orchestra, quadrille, rose club, our holy redeemer church, surrey hills church of christ, surrey hills methodist church, st stephens presbyterian church, australian natives association, balwyn combined, catholic young men's society, surrey hills baptist church, surrey hills independent order of rechabites, wyclif congregational church, surrey hills college, hockey, chatham netball club, blue bell tennis club, benson street methodist church, our ladies wattle park, surrey hills state school old scholars tennis club, surrey squash centre, surrey hills neighbourhood centre, cantrices ladies choir, surrey hills choristers, surrey hills everleigh private amateur dramatic club, field naturalists, holy redeemer basketball, holy trinity basketball, surrey hills church of christ basketball, holy trinity church of england, surrey hills methodist basketball, surrey hills presbyterian basketball, surrey hills bowls club, surrey hills ladies bowls club, surrey hills ana bowls club, surrey hills ior bowls club, balwyn combined cricket club, holy redeemer young men's society cricket club, holy trinity cricket club, surrey hills ana cricket club, surrey hills baptist cricket club, surrey hills church of christ cricket club, surrey hills cricket club, surrey hills ior cricket club, surrey hills junior cricket club, surrey hills methodist cricket club, surrey park combine cricket club, wyclif congregational cricket club, wyclif uniting cricket club, wyclif cricket club, surrey hills cycling club, venture cycle, venture cycling club, surrey hills neighbourhood centre cycling group, balwyn combined football club, surrey college football club, surrey hills combined football club, holy redeemer young men's society football club