| Description | Early meetings of the committee took place weekly and discussed the organisation of events including conversazione, dances, concerts and social evenings. Minutes also contain information about associated matters such as the pricing of tickets, the hire of rooms both on and off University premises, and the hire of equipment including pianos and orchestras for the years before 1914. In addition, there are details of the provisional programme of dances, and estimates for the University Dance 1910 with a summary of receipts and expenditure, and a balance sheet. The names of committee members are given.
There are no minutes for the period between 1922 and 1930. From 1930 onwards meetings were held on a monthly basis, with some more frequent meetings. Minutes contain information about the organisation of events to take place in the new Union building. Most discussion during the 1930s centres on the organisation of the annual Guild Ball and regular Union 'hops' and includes details about the booking of bands, catering, numbers attending and ticket sales. Annual Guild dances were still being held in the Great Hall in 1930 because the Guild had been granted the privilege of using this building, even though the new Union building was more suited to the event. There is also discussion of the hire of rooms and facilities by student societies, arrangements for degree day celebrations, gramophone recitals, snooker competitions, and events to mark the coronation of George VI in 1937 . The problem of gatecrashers and 'undesirable visitors' is a common theme for discussion. Social events seem to have continued more or less unchanged during the Second World War years. From 1943 the committee was given a grant to buy dance records to lend to student societies for functions. Staff-Student socials were held from 1944, with more occasional events including Freshers Socials, Christmas parties and an Easter dance. There is an increase in the number of events organised in during the 1950s, including New Years events, a Founders Dinner Dance, and Carnival Hop |
| Administrative History | The Entertainments sub-committee was in existence by the 1920s and was initially responsible for the organisation of Guild dances, Degree day activities, the Freshers' Social event and other social activities. It was also responsible for the entertainment of official delegates and foreign visitors travelling with National Union of Students officers. A Hospitality Secretary was appointed to deal with this section in addition to the Secretary for Entertainments, and by the 1938-1939 session there was also an Amusements Secretary in addition to Hospitality Secretary, dealing with the matters that the Amusements sub-committee previously controlled. By the 1954-1955 session the committee was dealing more exclusively with matters relating to outside bodies, principally the NUS. It was still functioning in 1968-69 |