Royal Air Force Club

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Royal Air Force Club - Wikipedia

Coordinates: 51°30′15″N 0°08′55″W / 51.5041°N 0.1485°W

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Royal Air Force Club
118-128 Piccadilly
Formation	1918 (1918)
Headquarters	RAF Clubhouse
Location	128 Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom
Membership	Royal Air Force Officers
Website	www.rafclub.org.uk

The Royal Air Force Club, or RAF Club in short-form, is a club located at 128 Piccadilly, London.

Membership is open to those who hold, or have held, commissions in the RAF, PMRAFNS, Reserve Forces and Commonwealth and friendly foreign air forces. The Chair of the Board of Trustees is The Hon. Air Vice-Marshal David Murray.

History

The Royal Flying Corps Club, the forerunner of the Royal Air Force Club, opened at 13 Bruton Street in 1917.^[1] It became the Royal Air Force Club in 1918 shortly after the first Lord Cowdray donated funds to obtain a permanent building which would house the Club.^[1] The buildings, still in use today, were acquired by the middle of 1919 (the Piccadilly frontage was originally the Ladies Lyceum Club, while the rear half, facing Old Park Lane, was stables). Between 1919 and 1921 extensive reconstruction took place supervised by architect Maurice Webb and largely financed by Lord Cowdray. On 2 January 1922 the Club was fully opened to Members although it was not officially opened by the Duke of York until 24 February 1922. On 14 March 1922 the Club was visited by King George V and Queen Mary. This association with the Royal Family continues to this day, Queen Elizabeth II being the Club's Patron from 1952-2022.^[2]^[3]

As of 2017, a year's membership subscription costs half of one day's wages for serving (from £42.50), or former serving (retired) RAF officers (£155.00). For non-RAF personnel, affiliate membership starts at £170 plus joining fee. Non-RAF personnel who are eligible to apply for membership include those in the aerospace industry who are Fellows of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS).^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Doughan, David; Gordon, Peter (2006). "3. Forces' clubs". Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 36. ISBN 0-203-02901-1.
^ "The Queen celebrates the RAF Club's 100th Anniversary". Royal UK. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^ "The Royal Air Force Club History". Royal Patronage.
^ "Join The RAF Club". www.rafclub.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.

Bibliography

Henry Probert & Michael Gilbert, 128: The Story of the Royal Air Force Club, Royal Air Force Club, 2004. ISBN 0-9547849-0-1
Lee, Celia (2015). HRH The Duke of Kent: A Life of Service. London: Seymour Books. ISBN 978-1-84396-351-6.
Thévoz, Seth Alexander (2022). Behind Closed Doors: The Secret Life of London Private Members' Clubs. London: Robinson/Little, Brown. ISBN 978-1-47214-646-5.

External links

RAF Club website

Gentlemen's clubs in London, United Kingdom

Grouped by societal associations, ordered by seniority

Unionists,
Tories,
and/or
Conser-
vatives

Current

White's 1693–present (No longer politically aligned)
Boodle's 1762–present (No longer politically aligned)
Carlton Club 1832–present

Former

Cocoa-Tree Club 18th century – 1932
Conservative Club 1841–1950
Junior Carlton Club 1866–1977
City Carlton Club 1868 – Early 20th century
Beaconsfield Club 1880–1887
Palace Club 1882–1900s
Constitutional Club 1883–1979
Unionist Club 1886–1892
National Conservative Club 1886–1890s
Primrose Club 1886–1910s
Junior Constitutional Club 1887 – Early 20th century
National Union 1887–1890s
Junior Conservative Club 1889 – Early 20th century
Ladies' Carlton Club Late 19th/early 20th century
Ladies' Imperial Club Early 20th century
St Stephen's Club 1870–2013

Whigs and/
or Liberals

Current	Brooks's 1764–present (no longer politically aligned) Reform Club 1836–present (no longer politically aligned) National Liberal Club 1882–present
Former	Devonshire Club 1874–1976 (merged with the apolitical East India Club) City Liberal Club 1874–20th century Eighty Club 1880–1900s 1920 Club 1920–1923

British
Armed
Forces

Current

Honourable Artillery Company 1537–present
Cavalry and Guards Club 1810/1890/1976–present
Oriental Club 1824–present (no longer has any formal military connections)
Army and Navy Club 1838–present
East India Club 1849–present (no longer has any formal military connections)
Naval and Military Club 1862–present
Royal Air Force Club 1917–present
Special Forces Club 1946–present
Victory Services Club 1948–present (current form)

Former

Guards' Club 1810–1976 (now the Cavalry and Guards Club)
United Service Club 1815–1978
Junior Naval and Military Club 1870–1879
Cavalry Club 1890–1976 (now the Cavalry and Guards Club)
Naval Club 1919–2021
Imperial Services Club (late 19th century)
Junior Army and Navy Club (late 19th century)
Junior United Service Club (late 19th century)
Ladies' Army and Navy Club (late 19th century)

Educa-
tional
background

Current	Oxford and Cambridge Club 1830–present East India Club 1849–present (Incorporating the former Public Schools Club, which now makes up most of its membership) University Women's Club 1887–present
Former	United University Club 1821–1971 (Merged with the Oxford and Cambridge Club) New University Club 1864–1938 (Merged with the United University Club) Eton and Harrow Club 1873 – 20th century Junior Oxford and Cambridge Club Late 19th century New Oxford and Cambridge Club Late 19th century Public Schools Club 1920–1972 (Merged with the East India Club)

Arts and
sciences

Current	The Athenaeum (1824) Garrick Club (1831) Savage Club (1857) The Arts Club (1863) Savile Club (1868) Chelsea Arts Club (1891) London Sketch Club (1898)
Former	Hogarth Club (1858–1861) Junior Athenaeum (1864–1930s) Burlington Fine Arts Club (1866–1952) Green Room Club (1877–2000)

City of
London

Current	City of London Club (1832–) City University Club (1895–) City Livery Club (1914–)
Former	Gresham Club (1843–1991) New City Club (1862–1944) City Carlton Club (1868–1940) City Liberal Club (1874–1928)

National
connections

Current	Caledonian Club (1891–present) Canning Club (formerly the Argentine Club; 1910–present) Danish Club (1863–present) Den Norske Klub (1887–present) East India Club (1849–present) Oriental Club (1824–present) Polish Hearth Club (1939–present) Royal Over-Seas League (1910–present)
Former	American Club (1919–1970s) Anglo-Belgian Club (1942–2012) Irish Club (1950–2010) Scandinavian Club (late 19th century) Scottish Club (late 19th century)

51°30′15″N 0°08′55″W / 51.5041°N 0.1485°W / 51.5041; -0.1485

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