City of Westminster Branch

History

The City of Westminster Branch of The Royal Society of St. George was formed in 1988, by past Chairman, Robert Sewell and another nine people. The first President to be elected was Vice Admiral Sir James Weatherall KCVO, KBE. Sir James was the Queen’s Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps. The Immediate Past President is Vice Admiral Sir Neville Purvis KCB, who served in the submarine service and was Fourth Sea Lord. The current President is Councillor Ian Adams, a former Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster.

Bob died in office in June 2014 having developed the branch to nearly 300 members. He had a gift for negotiating favourable terms for the many functions he arranged. He was succeeded by Stan Sadler, who had been the stalwart Secretary for many years. Stan died in March 2018 having stood down as chairman in November 2016 in favour of Alan Broomhead, who was Vice Chairman. Stan had acted as both chairman and secretary and handed over the latter role to Annabelle Emney.

During the past 32 Years the growth of the Branch has progressed steadily until today the membership stands at just below 200, resulting in good turnouts for its events.

A distinctive feature of the Branch has been its regular contributions to charities having given away thousands of pounds to a variety of organisations. In recent years beneficiaries have included St Andrews Club in Westminster, the oldest youth club in Britain, the Orpheus Trust, and Dame Vera Lynn’s Children’s Charity. The branch makes annual donations to its related organisations as shown below.

Related Organisations

Sea Cadets

The Branch has a long association with the Sea Cadets with units providing carpet guards at our dinners, particularly on Trafalgar Day. More recently the Branch has formally affiliated with the Western District of the London Area Sea Cadets. Western District comprises 12 units with 707 personnel and has agreed to support the Branch with a standard bearer to carry the branch standard at the Cenotaph and National Standards services and provide a carpet guard at the Trafalgar Day Dinner. The standard bearer will be selected annually at the London Area Drill Competition by including a new category of Solo Standard Bearer. As Bob Sewell was a Sea Cadet, the Branch has made an annual donation, in his memory, to provide bursaries for Sea Cadets to sail on TS ROYALIST, the Sea Cadet flagship.

Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Branch has been associated with the Royal Hospital since its earliest days. As a consequence, members have been privileged to attend the Governor’s Review Parade in June. The Branch makes an annual donation to the Hospital thus making it a corporate sponsor entitling members to attend Friends lectures and events.

City of Westminster

The Branch maintains its links to the Mayoralty and makes an annual donation to the Lord Mayor’s chosen charitable fund. Whenever possible the Branch holds its AGM in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour and the Lord Mayor is the principal guest at

Events

Westminster Branch tries to run an event most months of the year and produces an annual calendar the preceding December so members can add them to their diaries well in advance. The current calendar shows how we try to combine regular events at desirable locations with other events to provide a mix of favourites and diversity.

The Branch regularly holds functions at various prestigious venues throughout London such as The Royal Hospital Chelsea, The R.A.F. Club, The Union Jack Club, The Victory Services Club, The Wax Chandlers Livery Hall, The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, and The Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Parlour.

Westminster Branch Calendar 2023

HOW TO CONTACT US

Branch Officers

President Hon. Treasurer
Cllr. Ian Adams Adam Armsby
Chairman Minutes Secretary
Alan Broomhead
alansco@btinternet.com
Tel 020 8670 1488

Denice Fennell Pond

 

Vice Chairman Charity Fund Coordinator
Marilyn Russel
Judy Tayler-Smith
Secretary
Council Members
Annabelle Emney
Tel: 07828 013795
Louise Fairweather
Joanna Cadman

Gallery

Westminster Branch - Waterloo Event, The Union Jack Club – Talk given by Bill Sheldon – 12th July 2022

Westminster Branch - £1000 donation presentation to the Orpheus Centre, Wednesday, 4th December 2019

Westminster Branch - Trafalgar Day Dinner, The Naval Club, Thursday, 24th October 2019

Westminster Branch - Garden party at Nomura on Tuesday 13th August, where we presented a cheque for a £1000 to the St Andrews Youth Club (the oldest in Britain)

Westminster Branch - St George’s Day Dinner at Wax Chandlers Hall on 25th April

Westminster Branch - Trafalgar Dinner – 25th October 2018 – Oxford & Cambridge Club