PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE OUR HERITAGE

Welcome to the GoFundMe page for the Naval & Military Club (Southend) Limited.

The idea for this club was formed in 1918, in the aftermath of the First World War. A group of local veterans had been looking for a way to preserve the close camaraderie of combat – but over a bar rather than in a trench.

Just at the time that these veterans decided to form a club, number 20 Royal Terrace came on the market. If ever a house was born to be a clubhouse, this was it.

The club was formally opened on Wednesday, 14th July 1920. It began life with royal connections:

The members’ signature book preserved at the club begins with just a single first name and brief postal address:

Albert - Buckingham Palace

Although he didn’t know it at the time, Albert’s signature was the autograph of a monarch to be. The Albert in question was His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Duke of York but he came to be known to history under a different name –

King George VI

Within his opening speech, His Royal Highness said: -

“Let us forget the war if we can, but let us preserve for all time a spirit of comradeship. A club such as you have here can do more than anything to foster this spirit. Men of all classes and of all creeds will meet together and be bound by the mutual memory of sacrifice and hardship endured together. Your club is typical of this spirit, and it can be and will be an example to us all.”

As the years have passed, the values of mutual support in a friendly atmosphere still form one of the principles that underline the running of this club.

Nowadays, we are one of Southend’s oldest social clubs and welcome not just serving and ex-service personnel, but everyone of the community to join us and to enjoy the friendly, fun and authentic atmosphere,

We are striving to keep this wonderful club running, but like anything that is over 100 years old, parts are being worn away by age.

Southend on Sea has a wide range of historic buildings and structures. Those that are nationally important are included in the Government’s Statutory Listed Buildings, and are given legal protection.

Historic buildings which are locally important are registered on the Non-Statutory Local List. The purpose of the local list is to identify buildings of local historic importance and to take action, as far as possible, to preserve them.

Whilst locally listed buildings do not have the statutory protection afforded to listed buildings, they nonetheless make an important contribution to the City’s historic character and consequently need to be conserved.

As a Regency building dating back to the 1790’s the Naval & Military Club is a locally listed building, situated within a conservation area alongside statutory listed buildings as well as other locally listed buildings. As such, we are required to preserve as much authenticity to the building as possible.

We now urgently need to replace sections of the roof where it leaks, as well as some of the authentic windows. With the need to preserve as much authenticity as possible, repairs are going to be much more expensive. We are therefore seeking support from anyone who is able to help us.

We appreciate that these are difficult times, but all donations, large or small will be gratefully received.

Thank you in anticipation.