The Royal Air Force Club proudly celebrated its official centenary on 30th October 2018 and to help mark the occasion, two Royal Receptions were held at the prestigious and historic St James’s Palace.

On the 28th November 2018, the final celebration in the centenary calendar took place, with over three hundred Royal Air Force Club members toasting the founding of the Club with fellow guests, Trustees and staff in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York. 

Following introductions by Club President, Air Marshal Sir David Walker KCVO OBE DL, Club CEO Miles Pooley FIH MI, Club Manager Kathryn Cooper and Trustees were presented to Princess Eugenie in the Palace’s elegant Council Chamber (pictured), before meeting members and guests and learning more about the Club in this very special year.

This dazzling evening event included a speech and vote of thanks by the Chairman of the Club’s Centenary Committee, Group Captain Mark Heffron and took place in the Palace’s magnificent Throne, Entrée and Queen Anne Rooms, with guests able to admire the artwork, artefacts and décor in one of the oldest and most significant of Royal Residences, which has housed an incredible seventeen generations of the Royal Family.

The Princess spent over an hour meeting assembled members, including Honorary Life Member 95-year old Air Commodore Charles Clarke (pictured). Charles has been a member of the Club since 1952 and was a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III – the camp best known for the daring bid by Allied POWs which came to be referred to as the ‘Great Escape’.

The reception marked the official end of the Club’s Centenary Celebrations, a year in which RAF100 took place and the Club was also privileged to welcome our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen to the Club in October.

With special thanks to our Royal guest of honour, Princess Eugenie for helping make this final Club event such a success, a truly fitting occasion in this exceptional 100th year.

To view or purchase official images from the day, please visit https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/theodorewoodphotography/albums/events/696674