Latest News

29th July 2009

The Future of The Club

Following the EGM and a request for Club Members to pledge to support the Club financially, only 44 Pledge forms were received, which amounted in total to £8,100, which was well short of the required amount. As announced at the EGM failure to support Option 2 would mean default to Option 1.

At a Committee Meeting held on 27th July 2009, all committee members present voted unanimously in favour of the following proposal:

"The Committee has regretfully had to close the Club from 30th September 2009 and give the Club Steward formal notice.

Between now and 30th September the Committee will, however, examine an option of either selling the flat or the cottage and if that is possible would plan to keep the Club open after 30th September"

Bill Melhuish R.I.P.

Bill Melhuish passed away on Thursday 21st May at Addenbrooks Hospital after a short illness, age 94

The funeral will take place on Wednesday 3rd June - at 13.45 at St Marys Church, Saffron Walden and then on to his burial at Cheshunt Cemetery for 15.15

There will be a wake at the Conservative Club, Saffron Walden from 16.30 for all those who would like to come and have a drink and some food on Bill.

Peasgood & Son Saffron Walden are handling the funeral arrangements, and any flowers can be sent there.

Recently Deceased Members

Mona Rumsey

David Steel

William Taylor

George Benson

Stanley Butcher

Eric Swann

Denis Holman

Brian Blackwell

Bill Melhuish

It is with regret that I have to report that the members named above passed away recently. They will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with their families.

Wing Commander Mel Bennett DFC SNB
7 Jan 1926 -7 April 2008

The funeral of Mel Bennett took place on Friday 18 Apr 2008 at St Mary The Virgin Church, Saffron Walden. The coffin, covered by a Union Flag, was led into church by the Bomber Command Association Standard and the Royal British Legion (Saffron Walden Branch) Standard. Following the flag-draped coffin came Mel’s grandson, Timothy, carrying his medals on a cushion.

The service began with the RAF hymn and was followed with a poem “High Flight” which was read by John Guy of the Aircrew Association.

The first tribute was paid by Air Vice-Marshal H A Merriman, CB, CBE, AFC*, FRAeS, DL and he outlined Mel’s career and in particular how he was awarded two Queen’s Commendations for Valuable service in the Air in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was presented to him personally by Her Majesty The Queen.

The Air Vice-Marshal also went on to describe how on 8th December 1962 the Air Officer Commanding Far East told Mel to prepare his Squadron to move to Borneo for a special mission. Mel took off in the late afternoon with 100 Gurkhas and had to land in the dark at an airfield that had been taken over by rebel insurgents from Indonesia. The Gurkhas recaptured the airfield and remained there for the rest of the Emergency. The Sultan of Brunei presented Mel the Star Negara Brunei (SNB) (equivalent to a knighthood in UK), which means if he ever visited that country in an official capacity he would have been entitled to an escort of four Pikemen and four Swordsmen. He was also awarded his second Queen’s Commendation for Valuable service in the Air.

The second moving tribute came from Andrew Bennett, one of Mel’s three grandchildren, who described his memories of holidays with his parents (Nick and Sally) and grandparents (Mel and June).

The service concluded with the RAF March and a flypast by a Royal Air Force Hawk jet flying in low from the west.

Amongst the packed church were many of Mel’s friends from the Aircrew Association, RAF Association, Royal British Legion, Conservative Club and 1824 Squadron ATC. Mel would have been particularly proud to see many of his former ATC cadets at the service including Flt Lt Guy Harvey, now a pilot with 8 Squadron at RAF Waddington, Sgt James Eaton now based at Northwood, Cpl James Howell now working with the US Air Force near Nevada, Graham Burling now an engineer with BA at Heathrow and his wife, Marie, another former cadet. Henry Luck was given leave from the army to attend but he is hoping to follow in Mel’s footsteps as a pilot in the RAF. Captain Richard Webb, now an Apache pilot with the Army Air Corps, sent his apologies, as he is about to leave for his third tour in Afghanistan. Squadron Leaders Ian Poole and Jeff Carpenter represented East Essex Wing ATC.

Afterwards at the Conservative Club, Mel’s son, Nick, also an airline captain, personally met and thanked everyone who had attended the service.

17th December 2007

Following consultation with UDC, it has been decided to ask members to use the following taxi firms when being picked up from the Club. Both companies have agreed to abide by the conditions of our Club Premises Certificate. The following notice is now displayed at the Club. Please be considerate in order to prevent fiurther complaints against the Club as a result of taxis running their engines and even using their horns.

IF YOU BOOK A TAXI PLEASE BE READY TO LEAVE WHEN THE TAXI ARRIVES, DRIVERS WILL NO LONGER WAIT WHILE YOU FINISH YOUR DRINKS.

THE CLUB CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE COMPLAINTS OR HEARINGS. LEGAL COSTS. THE LAST APPEAL HEARING COSTS CAME TO £1800 TO UDC PLUS £700 TO OUR SOLICITOR.

NOISE

Members are respectfully requested to show concern
for our neighbours when leaving the Club by avoiding
all unnecessary noise e.g. slamming car doors etc

TAXIS

Members who book taxis should request the driver not to leave the engine running while waiting for passengers to leave the Club

The Club has been instructed by UDC to name TWO taxi companies to serve our members and drivers from the following firms have been asked to behave considerately and not to sound horns on arrival.

Abel Cars 513313
Select Cars 525500

UDC, as part of our Club Premises Licence, has imposed the above conditions on the Club. Failure to comply with these conditions could affect our licence.

Another condition of our Certificate is that the double doors between the bar and Function Room MUST BE KEPT CLOSED when music is being played. Many members are ignoring this condition and consequently putting our Certificate at Risk.