The first committee comprised:-

Grp. Capt. R Foley (President) 

Sqn. Ldr. P Banahan (Treasurer) 

Flt. Lt. W Sabido (Secretary) 

Sqn. Ldr. A W Bennell 

Flt. Lt. F Duro 

Sqn. Ldr. J V Males 

Wg. Cdr. H.A.O. Wootton 

 

Of these founder members, Peter Banahan survived until April 2004, over 40 years after the Club was established.

 

Regular lunches were held at the Aero Club in those early years when about thirty members and their guests attended. The annual dinners were held at the Rand Club, the first being on 14 November 1963. It was a black-tie affair and the cost was R6 a head, including all drinks! The meetings moved to the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park until 1974 when the Club moved to the Inanda Club. It remained there until 2007 when, because of circumstances beyond its control, it moved to the Wanderers.

 

A report of the Club's first balance sheet dated 31 August 1964 showed that the total assets amounted to R456.58, and the net surplus after its first year of operation was R232.83. Membership grew steadily and by 1975 there were 150 members. By 1985 this increased to 210. It comprised former officers of the RAF and the SAAF and attachés from the various embassies, etc. This list included 21 members of the rank of Group Captain, or equivalent. There was an Air Marshal, one Air Vice-Marshal and a Major General.

 

Over the past 22 years, natural attrition and relocations have reduced our numbers to 122. Inevitably, we have lost almost all those members who were senior officers or officers of air force rank at that time. On the other hand, since 1997, we have recruited a number of affiliate members who have not served either in the RAF or the SAAF but who make an important contribution to the Club by reason of their background or by prominent service in related spheres. Four of our present committee are affiliate members.  

 

Whilst we do not have as many members as we had in the 1970’s, thirty years on, we are a thriving, healthy body. A numerical table of our membership is contained in the NEWS section under the Chairmans report. 

 

Our members are the lifeblood of the Royal Air Force Officers' Club and we welcome new members to share the re-created atmosphere of an Officers' Mess and the camaraderie of our regular lunch functions. Usually our lunches are held on the first Friday of each month, so please refer to our Calendar of Events page for details.

 

We also publish a monthly Newsletter which is also available on this web site and post the Newsletter to those members who do not have Internet access.  

 

Records prior to 1974 are unavailable

 

Year	President	Chairman
1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 to Date....	Post non-existent Post non-existent Post non-existent Post non-existent Frank Hall Frank Hall Frank Hall Frank Hall Frank Hall Frank Hall Stanley Walters Stanley Walters Stanley Walters Stanley Walters Stanley Walters Stanley Walters Bill Bennell Bill Bennell Bill Bennell Post vacant Ian Haggie Ian Haggie Ian Haggie Ian Haggie Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting Spencer Whiting David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little	Hugh Wootton Hugh Wootton Hugh Wootton Ron Nightingale Ron Nightingale Ron Nightingale Richard Havard Richard Havard Richard Havard Richard Havard Richard Havard Richard Havard Harold Hawkins Harold Hawkins Stan Tarlton Stan Tarlton Stan Tarlton David Lake David Lake David Lake Ivan Spring Ivan Spring David Lake David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little David Mackinnon-Little Geoff Quick Geoff Quick Stan Smith Bruce Harrison

They shall not grow old,as we that are left grow old, 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, 

At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, 

We will remember them.