House of Lords Yacht Club

The House of Lords Yacht Club is a yachting association for members of the House of Lords and some others connected with it, formed in 1949.

History

Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh
Lord Brabazon

The club was formed at a meeting at the House of Lords in 1949, when it was agreed that membership was open to peers, the eldest sons of peers, officers of the House of Lords, and the staff of the Lord Chancellor. John Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, was elected as the first commodore and Christopher Roper-Curzon, 19th Baron Teynham, as vice-commodore.[1]

In June 1949, the Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain wrote to the Admiralty on behalf of the club, asking the Lords of the Admiralty to agree to a Club flag based on the White Ensign, defaced with a portcullis, and a white burgee with a red Palace of Westminster portcullis and crown.[2] However, since 1842 the use of the White Ensign by a yacht club had only been permitted to the Royal Yacht Squadron,[3] and the Admiralty would not agree to it. An agreement was finally reached in June 1950 with the base for the club flag being the Blue Ensign, defaced with a plain gold vertical anchor surmounted by a gold royal coronet, and its burgee white with a red portcullis and coronet.[2]

In April 1950, the Secretary of the Club reported that it had 48 members, with 26 yachts.[2]

In 1952, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, received the title of "Admiral of the House of Lords Yacht Club" and was subsequently Commodore from 1961 to 1968.[4] In 2020, he continued to hold the title of Admiral of the club.[5]

Papers relating to the club's committee and annual meetings, its accounts, and its social events between 1951 and 1983 are held in the Parliamentary Archives.[6]

Notable members

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Shipbuilding and Shipping Record, vol. 73 (1949), p. 38
  2. ^ a b c David Prothero, Flag of House of Lords Yacht Club at fotw.info, accessed 8 April 2020; National Archives, file ref. ADM 1/21976
  3. ^ David Prothero,A History of Yacht Club White Ensigns (United Kingdom) at crwflags.com, dated 13 January 2008, accessed 10 April 2020
  4. ^ a b Charles Kidd, Christine Shaw, eds., Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage 2008 (London: Debrett's, 2008), p. 1,003
  5. ^ a b House of Lords Yacht Club at royal.uk/charities-and-patronages, accessed 8 April 2020
  6. ^ House of Lords Yacht Club: papers rel. to committee and AGM meetings; social events; accounts 1951-1983 at nationalarchives.gov.uk, accessed 8 April 2020
  7. ^ Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Issue 173 (Dod's Parliamentary Companion Limited, 1992), p. 258
  8. ^ Register of Lords' Interests: as on 16 July 2004 (Great Britain Parliament: House of Lords, 2004), p. 234
  9. ^ Draft Marine Bill: Report and formal minutes (Great Britain Parliament: House of Lords, 2008), p. 138
  10. ^ Dod's Parliamentary Companion 2007, p. 772
  11. ^ Kelly's Handbook 1973, 99th edition (London: Kelly’s Directories, 1973), p. 300
  12. ^ "MPs and Lords/Registered Interests". Retrieved 4 May 2023.