Welcome to the 316 Club. Here for your interest are a few words on the history and aims of the club.
Most staff at MBDA UK (previously British Aerospace) at Stevenage enjoyed an interesting and demanding career with extremely competent colleagues. When they retired, many of them felt a sense of loss of friendships and a strong desire to continue to use their quite considerable abilities in some way.
Sensing this feeling, a small group of retired Senior Staff met together in the autumn of 1990 to plan the formation of a club, which became known as the 316 Club; the name 316 coming from the original code name for Rapier which was ET316.
The main objectives of the club were:-
- To continue the friendships formed at Stevenage during the previous years by meeting regularly for Lunches, Dinners, and other social occasions.
- To provide a forum for mutual self help with problems or projects.
- To use the knowledge and experience of the members to help where possible in the community.
- To maintain contact with distant and especially overseas members.
Ideas were crystallised, a constitution prepared and on 27 November 1990, an invited audience consisting of a cross-section of ex Senior Staff employees, the 316 Club was proposed. There was an immediate response. Officers were elected, a committee formed, members enrolled and the Club was a reality.
Membership is open to anyone who was employed at MBDA UK (or its predecessors) for 10 years. The partners of deceased members may apply to the Committee to be admitted as members.
The get together over a pub type lunch proved very popular and soon became the accepted norm for regular meetings that now take place on the First Thursday of the even Month of the Year (February, April etc). Apart from purely social chatting at these meetings, there is a slightly more formal session starting at around 13.00 hours, when reports are given, forthcoming events are proposed or promulgated and occasionally a short talk is given. A bi-monthly Newsletter is circulated to every member after each meeting, carrying news and information about the Club and its members. Many distant members regard the Newsletter as their vital link with their old friends.
The Committee recognised that it would have to develop some leisure activities to bring members together more often and in September 1991 the first series of country walks took place. It was a success and walks regularly take place on the third Thursday of every Month and members are encouraged to bring their partners along with them. Each walk starts at 10.00 hours usually beginning and ending at a suitable hostelry where the walkers enjoy a good lunch and chat, turning each walk into a pleasant social occasion. An on-going programme of walks is listed in the Newsletter.
The committee has been able to arrange for information to be made available on a wide range of subjects including DWP rights, pensions and investments, whilst at the same time giving every encouragement to members to pass on information they possess for the benefit of others.
Having now been in existence since 1990, financially viable and with a stable membership, the Club can claim to be a success. Fresh ideas however are being continuously examined to find new activities that will appeal to members attract new members and make the Club even more successful.
If you enjoyed your time with MBDA UK / British Aerospace, you’ll probably enjoy the 316 Club.