Special Forces Club
Encyclopedia
The Special Forces Club was founded by surviving members of the Special Operations Executive
(SOE), in 1946. "The Club", as it is simply known by its members, was established for all secret agents as a home in London.
The Special Forces Club was founded in 1945. It is located in Knightsbridge
, but there is no signage to show the club's name on the outside of the building. The Club’s motto is Spirit Of Resistance.
According to a club official, its rules state that anyone who has ″clandestine or covert roles both in and out of uniform″ may join. This is usually ageing secret agents, veterans of the SAS
, SBS
, other special forces, and MI5
, MI6 and CIA officers. However, as the police's anti-terrorism operations have expanded rapidly during the past few years, an increasing number of officers have become eligible for membership.
Unlike many other Service Clubs which are only open to officers, the Special Forces Club is open to all ranks, and civilians. The current annual subscription is £405.
A select number of journalists and authors have been admitted to membership in the past, including Rupert Allason
and Frederick Forsyth
. In 2007, the club was rocked by allegations of fraud and impropriety in the press and has subsequently struggled to offset a long term decline in its membership.The club is a very welcome place.
A website is in the process of construction and may be accessed at http://www.sfc.org. The current chairman is Adrian Stones who took over from DNV (Nigel) Churton MBE in April 2010.
The Club does have a royal connection; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was Patron until her death. This patronage has been taken over by her granddaughter, Anne, Princess Royal
. It is also rumoured that HRH The Duke of York and Prince Michael of Kent have been members in the past.
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE), in 1946. "The Club", as it is simply known by its members, was established for all secret agents as a home in London.
The Special Forces Club was founded in 1945. It is located in Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, but there is no signage to show the club's name on the outside of the building. The Club’s motto is Spirit Of Resistance.
According to a club official, its rules state that anyone who has ″clandestine or covert roles both in and out of uniform″ may join. This is usually ageing secret agents, veterans of the SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
, SBS
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
, other special forces, and MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
, MI6 and CIA officers. However, as the police's anti-terrorism operations have expanded rapidly during the past few years, an increasing number of officers have become eligible for membership.
Unlike many other Service Clubs which are only open to officers, the Special Forces Club is open to all ranks, and civilians. The current annual subscription is £405.
A select number of journalists and authors have been admitted to membership in the past, including Rupert Allason
Rupert Allason
Rupert William Simon Allason is a military historian and former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Torbay in Devon, from 1987 to 1997...
and Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
. In 2007, the club was rocked by allegations of fraud and impropriety in the press and has subsequently struggled to offset a long term decline in its membership.The club is a very welcome place.
A website is in the process of construction and may be accessed at http://www.sfc.org. The current chairman is Adrian Stones who took over from DNV (Nigel) Churton MBE in April 2010.
The Club does have a royal connection; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was Patron until her death. This patronage has been taken over by her granddaughter, Anne, Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. It is also rumoured that HRH The Duke of York and Prince Michael of Kent have been members in the past.