ORIGINS of the CLUB


The Rumford Club in 2017 is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its foundation in 1947.

The CIBSE Heritage Group considered this anniversary was an opportune time
to collect
together all the salient facts, photos and other memorabilia that had been produced since the
Club's inception in 1947. With the advent of the digital age and the Internet so much information
is now conveyed electronically, such that letters and photos have now become an old fashioned
means of storing past memories.




The Rumford Club has currently published five editions of its booklet, the latest being titled
The Story of the Rumford Club 1947 - 2012
that gives a detailed narrative of the club's history
outlining the members, dinners, guests, speakers and visits that have shaped the Club's 70
historic years.

The Heritage Group has therefore used the information given in these booklets together with an
invitation to Club Members to check their personal Club archives and contribute to this collage of the
Club's history.
The information collected, has selectively grouped together a pictorial presentation
of these historical facts and events 
into nine areas of interest, that forms the basis of the e-book.

The Heritage Group's website is a resource of historic engineering information of inherent heritage value
to the Built Environment and has been copied as such by the British Library for storage in its Digital archive.
The Rumford Club's history from its foundation in 1947 into the 21st century will now form part of this website.




Seventy years ago, a group of people in the air handling and related industries agreed to form a Dinner Discussion Club to provide opportunities to meet in an informal atmosphere for friendly interchange of views and experiences. This became The Rumford Club. The aims of successive Chairs have been to promote high good humour, insistence on tradition, a readiness to break new ground, a dedication to technical matters and a belief in the essentially social character of the Club.

The Rumford Club has been pleased to welcome many distinguished guests and speakers on a wide variety of topics over the years. Black Tie Dinners have been held at the Halls of many London Livery Companies and at buildings and locations of historical interest such The House of Commons and Tower Bridge. A notable addition to the Club activities was the introduction Ladies Evenings in 1971 and this has proved a great success.

We give a special thanks to Honorary Secretary David Wood and all Club members who have contributed information and illustrations. Without their participation this e-book would not have been possible.

 
Patrons



The Baroness Diane Maddock, formerly the Member of
Parliament for Christchurch was created a Life Peer in 1997. The Baroness was invited to become the
first Patron of The Rumford Club in 2005 which she accepted and served in that position until 2013.










Lord
Redesdale
became
patron in
2016




The luncheon given in Honour of Willis H Carrier June 1947
at the Hungaria Restaurant in Regent Street London












An early possibly 1940's period photo of a Rumford Club luncheon and meeting.
Where and when was it taken. Is it the inaugural meeting held at the Waldorf Hotel
on the 28th April 1947, when Bernard Oldham was elected first Chair.
Bernard Oldham is sat at the top table in centre position. But what are the
names of the other twenty two Members or guests.




September  2017