The Royal Naval
Engineroom Association
(The Sweatrag Club)

The association was founded by a small group of ex-Engineroom ratings of the Royal Navy in Dean St. the market area of Birmingham, where the Nautical Club started.
This private naval club has had its own premises in Bishopsgate St. B15 1ET. Since the early seventies. Many other branches of the RN are affiliated to this club; including the Submariners; Fleet Air Arm; Royal Marines. Royal Naval Commandoes; Wrens and Royal Naval Associations hold their meetings there: so it was natural that the Engineroom didn't want to be left out.

Any Engineroom rating; or Officer; past present is eligible to join.

A committee was formed of a chairman and vice chairman: Treasurer; Secretary: Social Secretary: Welfare Officer and Standard Bearer. A set of rules was drawn up.

The President was always the incumbent Senior Marine Engineer Officer of HMS 'Birmingham' until the ship de-commissioned a few years ago: since when a previous incumbent who is now retired was persueded to take on a permanent position. As an ex junior rating; having risen through the ranks to Lt/Cmdr. he knows what we are all about. In the early days some of the crew used to come to the club and have "up homers" and we used to visit the ship when it was available.

A formal dinner has always been held in the March of each year.

In the early nineties the association branched out from the Midland area and went to National and International membership; with a monthly newsletter to keep the 'out of town members' in touch and interested. We also welcomed the Electrical Branch into membership, with the understanding that they also worked in machinery spaces.

The first reunion weekend in May 1993 was a huge success and has since been an annual event; with a get together on the Friday evening: it now incorporates the AGM on the Saturday forenoon, with a social/dance and 'buffet' on the evening.

Our old National Standard is laid up at St. Anne's Church, Moseley Birmingham, and we join the service there every Remembrance Sunday. The new standard was purchased to commemorate the Millenium.

The year 2002 saw the association plant it's own tree in memory of those Engineroom personnel that have "crossed the bar" in the service of their
country; at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alwrewas, Staffs.

This branch of the Royal Navy, as others, changed over the years, once Stokers; then Mechanics, and now Operators, has a lot to be proud of; and knows it can join its fellow branches of the service in comradeship.

Joining
The Royal Naval
Engineroom Association.
(The Sweatrag Club)

Formed for the Fellowship and Benefit of all former and serving members of the Mechanical &
Electrical Divisions of the Royal Navy plus those Charities it shall be deemed worthy to support.
Revision of Rules as proposed at AGM May 22nd 2004

(1) Membership shall be open to all persons who have satisfactorily served in aforementioned branches.
(la) All members other than "Country Members" shall be fully paid-up members of The Nautical Club Birmingham.
(Ib) A member shall be deemed a "Country Member" who by virtue of distance or infirmity cannot attend the monthly meeting held at the Nautical Club, Birmingham. @ 2000 the third Wednesday of each month. "Country Members" shall be made aware at the time of their joining the RNERA of the membership requirements of the Nautical Club, Birmingham.
(Ic) All ladies, be they wife or partner shall deemed to be a "Honorary Member". In the event of a member crossing the bar, his lady, can continue as "Hon' Member" on said members number and continue to receive the Newsletter if she should so wish.
(Id) "Associate Membership" shall be allowed subject to vote of approval by members present at time of submittal. Honorary and Associate Members shall have no voting rights.
(2) Membership fees shall be paid annually; such fees will be determined by vote of members present at the AGM. Subs will be accepted from the 1st January onwards.
(2a) Members that have not paid their dues by the 1st May will be notified with the Newsletter, if subs are not received by close of AGM in MAY member will be deemed to be lapsed and will not receive further Newsletters.
(2b) The annual fee at present is £5-00, A further £3-00 for "Country Members" requiring a Newsletter A £3-00 joining fee will be paid by new members in addition to the yearly subscription previously described.
(3) Members are expected to conduct themselves in a civilized manner on all occasions so as not to discredit the Association.
(4) A committee shall be formed to serve the best interests of the Association and its members.
Committee officers will each receive an honorarium of £10-00 per annum
(a) Chairman: - to chair meetings and generally oversee matters of the committee.
(b) Vice Chairman: - to act as Membership Secretary and Slops Store man.
(c) Hon' Secretary: - to take an accurate account of the minutes at all meetings and to deal with all
correspondence appertaining to the Association. The minutes of the previous monthly meeting to be read out at the subsequent meeting, amended if necessary, pronounced a true record and proposed and seconded by two Association members who where present at the meeting appertaining to the minutes.
(d) Treasurer: - responsible for Banking, collecting bona fide invoices and receipts, recording accurately all monies paid into or out of Association funds. Ail cheques paid out are to be signed by two members of the Association.
(e) Social Secretary: - to organize and oversee all aspects of social events, with any assistance required from other members
(d) Welfare Officer: - to keep in touch with members who are ill, to write letters of condolence, to forward gratuity (where applicable *) currently £25-00 to next of kin. (* Gratuity applicable in 5th year of membership).
(e) Standard Bearer: - to parade Standard at local and national events, circumstances permitting.
(5) The Annual General Meeting will held in the Mountbatten Room at the Nautical Club Birmingham on Saturday forenoon at 1100, the week end of the Annual Reunion in May. Nominations for the above offices will be promulgated on the Association Notice Board a minimum of 28 days prior to the AGM. All nominees are required to be proposed and seconded.
(6) The offices of Chairman & V/Chairman shall be available, subject to re election, for a consecutive period of three years. Upon completion of three consecutive years the holders shall stand down and not be available for
re election for a period of one calendar year.
(6a) If, however, there are no further nominations for the above offices, the incumbents, if willing, shall continue in office under the terms set out in rule (6).
(7) All other offices as itemized in rule (4) shall be elected annually, should there be no further nominations for the offices, the present holders, if willing, be returned unopposed.
(7a) Owing to the lack of response from members to serve as committee officers, it is proposed that in the present climate, any committee member may hold more than one office providing in doing so it is not detrimental to the well being of the Association.

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The Membership & Slops Officer is Gerald Sedgley
'e'mail:- gerald.sedgeley@blueyonder.co.uk
tel:- 0121-689-3886.
or care of The Nautical Club

An Annual Dinner/Dance is held each March.
The Annual Reunion and AGM is each May.

Various visits and events take place throughout the year. The Social Secretary is Bob Styants
'e'mail:- bobstyants@btinternet.com
tel:- 0121-422-4112.
or care of The Nautical Club