The Goldfish Club: The exclusive military society that you cannot buy your way into
A military society of air-sea crash survivors is said to be one of the most exclusive clubs in the world due to its strict entry requirements – and not one that anyone is likely to want to join willingly.
Unlike some other 'exclusive' clubs where wealth is your ticket in, The Goldfish Club is not on that list and no amount of money can buy anyone access.
The only way to become a member is to have been involved in 'ditching' your aircraft over and into the 'drink' – more commonly known as the sea or open water.
The origin of The Goldfish Club dates to 1942 and was formed by Mr C. A. Robertson aka 'Robbie', the chief draughtsman at PB Cow & Co, wartime manufacturers of sea rescue equipment, including rubber dinghies, which were carried inside aircraft and deployed to keep pilots and aircrew afloat until rescued.
Many of the pilots and crew who were unfortunate enough to have to deploy their emergency 'ditching' kit are said to have visited Robbie, to talk about their real-life experience of using the safety equipment and to thank the manufacturers personally.
Originally restricted to members of the military, the club had more than 10,000 members by the end of the Second World War.
The club is now open to civilians and has reduced to about 300 members.
Reunion dinners have been held annually ever since its formation and it is believed to be one of the longest-running active military clubs.
There are many stories behind those who do gain membership to the club.
In 1995, an RAF Nimrod aircraft had been on a test flight over the north coast of Scotland when an engine caught fire and was forced to ditch into the Moray Firth.
Former Nimrod Pilot Art Stacey was flying the plane at the time of the crash and managed to survive, even after hitting the water travelling at speeds of up to 146 miles per hour.
The former RAF pilot said: "It was one of these decisions which seemed to evolve in my brain... 'you're not gonna make the runway, the only option really open to you is to go for the best chance of survival which is in the water, that'll put the fire out.'"
Describing the moment his aircraft hit the water, Mr Stacey said: "We bounced twice. The noise was out of this world.
"It was everywhere and it was every noise I think I'd ever heard, amplified by a thousand-fold."
Within minutes, an RAF rescue helicopter was on the scene to winch all on board and bring them back to dry land.
The incident is what qualified Art Stacey and the rest of the Nimrod crew to join one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, for which all aircrew try their best to avoid gaining membership.
Another member to have joined the club's ranks is Jason Phillips, a former Sea King helicopter Observer and now Archivist for The Goldfish Club.
In 1998, Jason was the Observer in the rear of a Sea King helicopter when a hydraulic leak caused a fire in the rear of the aircraft.
Jason attempted to put out the fire, but "successfully set fire to both my hands", the former Naval Observer said.
When the fire spread into the front cab of the helicopter, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft and rolled it into water to try and put out the huge flames.
Speaking about the moment the aircraft made impact with the water, Jason Said: "I remember looking forward and seeing the aircraft fill up with water and then it was that classic, dunker scenario, of everything was at a bit of an angle, water was filling up, you take your last breath, then the next minute you are under water."
Jason got stuck inside the Sea King after getting tangled when trying to exit the aircraft's window. All of the crew eventually managed to resurface and be rescued.
When The Goldfish Club was first formed, would-be members could only join if they were in the Royal Air Force and had ditched into water and survived by climbing into a dinghy – although the rules for membership have now been relaxed.
The Goldfish Club is believed to be one of the longest running active military clubs.
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