Navy

Royal Naval Charity Celebrates Birthday Milestone

The oldest naval charity in the UK has celebrated its 275^th anniversary with a Royal visit from HRH the Princess Royal at a special reception at Trinity House, London.

Since 2010 The Royal Naval Officers Charity (RNOC) has donated almost £1M to veterans, their families, dependants and some serving officers. The reigning monarch is historically the patron of the charity and today the Princess Royal attended the event where she heard the President read a congratulatory message from Her Majesty the Queen.

Founded in 1739 as the Amicable Navy Society in Will’s Coffee House (now the Marquess of Anglesey pub in Covent Garden), the charity sought to support the influx of Officers to London awaiting assignment (and not being paid) during the war with Spain, known as the ‘War of Jenkins ear’. Early members of the Society include Admirals Nelson, Jervis and Rodney.

Commander Mike Goldthorpe, CEO of the charity, said:

“For any charity to reach even 100 years is an achievement so for us to be celebrating our 275^th Anniversary is incredibly special. It’s a privilege that HRH the Princess Royal attended our event at Trinity House, which also celebrates its 500^th year this year, to learn about all the good work the charity does.”

The charity quickly evolved to be an organisation supporting the full spectrum of the Naval Service. Today the charity supports serving and retired officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Naval Reserves, their families and dependants.

“It’s working with the RNOC that we can get to people in real need and provide them with the assistance they need,” said Rosalind Murray, a case worker with the charity. “Sometimes you think how on earth can people cope, but with help from the RNOC their lives become manageable again.”

The RNOC has recently come to the fore helping families of Royal Marines who lost their lives in the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns and still has Second World War Veterans and Widows they support, the oldest being 103!

“Most people have periods in their lives when they need help,” said Admiral Sir James Perowne KBE, President of the charity. “It is a testament to the RNOC that we have managed to remain self-sustaining for all these years while helping such a spectrum of people in need.”

Today the RNOC has beneficiaries in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Australasia. Some are battling to make transition from service to civilian life, some have found themselves facing radical changes in circumstances and some are struggling with the costs of caring for a loved one. What they have in common is they are member of the Royal Navy officer family.