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The first written record of the Club that I can trace are notes of an informal meeting held on Wednesday 11th November, 1987 between Joe Harrison, Peter Tilbury, Sally Harrison and Anne Tilbury.

From the content of the notes this was obviously not the 1st meeting , but at this meeting , a bank account was to be opened. Our logo had been designed as the printing of Application Forms and Membership Cards were being organized. The date of the inaugural meeting was set for mid January, 1988.

The club had at this time applied for Registration with both the AA and the Registrar of Societies. The Constitution at this point had already been written and was being printed. The 1st official meeting of the Club took place in the Tinga Tinga Room in the Norfolk Hotel at 8.00 p.m. on the 14th January, 1988. 33 People had become members by then. 22 were present at the meeting and 10 non-members attended.

At this meeting the constitution was approved, a committee was elected and future meetings were organized. Mr. Joe Harrison was elected 1st Chairman but unfortunately he left for England in August. Peter Tilbury took over. The Club’s 1st Outing was in March, 1988 to the Turaco Club for a B.B.Q. lunch. A fantastic turn out was noted.

By April, the Club Membership had grown to 69 and in May, the Venue for Socials had been changed to the Jacaranda Hotel. During the 1st year the Club organized monthly meetings plus outings much as we do today. The 1st Club Annual Run was held in October, 1988 to Naivasha with 42 entrants starting from various towns in Kenya. By December of this 1st year membership reached 101. The 1st AGM was held on February, 9th, 1989 at the Jacaranda and 27 members were present.

The 2nd year of the Club’s life started with only 71 members but this soon picked up and by the end of the 2nd year, there were 130 members. Events during the year were similar to 1st. The 2nd Annual Run was held in June to the Aberdare Country Club with 23 entries. Attendance at meetings during the year averaged 25-30. NOT MUCH CHANGE TODAY.

The 3rd year of the Club’s life was much like the 2nd with 2 main events being the Annual Run to Naivasha organized by Pierre Parson and a Gymkhana organized by Manjit. Since then all records show that Club meetings have been organized along the same lines as they are today, with a mixture of socials and outings. Membership seems to have fluctuated at year ends but the highest recorded was at the end of 1991 with 156 members.

There also seems to have been a mixed attendance at meetings during most years with little change when the venue was changed first in September, 1992 to the Hotel Boulevard and later in May, 1996 to the Nairobi Sailing Club. It appears that attendance increases regardless of venue when there is an interesting evening planned or an interesting outing. However, even this tends to vary.

The Club Newsletter was started almost immediately and has varied from a couple of pages, containing Club News and items for sale to a 4 or 5 page A4 letter with articles and pictures. It has now developed into the full Magazine that we have today.

The first issue to be published in our present format appears to have been produced for February, 1994. This was a very modest affair with only 6 pages including the inside of the front plus back cover. This soon developed and in March, 1994 there were 20 pages. The first editors of the new style newsletter were Steve Perkin and Douglas St. Denny. This very important feature of our Club has gone from strength to strength and is now in the very able hands of J-P Roquier, who has almost single handed produced interesting issues for several years now. The News Flash was instituted way back in 1991 and a note was made in the Committee minutes after the first Newsflash: "It was noted that attendance at the monthly social increased after sending out the first Newsflash and it is recommended it continues".

The Club today is as active as ever and membership does not appear to have altered much. As always in all clubs, there is a small core of members whose names appear on the Committee list regularly over the years and the V.C.C.C.K. is no exception. Long may these members continue and long may the Club flourish.

Brian Nicol