Our Objectives
To provide opportunities for men of not less than 18 years of age for recreation, social intercourse and refreshment.
Opening Times
The Club rooms are open from Monday to Friday inclusive between 5 and 8.00 pm, and on Sundays from 12 noon to 4. From Monday to Wednesday the Club opens at lunchtime, usually from 12 noon until 2 pm.
All times quoted are minimum lengths and, subject to upholding the Licensing Laws, are at the discretion of the Steward working under direction from the General Committee and Board of the LBG, whilst remaining within the premitted licensing hours for a Private Members’ Club.
The Facilities
The ground floor of Warwick House is the heart of the social life of the Club. The premises contain a bar for the service of drinks and snacks at competitive prices and a large sitting room, comfortably furnished with leather armchairs and settees. The walls are furnished with a variety of photographs and other memorabilia reflecting the history of the Club and its foundation.
The Club houses two well-maintained full-size snooker and billiards tables in the Snooker Room on the first floor at the rear of the building. Sporting Club teams have for many years taken part successfully in local snooker leagues. These facilities are available for any member to use throughout the week, by arrangement with the Steward. The cost of lighting the tables is met by those using the Snooker Room with the aid of a coin-operated machine.
Events
We hold a number of events for our members, the members can view the calendar in the Members Only menu (you have to log in to see it). We can also hold private events for members.
Please note that due to the unavailability of the kitchen, we cannot provide any form of catering.
Charitable Objectives
To raise funds to support charities whose objects are supporting the armed forces of the Crown and their families.
The Club has an eye on the two key objectives laid down by the Founders of the Club in the original Rules of 1920;
To provide an Aid Fund out of any profits or surplus accruing (we are a not-for-profit company)
To be a lasting memorial to the officers, NCOs and men of the 1st Guernsey Contingent who sacrificed their lives in the War. Today it fulfils these objectives by –
Making a generous annual contribution to The Chelsea Pensioners’ Holiday Fund, enabling the Pensioners to be here to take part in Liberation Week celebrations, and entertaining them and the Gurkha contingent to a buffet meal at the Club;
Laying a wreath in honour of the men of the First Service Contingent at the island’s Remembrance Sunday parade;
Collecting for donations to the Royal British Legion Poppy Day Funds;
Making donations support local sporting development;
Remembrance
The original objectives of the club later included in the Memorandum and Articles of Association ('the Rules') were to commemorate the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the First Guernsey Contingent who sacrificed their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. These events are often marked at club dinners and special events throughout the year.
The 100th Anniversary in September 2020 was celebrated despite COVID-19 attempts to derail our celebrations.
A Short History
The Guernsey Sporting Club was founded in 1920 by surviving officers, NCOs and men, of D Company, the 6th Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, in which Company the first volunteer Guernseymen from the Royal Guernsey Militia were enlisted for active service in March 1915. They were sent to Fermoy, Co. Cork for training with the 16th (Irish) Division, before returning to Blackdown Camp, Aldershot in the autumn and then on to France in December, reaching the front line in January 1916. The first of them to be killed in action was their commanding officer, Major George W. Le Page (Old Elizabethan), by shellfire on 26th January 1916. His photographic portrait has pride of place in the Club today.
The Club was the brainchild of the founding President, Lt-Col Thomas Hutchesson MC (OE), who realised that the men who had returned from the trenches of the Western Front needed a haven where they could meet and socialise with others who had shared the same gruelling experiences. His portrait hangs proudly in the Club above his Military Cross and campaign medals. It was he who was the driving force in progressing negotiations with the United Services Fund to obtain a grant with which to buy Warwick House.
The Bailiff, (later Sir) Edward Chepmell Ozanne (OE), and the Lt-Governor, Maj-Gen. Sir John Capper, KCB, KCVO, also used their influence to support the Club’s successful application, and the Bailiff himself formally opened the premises on 13th September 1920, accompanied by the Rt Rev Norman Stewart de Jersey (OE) after the Memorial Service for the fallen of ‘D’ Company had been held at St James.
The Club formalised its status as a Company Limited by Guarantee (LBG) in 2011 and undisputed title to Warwick House was finally granted to the LBG by the Royal Court in 2012.
The Siam Cup
The Siam Cup is one of the oldest Rugby trophies in existence after the Calcutta Cup and the United Hospitals Challenge Cup. It is awarded to the winner of the annual match between Guernsey and Jersey.
The Cup is a large, circular rose-bowl of solid silver, decorated in a traditional Siamese style, and made from Ticals, the Siamese silver dollars. It was made to the order of the King of Siam, as a gift, possibly because he had served in the Durham Light Infantry, and become friendly with Channel Islanders also serving in the regiment, notably three Old Elizabethans, Lt-Col C H Forty, S P Groves and H W Bainbrigge, along with a former pupil of Victoria College, Jersey. These men brought the Cup back from Siam in 1920 and donated it to the Guernsey Sporting Club, to be used as a trophy for competition in rugby, hoping to stimulate competition between Elizabeth and Victoria Colleges. At this time, however, neither College nor any other clubs were playing rugby in either Guernsey or Jersey. When, therefore, the Guernsey Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1928, the Club was asked by Col Forty to donate the Cup to the newly formed GRUFC. It was then used as the trophy in a variety of challenge competitions until on 14th March 1935 it was presented for the first time as the trophy for the winner of the inter-insular challenge match.
During the Occupation the Cup was spirited away to be hidden by a local family, so that the Germans could not lay hands on it or melt it down to boost the funds of the Third Reich. The Cup then safely reappeared in 1947.
Eventually the Cup began to show signs of wear and tear, and a replica was made by the Guernsey Jeweler Bruce Russell. The original has been, since 1977, permanently housed in the Museum of Rugby at Twickenham.
Sporting History
In former times the Club used to field teams to play cricket, soccer and, going further back in time, rugby. In the closing decades of the 20th Century these matches would be categorised as ‘friendly’ for the most part. Today, however, with so many teams competing in serious and, almost professional fashion on the island, such opportunities no longer easily occur.
In recent years, despite this pattern, the Club has had skittles teams in local leagues, and the occasional golf challenge with other organisations, yet it is fair to say that nowadays the emphasis has shifted from participation as a Club to offering financial support to those who are helping to promote sporting outlets for the benefit of young people as outlined below.