Curiosities







The Winkle Club invites Winston Churchill to its Annual Supper, January 2nd, 1956


Greeting sent to Sir Winston Churchill on the occasion of the Club’s 60th Anniversary

Churchill’s Golden Winkle can be seen in the Museum Room at Chartwell, in Kent

A report by the ‘Hastings Observer’ showing Admiral Lord Michael Boyce’s apology letter (and fine) after failing a challenge by Michael Foster MP in the Houses of Parliament

Plaque commemorating the visit by HM The Queen to Winkle Island to receive her gold winkle brooche by the Club on 9th June 1997

A picture of HM The Queen’s Winkle brooche

A photo of the Winkle Club’s very first Committee – around 1900

The Queen Mother, visiting Winkle Island in 1966

Admiral The Lord Boyce OCB, OBE, DL, Lord Warden Of The Cinque Ports is “Winkled Up” by Richard Read, present Chairman of the Winkle Club and Vice-Chairman Richard Stevens, in the presence of Michael Foster MP in 2006

 THE WINKLE CLUB CHORUS

‘If you should see a vessel in distress
Stand by … stand by
Render all the aid you can,
Be he man-o’-war or merchantman
Stand by him …
Throw him out a line,
Take him  in tow
For you might want somebody
To stand by you some day,
You’ll never know…’

(This Chorus was adopted by the Club after World War II)


The President’s chain of office, made and presented to the Club by Mr. Julian Ferguson, owner of J.C.F. Jewellery

Around 1920’s

The Club’s “Jazz Band”

One of the famous Winkle Club outings

What type of Winkle?

Our winkle, as in our logo, is of the bloodsucker common winkle variety, with a flat opening and pointed shell (not strictly a periwinkle). The empty shell is filled with sealing-wax and carried by members at all times. These winkles can be found on Hastings beach.

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