HISTORY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE CLUB

“Why is it called The Lighthouse Club?" Someone asked the other day, "Does it help old men in lighthouses scattered across lonely cliff-tops throughout the world?" Well, for the uninitiated after a few beers perhaps, but in reality, no.

There is, near Whitley Bay in England, a lighthouse - Saint Mary's Lighthouse. How it came to be the emblem of a worldwide nonpolitical club for people involved in the construction industry is one of those stories which is passed down by word of mouth, and which evolves because of (or despite) a few beers. Perhaps it has been embellished down the years, as many good stories are, but regardless of fiction or fable, The Lighthouse Club has become its own legend.

The Club has its origins in Newcastle, where in 1956 a group of exhibitors got together for a drink at the Rex Hotel after a construction exhibition. A certain Eddie Ward decided it would be a good idea to form a club, which would meet regularly between exhibitions. The club was named after Saint Mary's Lighthouse clearly visible from the Rex Hotel.

The club has grown from a small clutch of members to envelope branches not only in the UK, but in mainland Europe, South Africa and South East Asia. In this region there are branches in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand as well as in the Philippines. The possibility of forming new branches in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia is also being pursued and it is estimated that The Lighthouse Club has grown from its modest Whitley Bay beginnings to encompass a membership of approximately 10,000.

Since its inception the principal aim has been to promote good fellowship and cooperation amongst members, most of whom are involved in the construction industry, in one way or another. Such esprit de corps should be observed in any respect, wherever and whenever possible, according to the Club's essential dictum.

The second, equally important objectives, is the continuing development of a Benevolent Fund (formed in the early 1960's) which provides financial assistance to victims of accident of illness within the construction industry, and to their dependents should fatal accidents occur. In developing countries where healthcare is often beyond the means of the lowly paid workers, the Benevolent Fund is particularly pertinent. To date, in the region of five million pounds (US$8 million) has been paid to beneficiaries of the Lighthouse Club Benevolent Fund.

In countries where local culture or alternative healthcare make it less necessary for such assistance, the Club addresses other issues such as education for workers within the industry, or related education for their children. As an example, the Lighthouse Club James Battersby Educational Trust has been set up to provide help for young people connected with the construction industry.

With the Lighthouse Club's beacon of light shining brightly in so many different countries it can surely only go from strength to strength in the year 2000. The Philippine chapter has already admitted many new members into its fold this year and looks set for a bumper new century of goodwill and commitment in its fundraising pursuits, as well as good fellowship amongst its working members.

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