Last modified: 2008-07-19 by rob raeside
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![[Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club ensign]](../images/g/gb~ns.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 1 February 2006
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The Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club was founded in
1859. I'm not sure when the ensign was officiated. You can visit the club's
website at
http://www.rnsyc.org.uk/history.htm.
Clay Moss, 1 February 2006
That same
web page (quoting "The First 125 years", by Charles Goodey, included in
RNSYC, 125 Years Sailing, 1859-1984, a commemorative booklet published in 1984
to mark the 125th Anniversary of the club's foundation) states "Mrs. Colman
broke the club flag over the new headquarters for the first time." on 11 July
1903, so a club flag was certainly in existence on that date.
Colin Dobson, 1 February 2006
A Red Ensign defaced with the Prince of Wales feathers is
shown in the Admiralty Flag Book of 1875 as being that of the Norfolk and
Suffolk Yacht Club. It is marked "No Warrant : Ensign Illegal".
The Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club was granted a Red Ensign defaced with a crown
and Prince of Wales feathers in February 1898. On 17 March 1898 the club applied
to the Home Office for the right to add "Royal" to the club's name, adding that
the club had been established for fifty years, had an Admiralty Warrant, and
that its members had twelve yachts with a total tonnage of 470. The Home Office
checked with the Admiralty who confirmed the warrant, but stated that they did
not offer opinions on use of the title Royal. The application was laid before
Queen Victoria on 3 May 1898, but refused on the grounds that the club was not
sufficiently important. In 1909 the Home Office found that ten yacht clubs
that called themselves Royal, were doing so without authorisation; one was the
Norfolk and Suffolk. When the matter was investigated it was found that the
Admiralty had incorrectly made out the warrant to the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk
Yacht Club. The Home Secretary then appears to have been approached personally,
as the club claimed that Matthew Ridley had said "you have what you wanted." The
club had therefore been using the title since June 1898. The Admiralty claimed
that the Home Office had not told them that the title had been refused. The
title was officially granted to the club on 18 May 1909.
[National Archives (PRO) HO 144/605/B26398]
David Prothero, 1 February 2006
The Dumpy Book of Ships and the Sea (1957)
shows the burgee as the Prince of Wales ostrich feathers surmounted by a crown
on a red field.
James Dignan, 12 February 2008