The late great Tommy Docherty coaching The PM Club boys Football team circa 1955
It all started when…
What is now called The PM Trust was founded by a trust deed agreement made between The National Association of Boys Clubs and George Comine Strachan Black O.B.E, a retired Army Major and the first Chairman of The PM Committee, on 28th September 1949. Donations to the PM Boys Club as it was then known, were used to purchase the remaining leasehold of 37 Ecclestone Square. Even before Ecclestone Square was purchased there are records of the crypt of St Martins-in-the-Fields being used as an afternoon “club” for young hotel and restaurant workers to meet and relax and this is probably where the “PM” comes from in the name of the charity.
The original constitution stated the objects of the PM Club Charity were as follows;
“To promote the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of boys working in clubs, hotels and restaurants and catering establishments in the West End of London by the provision of facilities for their mental, physical training, education and recreation in such manner as the PM committee shall think fit and proper and the club may provide for accommodation for a limited number of boys”.
In 1949 The PM Club committee consisted of members from The Ministry of Labour (Hotel and Catering Trades), The National Association of Boys Clubs, The British Hotels and Restaurants Association, The Caterers Association of Great Britain, King Georges Jubilee Trust.
The constitution of the PM Club was amended in 1984 and then again in 1994 to better reflect the charities changing objectives and the times. In the late eighties, the Club began to offer accommodation to young ladies (at 19 Courtfield Gardens) as well as young men (at 1 Barkston Gardens) just around the corner from each other in Earls Court, with a total of approximately 120 bed spaces.
Many young chefs started their careers in London whilst staying at the PM Club and have gone on to be very successful, including the late Gary Rhodes, plus Jason Atherton and Marcus Wareing who have now become Patrons of the charity. (Please refer the website). The PM Club offered a safe, clean, and more importantly an affordable place to stay in central London for young people who would otherwise not been able to take up jobs at some of London’s top hotels and restaurants.
Unfortunately, in 2002 the original PM Club property was sold by the Hotel and Catering Benevolent Association now known as Hospitality Action. The PM Trust was formed by using some of the proceeds of the sale of the property and became the charity it is today. The founding Trustees included Douglas Oram (Chair) Brian Turner CBE, the late Robyn Jones OBE and the current Chairman, Ruston Toms FIH.