Welcome to the website of The Clove Club.

The Clove Club is the organisation for anyone who attended Hackney Downs School (formerly The Grocers' Company's School), Downs Park Road, London,E.5.

The School closed at the end of 1995 but The Clove Club, the Old Boys Association, flourishes with just over 800 members on the books.

Membership of the Club is open to anyone, former pupil or former member of the staff, and its principle aim is to seek to promote and prolong the friendships formed at School and to make it possible, in later life, to meet again those with whom you will have shared some of your most important and formative years.

We strive to serve the interests of members in a number of different ways. We recognise that some may wish to take an "active" part by attending reunions, writing articles for newsletters and so on. Others may shy away from physical attendance at reunions but may gain pleasure simply by reading newsletters evoking memories of friends, teachers.

There is a flourishing e-mail group (open to all and which may be joined using the link on our home page). Posting a request for information, or reminiscing about a particular event can bring contact with others who share the same memory or who can help in answering the request.

If that is not for you then you are invited to register your e-mail address separately with Chris Barrett. Chris will arrange for your e-mail details to be posted on the website in the form you will see on a different screen.

To register simply for information from the Club itself, but without advertising your address on this site or through the e-group, you can register direct with the Secretary and the information will remain private for Club use only.

I hope you will enjoy the content of our website and, if you are not already a member, that you will consider joining us. All the details are on the site, the subscription is only œ10 per annum and an application form is on the page labelled "Join the Clove Club" (and this includes a downloadable banker's order form if you wish).

The site carries a few photographs, a sound file of two former teachers and other memory provoking material. You are welcome to make an enquiry of the Club, without commitment, and if we can help we will.

I hope we will hear from you.

Best wishes,

G.L. "Willie" Watkins, 1953-1960, Lucas' House,

Hon. President and Secretary