The Royal Hospital School Association was founded in 1925 when a group of former pupils of the Greenwich Royal Hospital School, who had been meeting on a fairly regular basis since 1923 in a pub, the Dover Castle, in Chatham High Street, decided that it would be a good idea to put the group on a more formal basis. Thus was born the Greenwich Royal Hospital School Old Boys Association.

The aims of the Old Boys Association were to keep its members in touch with each other and the School. Branches were traditionally located at Royal Navy ports and establishments with; at one time many Shore Establishments and even Capital Ships having their own group. There were Branches at Chatham (the Founder Branch), Greenwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Bath, Sheerness and H.M.S. Caledonian. Up until the early 1950s, all boys who were fit enough had to join either the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines, hence earning the School the nickname of “The Cradle of the Navy”.

In 1990, due mainly to the reduction of the Royal Navy and hence less sons of Naval personnel, the School’s Royal Charter was changed by an Act of Parliament so that girls and children from non-seafaring backgrounds could become pupils. Of course, this meant that in 1992 when the first girls left, we could no longer call ourselves the “Old Boys”. Many choices were suggested for the new name but it was felt best that our name be changed to the Royal Hospital School Association.
Today there are four Branches London & South East; Plymouth & South West; Portsmouth and East Anglia. All the Branches meet on a regular basis and have a full social calendar. Our aims remain the same as those of our founders, to keep our members in touch with each other and the School. We meet at the School three times a year, when sports fixtures are organised between our members and current pupils. The main Annual Reunion Weekend and the RHSA AGM are held in June. The Association parades its Banner with the School’s Queen’s Banner during Divisions at the Reunion Weekend and on Remembrance Sunday.

As well as former pupils, the membership includes some parents and also former and current members of the School Staff. The Association boasts an active worldwide membership of over 2,500. Each member receives a copy of the Annual Gazette, which contains news of the Association, diary events, news from members and events at the School.
Through the RHSA and the “Friends of RHS”, the School benefits by way of careers advice and financial assistance for special projects. We now have a register of Members who would be willing to offer careers advice/lectures and some who are able to offer work experience to pupils during their holiday periods.

If you would like further information on the Association or any of its Branches please contact the Honorary General Secretary.

To join, or renew your membership and update your contact details, please contact Membership Secretary.