History of the Branch
The Barnsley Branch of the Royal Naval Association was founded on in 1990 and was commissioned on the 24th March 1990. The founding members of the branch were Eric Dyson, Leslie Armitage, Stanley Lockyer, Stanley Edon, Gordon Pygott and Kenneth Guest and Harry Rawson.
The branch grew and by the end of 1990 there was a total of 50 members of which 33 were full members.
In 1993 the then Commodore of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Commodore R M Thorne RFA, agreed to become the Vice Patron of the Barnsley branch. This union has led to a very strong affiliation between the branch, the local Sea Cadets, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the town of Barnsley.
In 1994 Lord Mason of Barnsley, became Patron of Branch.
In the early days of the Branch a small group of people (lord Mason, Eric Dyson and the then leader of the council Hedley Salt were working very hard to establish an affiliation that is as strong today. That affiliation is with the RFA Fort Victoria, the ship at the time was still being built and was yet to be launched. The affiliation became official when the ship was commissioned in 1992.
On the 24th of November 2009, Barnsley RNA held their last meeting at the Swaithe Working Men's Club, having voted to move to Barnsley Sea Cadets in order to improve their sustainability and membership.
In 2010 the Branch celebrated its 20th Anniversary.
On the 24th February 2015, Barnsley RNA once again voted to move to the Shaw Inn, on Racecommon Road.