A 78 year tradition of caring!

Preserved in the archives of the Public Record Office is the log book of HMS Calypso, a light cruiser of the Mediterranean Fleet, moored on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd November 1924, in Grand Harbour, Malta. An entry on that day states: 16.35 hours. Motor boat sunk in collision with Venomous, lowered boats and rescued crew; but no mention is made of the four passengers.

These were Major Gilbert Huggins, second-in-command of the Gordon Highlanders stationed at Malta. Mrs Huggins, their son Ulric, aged 11 and Lieutenant (later Captain) Cronyn RN, who had invited the Huggins to tea in Calypso. The passengers embarked at Custom House Steps, Valetta, the adults sheltering from the hot sun under the old fashioned, well painted canopy.

Whilst on passage across Grand Harbour, the boat heeled sharply; Lieutenant Cronyn moved quickly to the stern sheets and saw immediately that disaster threatened. He shouted a warning to Major and Mrs Huggins and threw Ulric overboard as the boat was rammed amidships, turned over and sank.

Ulric was carried clear of the destroyer by its bow wave and supported by the Gordon kilt he was wearing. Lieutenant Cronyn was sucked under the vessel but being a strong swimmer got clear, always remembering the horrified look of the first lieutenant peering over the focsle. Major Huggins went down with the boat but surfaced in a near drowning condition. The coxn and his stoker jumped overboard (it would be interesting to know the details of the inevitable court of inquiry). All were picked up by other craft. The destroyer was wearing the pendant H10.

Mrs Huggins failed to get clear of the canopy and when she recovered from shock, found herself trapped in the wreckage but able to breathe, due to an air-pocket in a bulge of the canopy. She freed her leg from an obstruction; launched herself clear and saw blackness give way to violet, then to blue and finally a green diffused light before shooting out of the water waist high into the brightness of day and hearing a shout "There she is!", having been at the bottom of the harbour in 12 fathoms for about 10 minutes. Remarkably she suffered no ill-effects from her ordeal and insisted on walking up the companionway of Calypso unassisted.

Mrs Huggins, on her return to England and mindful of the miracle that had saved her husband, her son and herself from drowning, prayed daily that some work which needed doing might be shown to her. However, none of the projects which came her way appealed and it was not until 1930 when, on visits to London, she was stopped frequently by down and out ex-Service men asking for help, that a scheme to help them began to formulate in her mind.

A canteen and recreation room for destitute ex-Service men was opened at Belvedere Road, Lambeth, London SE1, in January 1932 and named H10. Additional accommodation was obtained, a hostel opened and a night shelter established in co-operation with other societies and in 1933, the title Embankment Fellowship Centre was adopted. During the Winter of 1934-35, the Fellowship provided 23, 091 nights of shelter and 53,382 meals for destitute former Service men.

In March 1969 the name was changed to Ex-Service Fellowship Centres, the cypher EFC being retained. During the year 20005/06 the charity provided nearly 20,000 nights of shelter.

In October 2007, the Trustees decided that the name of the charity should be changed to "Veterans Aid" in order that the title of the charity should more accurately reflect the work done.