The 16' Club

The 16' Club is a dining club for male members of St David's College, Trinity Saint David. It is also known as "The Sixteens", the "College Sixteen" or simply "16".[1]

The Club Crest

Foundation and Tradition

The precise foundation of the club is impossible to place accurately as so much documentation from the pre-war era has been lost, however a volume recently published by HarperCollins places the approximate foundation of the club at 1874-6.[2]

There existed a body of students in the 1830 to 1850s who banded together in secrecy to flout the rules forbidding students from appearing in the town without their gown, "communicating" with local women and frequenting the local alehouses.[3] It is this tradition which the Club has made itself known for following.

It is now the only remaining undergraduate dining club in Wales. The club's colour is pale blue.

Present day

Today The 16' Club is solely a dining club, though vestiges of the university's clerical origin remain in the retention of the College Prayer and the nominal requirement that members be bachelors.[4]

The clandestine nature of these meetings, and the reticence of its members, means that little is known about the club.

Purpose

The purpose of the College 16 is loosely defined as, "...to maintain the traditions of Saint David's College, and to provide and maintain a fraternity of gentlemen of calibre for mutual support whilst at University and in post graduate life."[5]

Membership

Membership of the club is by invitation only. The requirements and procedure are unknown.

References
  1. Secret Societies: From the Ancient and Arcane to the Modern and Clandestine, by David V. Barrett, ISBN 978-0-7137-2772-2
  2. The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders, by Alan Axelrod, ISBN 978-0-8160-3871-8
  3. The International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders, by Alan Axelrod, ISBN 978-0-8160-3871-8
  4. The 16' Club Codex, independently published: 1971
  5. The 16' Club Codex, independently published: 1971
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