The Eccentric Club is to experience a much-anticipated revival, which will resurrect this Great British institution to honour the club's colourful history that originated in the mid 18th Century and will celebrate the British eccentric character that is alive and well today.

My family is typical of many British ones: An ecclectic mix of scientists, creatives, entrepreneurs and country folk, of whom many, including myself, have eccentric tendencies. It's what I love about the British character, and why I was drawn to the notice that The Eccentric Club was to be reborn. I'd like to think many of my blog readers are colourful folk too, and I hope you find this post of interest, and perhaps even join me at The Eccentric Club's First General Meeting next Friday.

The Eccentric Club has experienced many resurrections, having been founded several times by totally unrelated and socially distinct groups of people over the last two centuries. According to the latest group to revive its purpose, it has served "as a meeting point to many great and original minds, pioneers of thought in artistic, literary, theatrical, scientific, legal and political circles, providing an amicable environment for their recreational and creative pastime as well as a testing ground for the novel and controversial theories and approaches to the issues equally important to the British society and the entire mankind." Considering what's going on in the world today, it is high time The Eccentric Club was reborn. We certainly need some new debate on some old issues.

Early records suggest the origins of the Club stirred in the 1750s to the 1780s, with its first official meeting in 1781. Very quickly, it gained a favourable reputation in political, scientific, industrial and aristocratic circles. While the records show that the Club disintegrated in 1840, in the 1860s and again in the 1890s, the Club rose from the ashes, this time revived by more creative and theatrical members of society respectively.

Over time, The Eccentric Club has not only acquired a reputation for an entertaining night owl existence, it also became known for its charitable deeds. As several members were performing on the great stage in the God’s Theatre of Eternity, the Club acquired its motto: “Nil Nisi Bonum”, to translate from its Latin, "Nothing but good”. The poor used to queue up outside the club for the 'best in London' free food hamper. During both the First and Second World Wars, members visited the front line to entertain our troops, and much money over the years was raised for charitable causes. And despite some serious setbacks - their Ryder Street premises burnt down - this charitable behaviour continued long after the wars.

It wasn't until the 1980s, that hard times led to the Club's demise again. A series of troubling events hit the Club: The 'yuppie invasion' meant the Club's ethos and traditions were viewed as unfashionable, even obsolete; An unfortunate property development gamble misfired; And financial instability led to the Club's liquidation. In recent years though there's been an outcry to revive the Club again and I'm thrilled to say, a small group of dedicated eccentric souls have grouped together to relaunch The Eccentric Club.

The First General Meeting is to held in a WC1 Georgian mansion house, the details of which will be emailed to you once you've registered. The meeting is to be held 6 - 9pm Friday 29th August. You may of course be wondering what is meant by eccentric these days, afterall it has been unfortunately misinterpreted over the years. The new founders have redefined its meaning to "British eccentricity is a reluctance to be bound by social, spiritual, scientific, political, esthetical or any other limitations and an everlasting desire to explore every manifestation of life around us for the benefit of gaining personal experience and translating it through various mediums such as art, business, science, social events to the others, to the society and, in particular, other individuals which are seeking new knowledge and experience and are ready to perceive it...". I like.

With much anticipation, I shall be attending. For only £25 you receive a group ticket for four people, and each of you will receive a couple of free drinks and nibbles, and enjoy the meeting as it unfolds. You can be sure to interact with some fascinating company, a few high profile notables will be attending as well. I've invited a couple of friends, so if anyone reading this has had some contact with me over the email, please feel free to invite yourself to join my group. I hope to see you there!

The Eccentric Club website tells a fascinating story and I highly recommend you take some time to read its material. To register your interest and attend the First General Meeting, click here.