Whelers Club

WHELER CLUB, ESTD 03 Feb, 1863

1. Wheler Club was established on 03 Feb 1863 and named after Maj Gen Francis Wheler who commanded Meerut Division of the Bengal Army in 1861. The badge of Wheler Club still carries the family crest of its founder. The Club was formed as a welfare measure to provide facilities to the Army Officers and their families in the garrison to relax in a carefree manner, ease their daily tensions and go back home rejuvenated. It provided a forum to the officers for social, cultural, recreational and sports facilities as also social interaction with privileged civilians.

2. The Club was registered as a Limited Company on 04 Aug 1891 under the Indian Companies Act VI of 1882, as an Association formed ‘For purposes not of Gain’ with nine members to begin with.

3. From the available records it appears that the Club initially started functioning from the building 29J, The Mall (i e present office of CWE) from 03 Feb 1863 till 14 Sep 1907. The Club moved into the present premises (ie Bungalows No 102 & 103) in Sep 1907 initially at a rent of Rs 60/- per month. Later this property was purchased for Rs 6000/- on 15 Aug 1918 from Sheikh Wahidudin and sheikh Bashirudin of Lal Kurti, Meerut.

4. Bungalow No 100 was also purchased by the Club from Mr Stephen Hunter, Official Liquidator of the Bank of Upper India that went into liquidation for Rs 13000/- on 7 May 1921. This property is located opposite State Bank of India. Petrol Kiosk was bought by the Club from Shri SM Rafiuddin on 20 Sep 1933 for Rs 2166/- and subsequently given on lease to Burma shell (present Bharat Petroleum Corporation) during 1936.

5. After Independence, Army has been managing the Club as majority of the members were from Army units loc at Meerut with the Commander Meerut Sub Area as Chairman and a Grade II Staff Officer performing the duties of Honorary Secretary. In 1976 for the first time a full-time paid Secretary was appointed.