The 1940 Club was established by Lord Beaverbrook and consisted of people that had been close to him during his time as Minister of Aircraft Production in which he served from 1940 to 1941. The "1940 Club" dined together annually at Claridge’s and it was one of the few functions that Churchill attended regularly in his last years. When Beaverbrook died, he left his watches, clocks and other jewellery to be distributed among its members. The vendors grandfather was a member of the 1940 club.