About Us
Defence Strategic Communications Symposium 2025.​
Lord Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and UK Defence Secretary, was frank when he referenced the conflict in Ukraine in his keynote speech:
“It’s real, it’s actual, and it’s brutal, and it’s horrific. Ukraine will not be the last one and it demonstrates what can happen when a major power decides to resolve its own national issues through violence. "
Read more at
The Symposium is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors
Inspiring and insightful - Lord Robertson provides keynote speech at this year’s Pen & Sword Club Symposium
We are a not-for-profit organisation that aims to:
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Provide a platform that promotes communications as a vital military skill in the 21st century.
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Encourage the use of effective communications skills throughout the defence community.
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Build a network of professional defence communicators for the exchange of best practice and to enhance existing expertise.
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Promote dialogue between the media and defence communications practitioners.
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Organise events that improve understanding and facilitate exchange between all sides of the profession.
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Collect and disseminate information, analysis, and research into past, current, and future operations to enhance the development of defence communications.​
In the News
King Charles III visited Walmer Castle, the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, in Deal, Kent. Pen & Sword Club Honorary Vice President, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, accompanied His Majesty who met representatives from the 14 coastal towns of the Confederation of Cinque Ports, a historic medieval alliance that now serves a ceremonial role. Watch the video here
The Club’s affiliate, the Worshipful Company of Communicators, held its Annual Military Awards Dinner on 27 September, with Major General Paul Griffiths CB, Assistant Chief of the General Staff (ACGS), as the distinguished Military Guest of Honour.
During the evening, the Club’s National Chair, Colonel Rosie Stone, was formally enrobed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Communicators—a significant milestone marking her ongoing commitment to excellence in military and strategic communications.
Colonel Stone’s recognition was especially notable as she joins the Company as a Founding Liveryman, having been among the original financial supporters whose contributions helped the Company achieve its Worshipful status.
Also honoured during the ceremony were fellow Club members Major (Ret’d) Andrew Fox and Major General Neil Sexton, who were likewise admitted as Liverymen of the Company.
For more details on this prestigious event, visit the Worshipful Company of Communicators’ website:
🔗 Outstanding Military Communicators Honoured
Colonel Stone receives her certificate from Jason Groves, Master of the Worshipful Company of Communicators
Events Calendar
Monthly Lunches
Location: Little Ship Club, Bell Wharf Lane, Upper Thames St., London EC4R 3TB
Timing: From 12 noon
To book or for more info contact: info@penandswordclub.org
Our Story
The Pen & Sword Club was established nearly 30 years ago by the Pool of Territorial Army Public Information Officers (TAPIO) to provide a link between serving personnel, retired officers working in the communications industry, and supporters within the UK Ministry of Defence.
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Today it has grown into a recognised defence-wide communications organisation with a professional membership that includes Regular and Reservist members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army, the Royal Air Force and civilian practitioners within the UK Ministry of Defence.
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The Club’s membership, which is by invitation, also includes crisis communications, media and information operations specialists from NATO and allied countries plus senior politicians, civil servants, journalists, academics and authors connected to the defence communications industry.
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The Club represents a depth of knowledge and experience from its members that have applied their skills on military deployments around the world including Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Gulf Wars, the Balkans, Borneo and with Multinational Forces in Lebanon and the Sinai. Serving members continue to provide insights, advice and regular updates on Military Media Operations and its role within Defence Strategic Communications.
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The Club has an active national focus in London with a flourishing social network and a monthly dining club. It also manages a growing LinkedIn membership and it’s newsletter, Scribblings, is a popular read among members and friends of the club. It promotes networking and provides updates on people and current defence themes.
Member Books & Blogs
​Author: Honorary Vice President Dame Penny Mordaunt DBE PC
​Author: Honorary Vice President General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE PC MC DL
This is a ground-breaking re-examination of one of the most overlooked conflicts in modern history. Often labelled ‘the forgotten war’, this was, in fact, a conflict of profound importance that defined the latter half of the 20th Century. Spanning three years of devastating combat, the book delves into the war’s two distinct phases: The United Nations-led effort to repel North Korean aggression, and the subsequent, controversial invasion of the North that drew China into the conflict.
Through meticulous analysis of a wealth of source material, Richard Dannatt and Robert Lyman expertly detail the chaos of political decision-making at the war’s outset and as it progressed.
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The first comprehensive history of Polaris, bringing together technical aspects, the key characters and full stories of the American and British programmes.
Includes specially commissioned graphic images and plans as well as several previously unpublished photographs
​Author: Club Member Maj (Retd) John Boyes TD CA
Club members are active on social media. Please see some of our high profile members' social media presence.
Views expressed are personal to the member and do not represent Club policy or endorsement
Lt Col (Retd) Derek Plews VR
Former Army officer, Lt Col (Retd) Derek Plews VR, worked as a journalist in Northern Ireland before joining the UK Civil Service as a press officer. A reservist, Plews left the civil service in 2006 to deploy to Afghanistan. He subsequently completed tours of duty in Iraq before taking up various appointments at the Ministry of Defence. Retiring in 2020, he wrote A Brilliant Little Victory, a history of the 48th (South Midland) Division in the First World War.
Paul Beaver
Paul served for 27 years in the Territorial Army, raising to the rank of Colonel. His last posting was as Colonel (Reserves) Joint Helicopter Command. Since 2017, he has been a Honorary Group Captain on No 601 Squadron RAuxAF and retires in 2026. He is an historian, writer and broadcaster on defence, strategy, intelligence and people.
Mark Laity
Mark has been involved with the media & Strategic Communication (StratCom) for over four decades, first as a journalist, mostly with the BBC, then in a variety of posts as a spokesman & senior manager for NATO. His experience covers all levels, from the political & strategic, to the frontlines of operations.
