In cities around the world, British expatriates often find ways to connect informally, “Britishers”—and in Cleveland, that tradition took shape as the Link Club, a low-key luncheon group rooted in camaraderie, not ceremony.

The first Link Club meeting was held on Wednesday, October 23, 1968, at the Mid-Day Club in the Union Commerce Building on Euclid Avenue. Eighteen British businessmen attended, with a few late apologies, and around thirty had expressed interest overall. From the start, the group decided on no president, no secretary, no speeches, and no rules—just conversation, connection, and a good meal.

Monthly lunches were set for the second Friday of each month, with venues rotating around the city. Each member would take a turn organizing, roughly once every two or three years. The format was simple: arrive at noon for a drink, sit down at 12:30 for a set lunch, and enjoy informal conversation—often helpful for newcomers navigating business life in the U.S.

Early organizers included Thomas Guthrie (The Plain Dealer), James Melville (Iliffe-NTP), Bob Shearer (Clevite Corporation), and Richard Gridley (Alloys and Chemicals Corporation). All members were U.K.-born, but guests and visiting British business people were always welcome.

As one founding note put it:
“The Link Club it is to be. With no President, no Secretary and no Articles of Association… a not very usual club. But we all hope that it will prove to be a pleasant and perhaps useful link nevertheless.”

Decades later, the BACC Link Club continues to thrive under the same easy going spirit—proof that sometimes, the best connections are the simplest ones.