Issue number 87 December 2013

ARCHBISHOP WATERLOO WINE ODDITIES OUTDOORS INDOORS Gift suggestions from TUMBLERS The East India Square tumbler the secretary’s ofFIce Engraved with club Club directory crest. £18.50 ATTIRE The Club ties Decanter 16 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LH Silk woven tie in club £75 Telephone: 020 7930 1000 colours. £19.50 Fax: 020 7321 0217 Email: [email protected] Web: www.eastindiaclub.co.uk Cut glass tumbler DINING ROOM Breakfast Engraved with club Monday to Friday 6.45am-10am crest. £25.75 Saturday 7.15am-10am Sunday 8am-10am Lunch BOOKS & CDs The East India Club Monday to Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm Club bow ties Sunday (buffet) 12.30pm-2.30pm – A History Tie your own and, (pianist until 4pm) by Charlie Jacoby. for emergencies, An up-to-date look at Saturday sandwich menu available clip on. £19.50 the characters who have Dinner Scarf made up the East India Monday to Saturday 6.30pm-9.30pm Club. £10 Sundays (light supper) 6.30pm-8.30pm £17 Club song Table reservations should be made with the Front Awake! Awake! Desk or the Dining Room and will only be held for A recording of the club 15 minutes after the booked time. Cufflinks song from the 2009 St Enamelled cufflinks AMERICAN BAR George’s Day dinner. £5 Monday to Friday 11.30am-11pm with club crest, Saturday 11.30am-3pm chain or bar. £24.50 The Gentlemen’s & 5.30pm-11pm Sunday noon-4pm Clubs of London & 6.30pm-10pm New edition of Drinks can be obtained in the Waterloo Room from Anthony Lejeune’s Monday to Sunday. Members resident at the club classic. £28 can obtain drinks from the hall porter after the bar has closed. OTHER ITEMS SMOKING ROOM & WATERLOO ROOM Service from 9am to 10.30pm. Mug Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. £14 BILLIARDS ROOM Club blazers Open to members from 9am to midnight. Chocolates £295/£325 (navy) £325 (sports) Pass keys will not be issued after 11pm. £8 Club shield GYMNASIUM Club waistcoats £61.50 Open to members from 6am to 10pm. £160 Suitable attire must be worn.

BEDROOM CHARGE Includes early morning tea, newspaper, English Golf balls breakfast and VAT. All bedrooms are non smoking. Titleist golf balls. Bearing Members club crest. £29 per dozen Single with bathroom £100 (£61*) Single with shower £86 (£52*) Blazer buttons Single without facilities £70 (£43*) Double breasted. Golf tees Double or twin room for single occupancy £136 £45.00 Tin of 50 ‘personalised’ Double or twin room for double occupancy £152 St James’s Suite £252 Single breasted. East India golf tees. £7.75 £30.00 Reciprocal members & guests Single with bathroom £131 (£80*) Single with shower £114 (£70*) V-necked jumpers Golf umbrellas Double or twin room for single occupancy £158 Lambswool V-necked navy and burgundy Made in club Double or twin room for double occupancy £182 jumpers also available. £46.50 St James’s Suite £282 colours of silver, blue and red. £17 * Special rate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday Club print and bank holidays A picture of the Post and packing for non-breakables from clubhouse on a MEMBERSHIP CARDS £3. Breakable items are for collection Members are required to carry their membership typical London from the club instead of posting. cards at all times when visiting the club. early evening. It is essential that they are produced when 52.5cm by CLUB WINE: signing for charges to accounts. 40cm. See page 17 for details £61.50

2 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 A super summer season ends with the Lords Mayor’s lunch, an Club diary... autumn season is characterised by a visit from Sweden, the

club benefits from refurbishment of its offices and a new look CHAIRMAN’S REPORT January 9 January Wine tasting – an for the Luncheon Room, and now Christmas is upon us introduction 21 January Library talk 30 January Burns Night CHAIRMAN’S REPORT February he festive season approaches fast. this most significant of Waterloo battlefield 7 February Casino Evening The summer season ended with features. 21 February Rugby Lunch T the Lord Mayor’s lunch, which was The club also extended a welcome to 27 February Gourmet Evening again very special. Alderman Roger Gifford the Svenska Klubben i Helsingfors for their was most appreciative of the club, the annual excursion. We were pleased that they March atmosphere and the friendliness. We can be had chosen the East India Club as their main 7 March Rugby Lunch proud of the welcome we give to our guests. event for their UK tour. Some highlights of 13 March Library dinner this are recorded on page 12. It is always a pleasure to welcome our reciprocal clubs April The chairman from all over the world and indeed to be 3 April Young Members’ Dinner at the house dinner welcomed ourselves as I was recently at the 6 April Boat Race event Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club in Dublin. 23 April St George’s Day Dinner The staff offices are now complete, occupied and, I hope you agree, are a May great improvement. The duty manager’s 14 May Annual General Meeting accommodation has also been greatly improved by the addition of en suite Bank Holidays facilities. Over bank holidays, bars and catering are It is also good to record the upgrading closed but accommodation and continental and refurbishment of the bedrooms on the breakfast is provided. This applies after fifth foor in the Duke Street building. After breakfast on the Sunday of the bank holiday setbacks through unforeseen asbestos and weekend and through the Monday. the failure of the lift, success comes with

minimal loss of service to members. Christmas I am particularly pleased to see that the The club closes after lunch on Monday 23 fine room which was formerly the Luncheon December 2013 and re-opens at 9am on Room, has emerged in a new form, with Thursday 2 January 2014. The cloakroom stunning new decoration and a new range of and day lockers will be cleared of left items. services. Members can relax there alone or in company and read the latest news or racy The Club at 128 Piccadilly kindly offers its dining facilities to our novels on iPads or Kindles. Refreshments members on dates when our Dining Room and light meals are now offered throughout is closed. Please book in advance on the day until 5pm. Please try it and let us 020 7399 1000. He also noted that the beef was the best know how you would like to see it develop. he could remember. I agree and I gather you At this time of year the notices go out all do too, so thanks to chef Mark Leach and for subscriptions for next year. Younger all the staff for another great event that is a members will notice that the graduation of unique event in the East India subscriptions after age 25 Club calendar. has been extended so that It was a pleasure to attend The Luncheon Room full subscriptions are reached the Waterloo 200 reception has emerged in a new at age 35 rather than age East & West at Apsley House early in form, with stunning 30. All members under 35 September, an occasion will benefit from this change Editor: Charlie Jacoby new decoration and hosted by Lord Douro and which the committee feels 07850 195353 [email protected] “ a new range of Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, and is more equitable. You will Designer: Chris Haddon services 01279 422219 [email protected] attended by the ambassadors also see, as usual, the note Photography: Phil McCarthy, Alex Bray and Andy of Spain, Portugal and France. reminding us all about Barker.To download or order photography, login to I was reminded of the humour occasioned contributions to the staff fund. Our staff the members’ area of EastIndiaClub.com and follow by the bomb that fell behind Apsley House have yet again shown us this year what the instructions in the war which did little damage except exceptional people they are. I hope we can Sub-editor: Cicely Drewe to dislodge the fig-leaf from the statue of ”again express this in our contribution to the 3 Printed by: Colour (ColourCubed.co.uk) Napoleon – revealing nothing at all beneath staff fund. Published on behalf of The East India Club by it. Waterloo 200 is making great progress I hope to see you at our seasonal events Charlie Jacoby, c/o The East India Club www.charliejacoby.com and we are beginning to see the plans for and I wish everyone a merry Christmas and Cover photo: Piccadilly 2015 taking shape. The club will be the happy and prosperous new year. venue for a Hougoumont dinner to celebrate Iain Wolsey, chairman

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 3 NEWS The club’s active sports sections see a combination of games Sports shorts played, including rugby and cricket, and sports events attended as spectators, including polo and the news that Auriol Cricket Kensington will have us for the Boat Race new summer event for the club diary will commence in 2014. SPORTS NEWS AThe East India Club cricket team will take on a President’s XI at Chobham the surroundings made up for this. Cricket Club in on Sunday 6 July. Polo The final event of the season was a Club members and their families welcome. contrast in the sense it was very busy. As by Harman Gill Guards Polo Club says, “The Duke of Cornwall Trophy is the last opportunity to take in some Rugby ith 111 members expressing high-goal matches at Guards Polo Club before interest in watching polo at the the season closes for another year. Played off irst match of 2014 is on Sunday W last count (numbers growing) and 16-goals, every game is great and the final 19 January vs London Business three fully subscribed trips during the 2013 always provides an exciting match on the F School, 2pm, home at The Hub, season, I am optimistic of a successful 2014 club’s main grounds.” I think they summed it Regents Park. Next match is Sunday 16 for the East India Club polo section. up pretty well. The weather was fantastic and March vs London Japanese (away). East The season got off to a busy start with a the company even better. India Club rugby has 140 members. trip of 30 members and guests attending In 2014, there will likely be four trips. The the Prince of Wales Final at the Royal County same format will be kept, ie transport to of Berkshire Polo Club. This was the first and from the clubs and tickets included. The Rowing opportunity to spectate at high goal polo and venues pencilled in for next year are once the teams really did deliver an exciting match again Guards Royal County of Berkshire and ur friends at Auriol Kensington despite the terrible rain. Sandhurst Polo clubs. Keep an eye on the Rowing Club are again letting us July saw members attending an invitational noticeboard for details and speak to the O hold an event at their clubhouse exhibition match at the Royal Military secretary to be added to the mailing list if you on Boat Race day, from 2.30pm on Sunday Academy Sandhurst between the Honourable are not already on it! 6 April, buffet bite to eat and drinks. Race Artillery Company and the cadets. This really at 6pm. Book via the secretary. was one of the best days of polo I have been to and I am sure this feeling was echoed by others. The hospitality was second to none, with access to the senior officers’ mess granted to our members. This was accompanied by a private pitch-side gazebo. This was a quiet event though with only about Members and guests at Auriol The Duke of Cornwall a dozen spectating other than our cohort (due Kensington in 2012 Trophy at Guards Polo Club to the private nature of the event), but I think

Ascot dates The new stand at Ascot

he dates for Ascot at the club’s box are now available. Jump days are T charged at £545, Flat days at £750 and Royal Ascot at £3,865, all plus VAT. The box caters for 12 for a sit down meal and 18 for a buffet. The box is numbered 447. If you would like to spend a day at the races, please contact the secretary.

Saturday 18 January (jumps) Saturday 15 February (jumps) Sunday 30 March (jumps) Saturday 21 June (Royal Ascot) Friday 3 October (fat) Wednesday 30 April (fat) Friday 11 July (fat) Saturday 4 October (fat) Friday 9 May - evening (fat) Saturday 12 July (fat) Saturday 18 October (fat) Saturday 10 May (fat) Friday 25 July (fat) Saturday 1 November (jumps) Tuesday 17 June (Royal Ascot) Saturday 26 July (fat) Friday 21 November (jumps) WednesdayHer Majesty 18 in June the (RoyalRoyal Box Ascot) at Ascot Sunday 27 July (fat) Saturday 22 November (jumps) Thursdayin June after 19 June her (Royalhorse Estimate, Ascot) 7/2 Saturday 9 August (fat) Friday 19 December (jumps) favourite, won the Gold Cup by a length Friday 20 June (Royal Ascot) Saturday 6 September (fat) Saturday 20 December (jumps)

4 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 NEWS The club is delighted to give honorary membership to the In brief charming and clubbable Archbishop Desmond Tutu; it hosts the Hamilton-Russell dinner with many plaudits; sees a new Luncheon Room look for the Luncheon Room and plans a roll of honour to commemorate the war dead from all constituent clubs Tutu’s company

Dempsey and peacemaker: Archbishop Desmond Tutu , whostayed at the club in November, with Maitre d’ James Dempsey. The club has conferred honorary membership on the South African peace campaigner, and he has accepted.

Dressed for success: the new-look Luncheon Room can easily change from café to a room for an evening event

espoke furniture, window seats and new carpet are the evident B updates to the room. The chosen design aimed to enhance the existing room and includes hand painted features Archbishop ...will they not and Maitre d’... stop talking? on the walls and additional lamp light. The enhancements have received many compliments and with the doors open and the lights on it has ‘opened up’ the front hall further. James and team have been busy with service to the room during the day by offering a snack menu and the ever team for putting on such a magnificent successful wine-by-the-glass selection. Chess evening. We were unfortunately not the To further mark a difference in facility the recipients of the Hamilton-Russell trophy committee are permitting members to refer by Nick Lloyd itself in 2012/13. to a phone or laptop on silent or use an The Joint team has made a slow start e-reader while in the room. The intention he lazy summer months are generally to the new season. In the first cup match, is to accommodate the use of electronic a slow time for the chess section and, we suffered a narrow 2½ to 3½ reverse devices while having a bite to eat. A table T while it is fair to suggest that most against the due to a default for one and reading an eBook or checking enjoyed the summer weather away from the on one board and the appearance of the messages while quaffing a glass of the chess boards, as a section we were fortunate World Correspondence Chess runner- sommelier’s finest is the image in mind. to host two exciting evenings. up on another. The friendly team also However the rules for no business papers in In July we were once again joined by Lorin suffered a disappointing defeat to the communal areas remains. D’Costa, international chess master, for an Reform (1-3), but compensated with The Dining Room remains the focus for evening of tutoring and dinner. The evening a surprising 2-2 draw against a strong formal entertainment over a longer meal provided a valuable insight into some of the side. while the more relaxed seating in the clever tricks that one can play from seemingly Smoking Room and Waterloo Room allows innocent or adverse positions to eventually you to enjoy sandwiches throughout the day. gain pieces and a significantly better position. A number of these were new material for Peter Haddock, our combined East India Club Roll of honour / team captain. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? ember David Keating is In September, we were privileged to host researching all those members the seventh annual Hamilton-Russell Dinner, M and staff of the East India, celebrating the London inter-club league. Devonshire, Sports, Public Schools and The food and drink was thoroughly enjoyed Eccentric clubs who died in war. Any Hamilton-Russell trophy organiser Danny by all who attended and showed off the best Rosenbaum presents the cup to RAC captain members who have suggestions for of the club. Thank you to the banqueting Stephen Meyler, at dinner at the East India Club candidates, please contact the secretary.

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 5 Club events attracted hundreds of members throughout the

LIBRARY LECTURE LIBRARY autumn. The house dinner remains among the most popular of In brief the year, with a strong following for the series of lectures and dinners organised by the library committee House dinner

embers enjoyed a superb Library Lecture dinner and speech from M Ian Senior, well known on the airwaves talking about Royal Mail Tragic rugby story matters. He also has an interest in Sir Stamford Raffles of the East India by St John Brown Company, which resulted in his co-writing a musical, Raffles of Singapore, a smaller version of which was performed at the he Library Lecture series is in full on these subjects and have made a number of East India Club in 2011. swing. We have just had an excellent recent purchases. Having just spent two weeks talk by Stephen Cooper ‘The Final in America, I can strongly recommend Doris T Members Whistle: The Great War in Fifteen Players’ Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. This book and guests (pictured). Stephen came across some of the was a major source for the recent filmLincoln . at dinner shocking casualty figures of those who had Lincoln was the least well known of the four played rugby before the Great War, and traces candidates for the Republican nomination the story through 15 men, all from Rosslyn in 1860. The other three (Seward, Chase Park, who were killed. A moving story. and Bates) were all much bigger hitters, but We try to maintain some topicality. There through a mixture of arrogance, stupidity, or are three major historical anniversaries taking things for granted, they lost to Lincoln, unfolding – the centenary of the Great War, who was everyone’s second choice. Lincoln the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, and managed to persuade them all to agree to we are in the midst of the 150th anniversary join his Cabinet and work together. The book of the American Civil War. We are also at shows what a masterful politician Lincoln was around the 200th anniversary of the British- (in the positive sense) and his extraordinary American War of 1812. The historian and TV ability to empathise with people, even if he presenter, Peter Snow, will be talking next disagreed with them. It provides an excellent year about both the War of 1812 (and the blend of biography, political analysis, and a burning of the White House), and the Duke clear overview of the Civil War. of Wellington – both of whom he has written about. We are trying to agree dates with a Civil War historian, to set up a lecture/dinner to boost the Hougoumont Appeal Fund, and the Great War (which will run and run for the next four years). On a lighter note, we are hoping Ian Senior to reschedule Sir Sherard Cowper Coles’ talk about his time as a diplomat for sometime in the new year. As a consequence of these anniversaries Turning the tables we have been reviewing the books we have he club’s backgammon section is fighting hard but it is a rearguard T action. The Cumberland Club is at the top of the London clubs league as East & West went to press, with the RAC and Roehampton and Home House in joint third. The club can take comfort that it may be in eighth place but it is only two places off frequent winners, the MCC. There are three Stephen Cooper matches to go. Anyone interested in playing lecturing and book-signing please contact the secretary: Tuesday 18 February 2014 vs Hurlingham Monday 17 March 2014 vs MCC Tuesday 8 April 2014 vs Roehampton To keep up to date with London club backgammon, visit www.mccbackgammon. com and click on the London League tab.

6 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 YACHTING The club enjoys a robust new section in a yachting squadron. Despite its rather grand and tongue in cheek name, the squadron is interested in all forms of pleasure craft that are powered along by sail or engine, whatever their age or size. Among activities in the autumn, it has enjoyed a good dinner at the club, decisions about burgees and possible ensigns, and a cruise to the Isle of Wight and back, with possibly more drink in the boat than underneath it YACHTING In spirit if not substance by Jim Miller, de facto Commodore Victualling

trusty crew assembled for a splendid dinner in the Dining Room A on 20 November 2013, including Alex Langley, George Barrett, Guy Gibbs, John Clarke, Lachlan Mulholland, Paul Rose, Rob Barrie, Tony Attard and the author. Members tucked in to rarebit, lamb off the trolley and cheese with a few variations off track. Paul Rose inadvertently left the table before the Loyal Toast and was duly fined. He generously bought the squadron a glorious bottle of Warre’s ’83 to follow up on the A cruise to the excellent magnums of the ’05 club claret which Isle of Wight had already been consumed by the crew. The squadron’s burgee seems to be chosen, enthusiastic to put himself or herself renting out a matched fleet, e.g. at Monaco, with the horizontal red and white stripes forward for something and be immediately Seaview, Gosport or Queen Mary to take linking back to the colours flown by East installed. I say ‘herself’ because one of the on other London clubs and/or reciprocals. Indiamen from the start of the 17th through to squadron’s members - and almost certainly Fastnet 2015 looms. the late 19th centuries. With simple colours and the most knowledgeable about many The squadron’s autumn cruise took pattern, this burgee will be easily recognisable nautical aspects including nautical artistic place on Saturday 5 October. A trusty crew from afar at sea. Some time ago, member Ron works - is an hon lady member of the club, consisting of Alex Langley, Jim Miller, Lachlan Rosner sent the club a similar superb striped also a member of the New York Yacht Club, Mulholland, Michael Smith, Paul Rose club fag of the 13 American Colonies. holders of America’s Cup for so many years. secretary Alex Bray sailed on the Rustler 36 Tony Attard kindly volunteered to sort out We may need to build enthusiasm in the Eagle out of Northney in Chichester Harbour a squadron tie, probably to have numerous areas of education, training, dinghies and to Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and back. flags on it, which could possibly be smaller powerboats. With the wind from the West at Force 3 it versions of the burgee. There was some discussion in the lead was a pleasant sail, with the sun breaking The squadron’s draft application for up to dinner about the fact that various out to shine above the Wight at lunchtime. privileged ensign status has been checked squadron members would not technically Courtesy of Mrs Helen Miller, victualling was by an expert recommended by the National be wearing ‘reefers’ to dinner but would be to an extremely high standard as one has Maritime Museum. As a result, I am applying doing so in spirit if not substance. Guy Gibbs come to expect of East India events. further polish to the submission before therefore invented the Squadron’s motto, ex Based largely on the types of meal further general review. spiritu substantiae. traditionally served at the club coach in the When it came to the loyal toast, the There was considerable discussion over car park at Twickenham rugby internationals, squadron debated whether to stand as whether we can get up to three boats over the hot and fine minestrone soup, beef stew landsmen or sit like naval officers. Being on to France or the Channel Islands and back and mashed potato were supplemented land we stood. next Spring. This seems a distinct possibility. by significant rations of chocolate brownie, Alex Langley volunteered and was We will get a potential date together so that blueberry biscuit, exquisite sausage rolls and heartily installed as secretary in charge of potential crew from among the squadron a large cheeseboard in order to counter the the squadron’s considerable organisational can volunteer for action and get pencils in high calorie burn during the voyage. Due to a resources. Paul Rose volunteered for the diaries. George Barrett is also interested in logistical failure to raid the club’s wine cellars, position of the squadron’s post captain organising some cruising around the coasts the crew made do with a rather sporting and was equally heartily installed, this title of northern and southern Brittany. Likewise, vintage Nyetimber sparkling wine, a plucky reflecting the immense enthusiasm Paul has Tony Attard envisages some superb warm French pinot noir and Old Speckled Hen beer. for getting the squadron into shape for the water possibilities in the Med, possibly out of Large reserves in Eagle’s hold of pinot grigio, 2015 Fastnet. mainland Spain. chardonnay, St Emilion, Becks, Laphroaig, The squadron is currently thought to The squadron is definitely on for entering Armagnac, Mount Gay Extra Old, Hendrick’s consist of about 65 interested club members at least one boat into the Round the Island. and Absolut remained untouched as the crew and there is room for just about anybody We are also looking into the possibility of finessed their sail trim.

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 7 It is a tradition that goes back to the , many of whose members joined the East India Club when they lost their

LORD MAYOR’S LUNCH MAYOR’S LORD own premises in Ryder Street in the 1980s: the Lord Mayor of London and acolytes come to the club each September for a lunch that is immensely popular with members LORD MAYOR’S LUNCH Drinks in the Smoking Room: Professor Roger Another packed Dining Room Benson (left) with John Pervin

oger Gifford is a London banker and club for lunch. the 685th Lord Mayor of London, The club made a donation to the Lord R serving for 2012-13. As one of the Mayor’s charitable appeal, ‘The City in Society’, more entertaining jobs he undertook as which works to show the City of London as a part of a year serving as a globe-trotting global centre for philanthropy and the arts. ambassador for UK-based financial and The Lord Mayor’s luncheon is always a business services in the City, he came to the sell-out. Anil Khosla (right) and guest Andrew

The Lord Mayor At table: Members and guests enjoy a splendid arrives at the club luncheon

After lunch: Lord Mayor Roger Gifford receives Crossing the floor: Members and guests go into At ease: Trumpeters from the Household Cavalry applause for his speech the Dining Room for lunch await the arrival of the Lord Mayor

8 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 The screaming reels and popping corks that make fyfishing FLYFISHING such a pleasure are nowhere more apparent than in the East India Club’s fyfishing section. A programme of events includes huge trout like these pictured, more delicate wild fish, overseas fishing trips and an annual dinner in February FLYFISHING

n conjunction with the Lawyer’s Fishing Club, the East India Club’s fyfishing Isection has again taken a rod on the River Loddon at Stratfield Saye in Hampshire What a day: which – quite apart from the lovely fishing fishing at Avington in – is appropriate considering the club’s links Hampshire, with Waterloo and the estate’s links with member Keith Cronshaw the Duke of Wellington. The hot weather in with a 6lb 8oz summer 2013 had an impact on the quality rainbow trout of the water and the fishing. However, the caught on a gold headed Loddon is one of several fishing forays the pheasant section made during the year. tailed nymph. Next year, the section and the Lawyers’ His brother caught an 11lb Fishing Club will hold their joint annual fish (pictured dinner on Saturday 25 January. Speaker above) will be distinguished musician and Radio 2 presenter Frank Renton, who has variously run a music school in York, played with Versatile Brass and worked with the BBC Concert and Radio Orchestras.

Harvest Festival

embers and guests boarded a coach in St James’s Square to M take them on their annual trip to the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula in the Tower of London for the Harvest Festival Members came back to the club for lunch service. Club chaplain Reverend Roger Hall is Canon of the Chapels Royal within the Tower of London. He is the first Canon at the Tower since the 17th century. The At the altar: Member Daniel Cartwright and his Bishop of London recently asked HM The family in front of the Harvest offerings, including bread baked specially by the club kitchen Queen to reinstate the Canonry and a Royal Warrant was signed. Originally a parish church, the chapel was incorporated into the walls of the castle during Henry III’s expansion. It has been rebuilt at least twice, once in the reign of Edward I and then again in its present form in Henry VIII’s reign. Three queens of England, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey, and two saints of the Roman Catholic Church, Sir Thomas More and John Fischer, are buried here. Their headless bodies were buried under the nave or chancel without memorial until the 19th century when remains found in the nave were Old soldiers: retired Paras had their colours Club chaplain and Canon of the Chapels Royal re-interred. blessed during the service Roger Hall (left), with Reverend Cortland Fransella

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 9 WATERLOO The countdown has started to the 200th anniversary of a stable balance of power on the continent. battle that changed the world and brought peace to Europe for In the autumn, the club chairman Iain Wolsey and assistant secretary Keith half a century. The club is involved with the commemorations Goldacre attended a Waterloo 200 event on behalf of the club. Among events planned for 2014, the WATERLOO 200 National Army Museum in Chelsea is holding a series of talks from January to March, covering subjects including the Battle of Barossa 1811 and ‘Military At the charge map makers in India’. The National

After the battle: The farmhouse at Hougoumont

Maritime Museum in Greenwich has a new permanent gallery open called ‘Nelson, Navy, Nation’. There are a number of events outside London, and there are 200th aniversary events in 2014 in Toulouse, Bayonne, and Bergen op Zoom in Holland. In 2015, there is more to look forward to, including exhibitions at Windsor Castle, the British Museum and the National General officers: A view of the men who commanded at Waterloo by William Mudford, who produced Portrait Gallery. The commemorations in an historical account of the campaign in the Netherlands, covering the Battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo . This picture shows, left-right, the Prince of Orange, the Duke of Brunswick, the Duke of June 2015 include a pageant on Horse Wellington, General Lord Hill, General Sir Thomas Picton, Prince Blucher and the Marquis of Anglesey

vents marking the 200th anniversary of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of of the campaign that culminated Waterloo. It can bestow official status upon E in the Battle of Waterloo are now organisations that it feels would make a underway The club is involved with the valuable contribution to the celebrations and, Waterloo 200 committee. indeed, the general good of the countries In 1973 the Duke of Wellington founded involved. the Waterloo Committee following a The writer Victor Hugo characterised successful joint effort with Lord Anglesey Waterloo as the ‘hinge on the door to the to stop the building of 19th Century’. The metaphor a motorway across the The writer Victor signals the importance of the Curtain-raiser: The Battle of Quatre Bras, battlefield in Belgium. Hugo characterised battle, not only heralding a between Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army and the Since then the Waterloo period of sustained peace, but left wing of the Armée du Nord under Marshal Waterloo as Michel Ney, was fought near the strategic Committee has continued also as the closing event in the crossroads of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 to preserve and enhance “ the ‘hinge on the first global confict in which the battlefield, encourage door to the 19th military actions had taken place Guards, a Wellington Banquet at Guildhall historical research and century’ on sea and land, across Europe, and a conference in Vienna. On 18 June, promote public education in Russia, Egypt, the Caribbean the new Waterloo Dispatch departs and appreciation of the history of the and North and South America. Waterloo (the battlefield, not the station), wars between Great Britain, her allies, For Europe, it put an end to a long period there are re-enactments of the battles, and France. With the bi-centenary of that of war, instability and change, precipitating a Regency Fair in St James’s Square and, battle of 1815 now only a few years away, ”a number of useful reforms, but also sowing on 21 June, the new Waterloo Dispatch a commemorative committee has been the seeds of nationalism which was the arrives at St James’s Square much as it established, ‘Waterloo 200’. origin of many subsequent conficts; more did in 1815, and will be delivered to the Waterloo 200 Ltd is an umbrella immediately the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo Room where the Prince Regent organisation approved and supported by Waterloo confirmed the conclusions of the was that night enjoying a party at what Government to oversee the celebration Congress of Vienna, setting a new, more was then Mrs Boehm’s house.

10 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 The fastest gamebird in the world is also one of the mostly keenly sought-after by London diners, especially when DINNER GROUSE cooked to perfection. Few places in the capital, however, attempt a dinner for nearly 100 where every grouse is spot on. Remarkably, that’s what the club’s grouse dinner does

GROUSE DINNER Left-right: Christine and Bevis Clark-Smith, Lucinda Henzel-Thomas and Ken Kirkland

here is no great rush to deliver grouse to the club. After all, the birds were T small this year on the Glorious Twelfth and the best of the shooting started in September. They were perfectly sized for the grouse dinner in September, however, where members tucked into birds cooked perfectly pink by chef and his staff. After-dinner speaker was Andrew Crawford, who runs the CLA Game Fair, a festival of Left-right: Stephen and Julia Allen, Geraldine and Left-right: Richard Fronzoni, Rob Atkin, hunting, shooting and fishing that takes Peter Matthison, and Helen and Frank Renton John Goodridge and David Salvason place at Blenheim Palace at the end of July, just before the 2014 grouse season begins. In amusing detail, Andrew spelt out the difficulties of organising one of the UK’s biggest outdoor events.

Left-right: Paul , Michael, Mary, Sammy and Adam Takla, and Katy Brown Andrew Crawford of the CLA Game Fair

grounds. Inside, the sound level would be too A message from the Pigeon Loft high and outside, ex-military men enjoying our garden would storm the club, their mess- by Alan Taylor within might not be forthcoming. In the end tins at the ready. This would just not do and it we decided on a ‘softly, softly’ approach. was decided to send one of us to the library ccasionally we pigeon lofters like to Accordingly, from now on the pigeon loft to seek inspiration from literature. let the other members know what close harmony trio would croon either Bing A sure-fire suggestion this, for hardly Ogoes on in our discussions. Some Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ or Mel Tormé’s had the deputed pigeon lofter entered that suggestions for changes are at first limited to ‘Mountain Greenery’ (depending on the hallowed place when he felt he was on to our own area, but we hope our ideas will, in season) outside the door of the ‘offender’. something. Dickens was bound to provide time, find acceptance in the regions beneath. Next we turned our attention to a matter the answer! Having a good head for heights, Thus we recently concentrated our minds affecting the whole club. The problem here he started climbing the circular steps on on how to rouse our heavy slumberers in the was how to alert members to the beginning the left side of the window until he reached morning so that bedroom staff were not kept of lunch or dinner so that watches could the third shelf from the top. After taking waiting. Those of us with army experience be synchronized and minds concentrated down Martin Chuzzlewit he soon found what were keen on adopting a practice in their on appearance at table at the time agreed. was needed. In Mrs Todgers’s ‘Commercial early training whereby a zinc bucket was Once more a military solution was proposed. Boarding House’ in London, Bailey Junior, kicked down the barrack room accompanied At the allotted time a bugler would play – in the boots, announced dinner so everyone in by the words ‘Let’s be ‘avin ya!’ There were the reception area and outside our front the building could hear. All we needed to do two objections to this. Firstly, our fitted entrance – ‘Come to the cookhouse door was - at the appropriate moment - to let his carpets would dampen the sound and boys, come to the cookhouse door!’ Some words resound throughout the club: “The secondly, ready compliance from the sleeper of our number found fault with this on two wittles is up!”

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 11 SWEDEN Members of the Svenska Klubben i Helsingfors came to the East India Club in the autumn. The Svenska Klubben was founded in 1880 by some of the younger teachers and students at Alexander University in Helsinki. Not as young as they once were, the club’s aim has always been its members’ gregarious socialising and recreation, which is what led them inevitably to our corner of St James’s Square SWEDISH VISITORS

by Iain Wolsey

t was a Friday evening and there was a lot of Swedish language reverberating I in the front hall. Some 34 members of Svenska Klubben i Helsingfors made dinner at the East India the centrepiece of their annual outing – this year to London. Chef produced an excellent dinner served in our new ‘Wine Bar’ (the Luncheon Room) and Helan Går was sung with gusto as the aquavit was downed in one. The glasses, however, were not thrown against the wall. Their chairman Henrik Hultin kindly invited me and secretary Alex Bray to join the dinner and graciously made his speech in English. This kindness was met by rebukes from his own members when he referred repeatedly to ‘Helsinki’- the Finnish and English name for Use your Swede: Svenska Klubben members in the Finland’s capital city - instead of ‘Helsinfors’ Smoking Room as it has been known in Swedish since the 14th century days of King Gustav Vasa. The club are not too keen to use Finnish words elegant Swedish alternative. exclusive group of members of this fine old where there is a perfectly good and more For more on reciprocals, see page 18

Rugby lunches

by Matthew Ebsworth

he club’s rugby lunches took place in November. Organised by T Matthew Ebsworth, they were held on Friday 1 November in advance of England v Australia the following day, where England won 20-13, and on Friday 15 November, just ahead of England’s 30- 22 loss to , Both were well supported by members and their guests. JV Smyth, of England, 1948 attended along with a London Welsh contingent comprising 15 of the 1980s’ squad. They celebrated the get-together with hymns and arias – and on into the American bar. Those Welsh can sing. Equally, we had some distinguished Television dinner: Club members and guests ate well and talked rugby, in the hope of England victory guests before the New Zealand game. and without being weighed down by an England loss The chairman and ex-chairman, Iain Wolsey and David Cartwright, were in fine However among the guests were England; Alex Woodhouse and Simon form. David’s grace before lunch evoked Neil Edwards, a stalwart member who Cooke of Harlequins. memories of the Ggrace last year, when represented Scotland, Northampton There are more rugby lunches to he called on God’s intervention. The call, and Harlequins; Bob Hiller, Harlequins look forward to on 20 February and 7 alas, did not materialise this year. and England; Huw Davies, Wasps and March 2014.

12 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 GOLF

EPICS collects on its promises, and that is why Ian Holmes organised a golfing tour of Northern Ireland in the summer. Members including Bill Peacock, Graham Naisbitt and Duncan Steele-Bodger, gladly took up the challenge of four rounds of golf on four different courses over four days, based around Ian Holmes’s original golfing home, the Royal Portrush Golf Club. Needless to say, it wasn’t just about the golf... EPICS’ TOUR OF PORTRUSH by Lt Col Ian Holmes

everal years ago now, when I was finishing my time as secretary of S Woking Golf Club, John Wood, Robin Beckwith and Graham Naisbitt invited me to join the golfers on a more permanent basis. In accepting their kind invitation, I offered to organise a tour to Northern Ireland - my original home and I am still a member at Royal Portrush GC. That tour took place this summer. Through old friends and contacts, the tour was to consist of four rounds of golf, on four different courses, over four days and all in the area of Portrush, which was to be our base for three nights. Paul Blows, our captain, announced the team - which consisted of several from different parts of the south of England but also some from north of London and even one from Scotland. Thus, putting together an overall programme, particularly from a logistics angle, looked quite challenging. The old military mind got EPICS left-right: Gareth Clark, Bill Peacock and Graham Naisbitt to work and that one tourist from Scotland (Bill Peacock) assured me it all worked well. Championship and its association with labelled. That same evening we entertained Ironically, the only one really to suffer was the Darren Clarke. This team included another the Rathmore GC team to dinner in our hotel. tour organiser himself, whose fights into and ex Irish rugby international (also played for The craic was great, the audience learned out of NI were both delayed. the Barbarians) who gave Duncan another much about the tour organiser’s sporting The golf itself was both challenging and close game. We then finished the golfing background from the Rathmore president (an memorable. We were blessed with very element of the tour with a set of foursome old school colleague), and the drinks’ bill was reasonable golfing weather throughout but, matches, among ourselves, at Portstewart enormous. under bright blue skies on the last morning, GC. We were greeted by really stunning views The same coach re-appeared the following the wind was literally brutal. of the coastline, looking westward towards morning to take us to the historic Dunluce We started with friendly four-ball games, County Donegal, under bright blue skies but Castle. It has to be said that there were among ourselves at Castlerock, at the end accompanied by a quite brutal wind. What a moments (particularly on some steep of which one tourist from Croydon remarked way to finish. inclines) when we wondered if we would that that was the best course he had ever A tour of this kind must also have some even make that short journey. played. I suggested that he might like to social and cultural aspects to it. At the end That evening we were royally entertained review that remark at the end of the tour. of a very pleasant getting-to-know-you by the Royal Portrush team in their That round was meant to serve as a useful dinner on the first night in our comfortable magnificent clubhouse (albeit at our expense) warm-up for our first match the next day accommodation, the tour organiser and were thus able to view the very special, against Rathmore GC, over the Valley Course suggested that the team should wear their small museum of famous golfing memorabilia. at Royal Portrush. It didn’t quite work out that EPICS ties the next morning, the reason being The bill for drinks wasn’t quite as great as the way as we were soundly defeated. Included that we were going, as a special group, to visit previous evening. in the opposition were Graeme McDowell’s the world famous Bushmills Distillery - and in On the last day, some were able to really father and an ex Irish rugby international a special vintage coach. visit the Giant’s Causeway and one (Howard (needless to say ‘young’ Steele-Bodger had The short drive eastwards, towards the Seymour) then embarked upon a proper to be matched against him). Several lessons renowned Giant’s Causeway, was quite cultural holiday around NI before returning to were learned on that day, but to little avail. spectacular with hardly a cloud in the sky Dublin to catch his boat home. We were soundly defeated the next day, nor a ripple on the Irish Sea. The distillery Everyone returned in one piece, more or this time by the Royal Portrush GC team looked after us extremely well and, to mark less, and photographs now help to retain the over the world famous Dunluce Course ; the occasion, our Captain was presented with enduring memories of what clearly was a also well known for hosting the 1951 Open a special bottle of Bushmills - appropriately really memorable tour. When is the next one?

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 13 WINE

Some 45 members sacrificed an evening in lovely sunshine to microclimate that optimises for growth hence the finest and most delicate style come to the club’s sherry tasting in July. Sommelier Eric made of biologically-aged sherry. The first wine sure that the air-conditioning was running full tilt was a manzanilla called Reposada for, after 11 years or so in cask, as the for weakens, a degree of controlled oxidation gives it WINE a deeper gold hue and develops complex aromas of mixed nuts and savoury brioche. The other wine was aged biologically for Sherry tasting the legal minimum required of three years then, once further fortified to kill the for,

The expert’s expert: club sommelier Eric in action

oxidatively for an extra three years. The red-copper-coloured wine in a style known as Amontillado is light still, yet nuttier and more roasted in character.These wines are perfect accompaniments to tapas and cooked fish dishes. The penultimate pair featured two dry sherries aged oxidatively from the start: the rare and lightly structured Palo Cortado and the more robust Oloroso.

by Eric Lagré So why would I entitle the event ‘The New Face of Sherry’? Tapas bars with extended hen I informed the club magazine sherry wine lists are multiplying across that my sherry article following London. Sherry is the new craze. Sherry is the W the club’s sherry tasting wouldn’t fortified wine that is the most versatile as an make it in time to feature in the summer accompaniment to food. issue, I was told that it could easily wait until Every sherry is aged oxidatively in the Finally, I produced a Pedro Ximénez December, when it would be much more solera system, hence it is a symphony from the neighbouring Montilla-Morilles. pertinent. Others joked that I should have in brown. The exceptions to the rule are There, sherry-like wines are produced. postponed the event to a much later date the most delicate of dry sherries: fino and Conditions are too hot to produce fine fino, as the weather was scorching hot. These manzanilla. Their pale lemon yellow colour as the for breaks down early and the wine remarks perfectly refect is protected from oxidation starts oxidising prematurely. Amontillado the specific taste of the by a veil of living yeast that virtually translates a-’Montilla’-ed for that Sherry is the new British for sweetened types winemakers allow to grow exact reason. Sherry-like wines produced of sherry. Two household craze. Sherry is the on the surface of the wine in in Montilla do not qualify for the Jerez- brands, Croft Original and fortified wine that partially filled casks. Xérès-sherry DO, let’s make that clear, Bristol Cream, make up more is most versatile as The second pair of wines I but Montilla is a legal source of PX for than 50% of the UK market “ presented contrasted a still, light the sherry industry. PX is so sticky sweet an accompaniment between them. Breaking the wine from the Palomino grape and somewhat sickening that it is often to food rules, I opened the tasting with an unfined, unfiltered marketed as an alternative to chocolate with those benchmarks, version of Tio Pepe, the biggest sauce on top of vanilla ice cream. Alongside anxious to see members pull faces. Croft brand of fino. The aim was to highlight that it, I ended with the style that opened the Original, exclusively drunk here, vaguely total transformation of the aromatic profile tasting: cream. The chosen blend of nutty tastes of lemonade infused with apple core, from base wine to fino through biological oloroso and dry-fruity PX displayed layers some arguing that the finish is no more than ”ageing. The following pair put manzanilla upon layers of complexity after 30 years alcoholic sugary water. As for Bristol Cream, centre stage. This type of fino is matured in spent in the solera system, proof that the biggest brand of sherry in the world, it is Sanlúcar de Barrameda rather than in one of blended sherry can be first class – and reminiscent of liquidised Christmas pudding, the other two centres of ageing: Jerez and remain a favourite with the British – as on as eaten by the elderly. El Puerto. The coastal town benefits from a the night with our members.

14 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 WINE

Eric’s best-attended tasting to date featured the least-loved wines to sully the palates of members and guests – but there were gems in there too

blend, one of only two I am aware of, made Wine oddities with pinot gris grapes. Next, a Concord blend from New York State. I begged the attendees by Eric Lagré not to try this wine before the end, if at all, for it would ruin their palates. The nose

here were a few concoctions I alone, pungent with artificial aromas of 2010 Rkatsiteli: ‘Georgis is the cradle of the wine was curious to share, regardless strawberry bubblegum, cough mixture industry,’ says Eric. ‘I read about that in Metro.’ T of whether It would turn into an and fruit-scented detergent, was ghastly incoherent mess. Curiously, as I started enough to make the point. Alongside it, the formalising the event, a narrative started to Burgundian finesse of a Verdejo from Rueda, emerge. It might be akin to bedtime reading Spain, shone through. for a five-year-old child, with sleights of hand Quality wine definitely counts among the and rabbits in hats, but I hoped it would be luxury goods every developed country ought entertaining. I would string surprises one to have. If countries want to start producing after the other in a roller-coaster-like effect wine, they can either adopt easily identifiable so that, in one hour, one would be taken on European blends or they create their own, a dizzying trip round the world and through building a national wine identity in the same history, starting with the big bang, from the movement. I exemplified the alternative with 2009 Le Nombre d’Or champagne: ‘Phylloxera a Bordeaux blend I few from China especially first vine planted by Noah after the deluge in threw a bit of a curved ball into the wine Asia Minor to an emerging wine industry in and a varietal wine made from koshu, a grape industry in Europe,’ says Eric. the Orient and some wine mutation in good variety native to Japan. The former was made old Europe. Fasten your seat belts. from grapes planted as late as in 1998, only The oldest fermentation vessel, or to be made into wine by a government-run qvevri, was unearthed in Georgia, Southern winery in 2005 for the first time. The 2009 Caucasus, containing seeds of rkatsiteli, vintage won the first international trophy for one of the oldest grape vines. A qvevri is a China in 2011. This is the wine I presented. huge amphora-style clay pot, but with no Finally, I wanted to return to Europe with handles, which is traditionally buried in the two Valpolicella wines from the Veneto. ground. The crushed grapes – seeds, skins, Amarone has long been rejected as a wine stalks and all – are left within it to ferment fault. It accidentally occurred as the wild then the macerating wine is sealed in with yeast would adapt to poisonous levels of beeswax and clay. The result is ‘orange wine’. sweetness and alcohol, thereby managing NV American Concord grape (kosher): ‘It smells like berry-favoured red detergent,’ says I contrasted it with a Kakethian wine from to ferment the wine to dryness. Wine can Eric. ‘Don’t taste it. It will ruin your palate.’ the French Jura left untouched to age for a be odd, but when it is good, it is good. It is as minimum of six years and three months in plain as that. Be adventurous. Get tasting! barrel. One sip of this rare Savagnin wine, I dedicate this wine tasting to my late stimulatingly nutty and tangy in character, mother, who passed away on the day of the like a Madeiran Sercial, makes one feel more event; all too young, all too soon. It is from intelligent at once. As a palate cleanser, I her that I take my playful and joyous taste chose vintage champagne: a pre-phylloxera for the odd.

2004 Amarone: ‘Amarone was only commercially available in 1952,’ says Eric. ‘Horsemeat and Amarone is a delight.’

2012 Valpolicella Saseti: ‘It has an elegant Win oddities: simplicity about it, the black cherry that makes it Eric’s selection a great wine,’ says Eric.

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 15 STAFF NEWS STAFF Staff news A member of the 14-strong housekeeping department, Flora Soriano is responsible for cleaning the common Long service areas of the Club

he club’s staff is its backbone. The chairman was delighted to give STAFF PROFILE T awards for long service to the following staff members (pictured). FLORA SORIANO

Left-right: the secretary, the chairman, Elias Kyriazis, Alex Carino, assistant secretary Tim Wilks, Karim Kerrechi, senior manager Bruno Corraza and reception supervisor Susie Matheis Staff awards

hree members of staff won City & Guilds awards from Westminster T Kingsway College: Marco Coffaro, Iker Banales and Santiago Lobato Fuertes (pictured).

lora Soriano has worked at the Her day at the club starts at 6am when club since 1999. She arrived as a she vacuums the DIning Room, which Shiny new offices F chambermaid and for the last two opens at 6.45am. Then she cleans the years, has become well-known to members Smoking Room, the Waterloo Room and who meet her while she cleans the public other areas. She has a break for breakfast Before... areas of the club. She is one of a staff of 14 at 7.30am. in the housekeeper’s department. She works every day until 1pm. In the From the Philippines, Flora was born four afternoon, she does some housekeeping hours from Manila. Her parents had a fruit work for a Cypriot family. “I speak Greek stall at the local market. She was one of sometimes,” she says. four boys and four girls, two now deceased. Tuesday is her day off. She likes Flora is the only one of the listening to music – siblings to come to the UK. especially country & I explain to people She started her life outside western. the Philippines as a nanny in that I work in a club. Flora goes back every ...after Brunei. She moved to the UK My son checked on two years to visit her family in 1991 with her family from the internet to see in the Philippines. She has Brunei and liked the country“ three children. the youngest what kind of club so much she asked them if was disabled and died in it is n obviously patient colleague noted she could stay. She worked childhood. Her son is 33 and with relish that the offices were to as a housekeeper for them her daughter 29. Her son A be refurbished by commenting that until 1999. She heard about the job at the works in the World Trade Centre in Dubai she had been ‘promised a lick of paint 11 years club from a friend of hers, also from the and her daughter is a lawyer in Manila. ago’! Well, better late than never. The office Philippines, the long-serving staff member” Flora lives in Dollis Hill. space has been transformed. No more ‘hot Lolita Morgan. “It was difficult for me to “I explain to people back home that I desking’ for Candy with accounts. An office understand what a club was when I first work in a club and they are very glad I have to themselves for Anne and Alison and a new started, but it has become easier,” she says. that job,” she says. office with a window for Tim and Bruno. The “I thought it was like a hotel. The members “My son checked on the internet to see use of glass walls has delivered a much- are very good people.” what kind of club it is.” needed light and airy feel.

16 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 CLUB NEWS CLUB storage of belongings, lockers are available A word from the secretary to hire. Please ask the Accounts Office for by Alex Bray availability and help keep the cloakroom for its primary short term use. ompletely happily fetch a newspaper or magazine to Looking ahead to the start of the new transformed, the pass the time. The other is the brief to the year we will have scaffolding up around the C Luncheon Room staff on the definition of a casual trouser. front lift shaft to facilitate the redecoration has benefited from The guide is that if pockets or seams are of the stairwell top to bottom. Putting all the refurbishment, as have sewn on the outside of the trouser then shields back up will be fun! and we will have the fifth foor single they are unsuitable. some of the art around the stairs restored at rooms overlooking Duke Congratulations to Santiago and Iker, head the same time. Street. This last project waiters and Marco, stewards supervisor, for Season’s best wishes from the didn’t exactly go according to plan with the completing the supervisory management management and staff. discovery after start of asbestos lagging level 3 course which required once a month around hidden pipework. This required the attendance at Westminster Kingsway necessary application for permissions for College over seven months, being monitored controlled removal, which inevitably put in the work place and preparing a portfolio strain on the project. of evidence. Iker also secured the best The new club red, Chateau De Ciffre, can student on the course award for his efforts. be found on the wine order form for home And passing a milestone of long service and delivery in the UK and for collection from the receiving 10 year service pins have been, club. Also new to the shop is a rather smart Elias - reception, Karim - hall porter and Alex box of chocolates, well done Sandra, and for - kitchen porter. the first time a scarf in club colours. Please note that the clubhouse closes On a couple of points of protocol, which for Christmas and New Year from 4pm on are occasionally queried, the club’s mutual Monday 23 December and re-opens at 9am trading status requires members to on Thursday 2 January 2014. We will take host their guests in the club house. This the opportunity to clear out unclaimed necessitates that guests arriving before the belongings from the cloakroom so please member are asked to wait in the front hall, claim your items ahead of this. Members may I’m afraid, prior to being signed in. We will like to know that for longer term, routine East India Club Wine Order Form

ORDER THESE WINES FROM OUR WINE ORDER THESE WINES MERCHANT FOR HOME DELIVERY FROM THE ACCOUNTS OFFICE FOR PAYMENT Wine per case of 12 bottles Totals I enclose a cheque payable to Davy’s AND COLLECTION Club Champagne / £137.50 for 6 for £ FROM THE CLUB Club white / £119 OR Club white Burgundy / £144 I authorise you to debit my Wines and spirits per case of 12 bottles Mastercard/Visa/Maestro by Club claret £109 Club red (de Ciffre) / £137 Club white £109 Club claret / £119 £ Club red (de Ciffre) £127 Card no Club white Burgundy £134 Club Champagne (per case of 6) £132.50 GRAND TOTAL Club Cognac VSOP per 70cl bottle £43.50 Name Issue no Membership no Expiry date Address Wine gift box Three East India Club wines in Postcode presenta- tion Daytime telephone Please send your order with credit box – club claret, card details or cheque to: Special delivery instructions club white Davy’s and 161-165 Greenwich High Road, club white Greenwich, London, SE10 8JA Burgundy. Tel: 020 8858 6011 £41.25 Fax: 020 8853 3331

Email: [email protected] Not chargeable to account. Card with handling All prices include VAT Website: www.davy.co.uk fee, cash or cheque.

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 17 RECIPROCALS Metropolitan The club has a wide range of reciprocal memberships. They are available to visit with a letter of introduction from the by Dr Neo Douvartzidis secretary. East & West welcomes reviews of these clubs

he Metropolitan Club of New York was founded in 1891 as a private Adelaide Club T social club by the great banker, J P Morgan, who served as its first president. he Adelaide Club, South Australia Other original members include William has been celebrating its 150th Vanderbilt and James A Roosevelt. The club T anniversary this year and has itself was built in 1912 on land purchased sent over a very nice volume of their club from the Duchess of Marlborough (the history which we have placed in our Library. transaction taking place in the United States Their club reports that refurbishment has embassy in London). The clubrooms are updated their club internally and externally located on the upper eastside of Manhattan and includes a new passenger lift providing on the corner of 60th Street and Fifth direct access in to the clubhouse. They note Avenue. The club therefore faces the that reciprocal members may host additional club listings), as the place to discover more picturesque central park on what is one of guests in their clubhouse and to refer to about their club and the various tourist the great avenues of the world. their website, (go via our website’s reciprocal attractions in South Australia.

Obituary: Jack ‘Jackie’ Rea

ack Rea was an East India Club Commandos) to punch him out cold. snooker professional in the years Higgins would later profusely apologise J after the Second World War. Born and Higgins and Rea remained strong in Dungannon, County Tyrone, friends. When Alex Higgins married

Metropolitan Club: front entrance Northern Ireland, he started playing Lynn Hough in 1980, Rea was one of at the age of nine in the billiard room six people who held an arch of cues Starting life as a gentlemen’s club, it now of the pub his father managed in under which the couple walked as they welcomes female members. The facilities Dungannon. Rea won the All-Ireland left Winslowe Reformed Church. The are grand and include a library, billiard room, Snooker Championship in 1947 and also other five people were John Virgo, John private reading rooms and a bar and dining the Northern Irish Snooker Championship Smyth, David Taylor, Bruce Donkin and hall. The original dining room was located the same year. He went on to become actor Gareth Hunt. on a lower foor, but the club has built a Irish Professional Champion in 1952 Rea was 92 years old when he died. magnificent roof terrace on the sixth foor through his defeat of Jack Bates and held that enjoys splendid views of not only the the championship until defeated by Alex Jack Rea park, but the city skyline. Various grades of Higgins in January 1972. Rea held Higgins accommodation are available, but I would to 5-4 after the first session, but Higgins advise members to request a park view room pulled away to win 28-12. The last on the fifth foor. These rooms are 501, 502, scheduled session was not required and 503 and 504 at a price of approx US $550 so was played as an exhibition match. per night plus taxes. Although the reception Rea and Higgins were friends. Higgins, staff will not guarantee this request, given however, once insulted Rea’s wife Betty, demand, my experience is that they are leading to Rea (who had been in the very helpful and do try their best. Buffet style breakfast is included in the cost and members can book a table for either lunch and minibar, telephone, shower and bath, walking trails of Central Park, with all or dinner. The Metropolitan Club takes great cable television, remote wifi, hair dryer, iron shopping amenities close by. There is a pride in its selection of local foods, and the and ironing board, and a safe. Laundry services subway located adjacent to the club, so that wine list is magnificent and fairly priced. The are also available to members at additional members can traverse the city with ease. dress code is similar to that of the East India cost. The staff are very helpful and genuinely Catching taxis is not fun, as the traffic jams Club, requiring a jacket and tie in the Dining courteous, and try and accommodate specific of New York put London’s to shame. The club Room and common areas. Mobile phones requests such as English breakfast tea and is also secure with two doormen, one at the may not be used at any time in the club and horseradish in the dining room. The club’s single street entrance, and one at the club tipping is not permitted. Neat casual wear is secretary, Anthony Nuttall, is a UK national, entrance. The staff did their very best to accepted for guests who exit the club directly and you can sense his British infuence on make our stay an enjoyable experience. from their bedrooms. I am pleased to say that daily life at the Metropolitan Club. I would strongly recommend our members their dress standards are high and the dining The position of the club is ideal as it of the East India Club to use the Metropolitan room particularly enforces this dress code is centrally located in arguably the most Club as their home away from home when without exception. The guest bedrooms are exclusive area of Manhattan. Members can they next visit New York. I had a wonderful spacious and luxurious, and include a fridge enjoy daily exercise on the picturesque experience and plan on returning soon.

18 EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 A Daffin Esq J Luehrs Esq JD Shields Esq New members NEW MEMBERS RM Drabble Esq H Moore Esq SN Shirm Esq The club welcomes the following: AJ Ferrara Esq CPG Osborne Esq Professor ME Smith M Allender Esq S Brown Esq AR Fox Esq GM Paulsen Esq ARJ Sturdy Esq K Alzarka Esq JC Bryce Esq Dr CL Barkei PM Burtonshaw Esq PA Goodson Esq Dr JF Perry MTW Taylor Esq Dr M Bauneister G Campi Esq RGH Groom Esq A Reid Esq WH Tooke Esq M Bender Esq AP Catlin Esq GW Hawker Esq E Rice Esq P Van Cleve Esq JA Berg Esq N Constantinou Esq RM Henry Esq GM Riesel Esq GAW Watkins Esq MH Briggs Esq KP Cook Esq RM Heslop Esq RJ Rutledge Esq BD Wood Esq JM Brook Esq G Corabi de Marchi Esq H Lambert Esq J Scott-Lee Esq S Younes Esq

New J7 members A Martin Esq School, Wakefield Whitgift School LLL Mitchell Esq TR Golden Esq The club welcomes the following: S Upward Esq P Nelson-Jones Esq C Brown Esq Arnold School Dulwich College FWD Robyns Esq Winchester College WJT Shaw Esq S Chai Esq Royal Grammar School, S Aoto Esq Guildford King’s School, Bruton JW Brougham Esq Eastbourne College Ashville College NCAW Simpson Esq NAF Cockle Esq AAJR Ferrigno Esq APC Macdonald Esq JP Robinson Esq S Hall Esq JR Gagrat Esq Loretto School A Swirski Esq Eltham College J Mok Esq Birkdale School CDG Simpson Esq JCA Ward Esq CJ Meiring Esq TW Davies Esq Rugby School Manchester Grammar School OWH Miller Esq Woodbridge School Bloxham School Epsom College JWB Craig Esq AMI Roden Esq OR Pelendrides Esq OM Fox Esq HG Barrett Esq Merchant Taylor’s School Sedbergh School Blundell’s School Eton College JC Thacker Esq J Forrester Esq Wycliffe College MI Oddy Esq J Cheng Esq ODC Pollock Esq ECH Price Esq C Eichhorn Esq Merchiston Castle School Bradford Grammar School CSP Gray Esq RA Wootton Esq Sherborne School Yarm School EJC Lund Esq J Hamilton-Deeley Esq AM Horwood Esq MR Cant Esq K Patel Esq Monmouth School AHC Pearmund Esq HGK Runnacles Esq G Ross Skinner Esq Bromsgrove School B Maltman Esq HO Robins Esq HTH Lai Esq E Seward Esq ND Spencer Esq W Tilston Esq Newcastle-Under-Lyme Shrewsbury School Deceased School E Green Esq Canford School CR Armstrong Esq OBE Exeter School RA Edmends Esq SR Shukla Esq WG Muggleton Esq BE Basden Esq FCA HJM Holder Esq Professor JC Brocklehurst CBE AJ Woodward Esq Norwich School St Albans School Charterhouse MD FRCP MB Hameed Esq JD Chalkley Esq M Beckwith Esq W Keith Buck Esq Giggleswick School MA Smith Esq PEH McClean Esq HCP Dace Esq FBT Taylor Esq D Ensom Esq GH Hodgson Esq A Thomas Esq Nottingham High School St Columba’s College, Cheltenham College JW Tamplin Esq St Albans PJM Jennings Esq DMG Burgon Esq Gresham’s School J Peterson Esq PG Lee Esq WAJ Charlesworth Esq BD Beckett Esq Oakham School GA Moor-Radford Esq NH Sullivan Esq T McDavid Esq St Edward’s School, Oxford CI Morgan Esq CVO OBE Haileybury M Colombo Esq JAE Motum Esq City of London School L Colson Esq Oratory School JC Phillips Esq DlN Benjamin Esq GEW Downes Esq CEB Dunn Esq St Paul’s School JN Robinson Esq P Benjamin Esq RC Lane Esq G Tritton-Price Esq JCJ Ahluwalia Esq Mrs P Russell N Connell Esq MA Walther Esq BW Turner Esq DN Warren Esq TDG Ross Esq Strathallan School HA Whitson Esq RN Solland Esq Harrow School Oundle School SIW Lipworth Esq S Cater Esq M Boguslavskiy Esq Clayesmore School Gone away M Kravets Esq H Fray Esq Tonbridge School SA Barrow Esq J Somper Esq JJB Lambkin Esq J Burrow Esq C Berardi Esq Kimbolton School W Roberts Esq JDR Oliver Esq GR Bromley-Martin Esq Cranleigh School RJT Griffith Esq H Sloan Esq EIS Fitzgerald Esq W Marriott Esq J Steel Esq Wellington College, G Goodall Esq King Edward VI School Count Nikolaus von Pueckler Berkshire Dauntsey’s School R Ellis Esq T MacKinnon Esq C Harris Esq J Czapalski Esq Portsmouth Grammar School CD Woodcock Esq K Kumar Esq King’s College School, G Rapley Esq TP Lamming Esq Downside School Wimbledon Whitgift School MC Preston Esq NWJ Roggendorf Esq MGT Lynch Esq Queen Elizabeth Grammar JA Oyebode Esq BJF Zuurbier Esq

EAST & WEST – WINTER 2013 19 Reciprocal clubs

The East India welcomes members of BERMUDA PAKISTAN other clubs from all over the world, Tucker’s Town Mid-Ocean Club Karachi Sind Club who may use the club’s facilities as if Islamabad Islamabad Club CANADA they were their own. A reciprocal SRI LANKA arrangement has been made for Montreal ] James’s Club Colombo Colombo Club members to visit these clubs when a University Club Nuwara Eliya Hill Club card of introduction, obtainable from Toronto National Club SINGAPORE the club secretary, is required. These University Club of Toronto Singapore Tanglin Club clubs have all been chosen for their suitability for our members but have Albany Club SOUTH KOREA different facilities. Vancouver Terminal City Club Seoul ] Seoul Club Vancouver Club UK ] If you are going to visit any of them, Victoria, BC Union Club of Belfast Ulster Reform Club we suggest you telephone first and British Columbia Edinburgh New Club Royal Scots Club find out about them. Let us have your ] Union Club, St John views on your visits and tell us if you Glasgow Western Club have found other clubs with whom we EUROPE Henley on Thames Phyllis Court Club Liverpool ] Athenaeum Club should enter into reciprocal Barcelona Círculo Ecuestre arrangements, or if one of these, in London ] Bilbao Sociedad Bilbaina ] ]] Hurlingham Club your opinion, is no longer suitable. (membership card and ] Brussels Cercle Royal Gaulois photo ID is essential ) Dublin Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club Newcastle Northern Counties Club upon Tyne AFRICA Frankfurt Union International Club Perth Royal Perth Golfing SOUTH AFRICA Gothenburg ] Royal Bachelors’ Club Society & County and City Club Cape Town Cape Town Club The Hague ] Nieuwe of Literaire Societeit USA Durban Durban Club de Witte Albany, NY Fort Orange Club Berkeley, CA Berkeley City Club Johannesburg Country Club of Hamburg ] Anglo-German Club Johannesburg Boston, MA Algonquin Club Helsinki ] Svenska Klubben Harvard Club Rand Club Union Club Luxembourg ] Cercle Munster Kimberley Kimberley Club Bethesda, MD Kenwood Golf & Madrid ] Financiero Génova Country Club Pietermaritzburg Victoria Country Club ] Real Sociedad Española Cincinnati, OH Queen City Club Polokwane Pietersburg Club Club de Campo Chicago, IL Chicago Athletic Association Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth St George’s Club Standard Club Oporto Oporto Cricket and Lawn Union League Club KENYA Tennis Club University Club of Chicago Detroit, IL Athletic Club Nairobi Muthaiga Country Club Paris ] Cercle de l’Union Interalliée Mountain Lake, FL Mountain Lake ] ZIMBABWE Stockholm Sällskapet Osterville, MA Wianno Club (open May-Nov) Bulawayo Bulawayo Club HONG KONG Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Club Harare ] County Club Hong Kong ] Hong Kong Club New York, NY Princeton Club Harare Club ] Hong Kong Cricket Club Lotos Club Metropolitan Club AUSTRALIA INDIA Union League Club Norfolk, VA Norfolk Yacht Adelaide Adelaide Club Calcutta Tollygunge Club & Country Club Naval, Military and Air Force Mumbai Royal Bombay Yacht Club Philadelphia, PA Union League Club Club of Adelaide Golden Swan Phoenix, AZ ] University Club Public Schools’ Club San Francisco, CA Marines’ Memorial Association Brisbane Queensland Club JAPAN University Club Tattersall’s Club Tokyo Tokyo American Club St Louis, MO Racquet Club Canberra Commonwealth Club Seattle, WA Rainier Club MIDDLE EAST Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Club Hobart Tasmanian Club Bahrain ] British Club Richmond, VA Bull & Bear Club Launceston Launceston Club Dubai ] Capital Club Washington DC Army & Navy Club Melbourne Athenaeum Club Cosmos Club University Club Australian Club NEW ZEALAND Melbourne Club Auckland Northern Club ] Accommodation not available Christchurch Canterbury Club ]] Sports facilities not available Newcastle Newcastle Club Christchurch Club Members are reminded that the production of a Perth ] Western Australian Club current membership card and photo ID is essential Dunedin Dunedin Club Weld Club when visiting . Our reciprocal clubs Napier Hawke’s Bay Club Sydney Union, University & usually require an introductory card which may be Schools’ Club Wellington Wellington Club obtained from the secretary’s office.