Issue number 88 April 2014
SUMMER CRICKET BLIND TASTING IN THE LIBRARY HAGGIS NIGHTS KING OF OUDH Gift suggestions from TUMBLERS The East India Square tumbler the secretary’s ofFIce Engraved with club Club directory crest. £18.50 ATTIRE The East India Club Club ties Decanter 16 St James’s Square, London 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. Chocolate mint £295/£325 (navy) £325 (sports) Pass keys will not be issued after 11pm. creams £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 – SPRING 2014 With spring in the air, the chairman’s thoughts turn to Club diary... St James’s Square gardens, the club events of the past few
months – from Burns Night through gourmet dinner to rugby CHAIRMAN’S REPORT May 5 May Bank holiday lunches. And, of course, his recent letter to members 14 May AGM 26 May Bank holiday CHAIRMAN’S REPORT June 5 June Library lecture and dinner 7 & 8 June Battlefield Tour - Waterloo must say that the gardens in St James’s Burns night in January was, by all reports, 12 June Reception & summer party Square are showing a great and most the best ever. Somehow it all seemed to run Iwelcome improvement. Thanks to like clockwork from the Selkirk grace to the July the Trustees of the freeholders for their lasses’ reply. My figure ‘with weel-swall’d kyte’ 6 July Cricket match and lunch concerted efforts. I understand up-lighting clearly provides too tempting a ‘bent drum’ at Chobham some of the beautiful plane trees and the target still ‘bethankit hums’. 11 July Jazz barbecue The rugby lunches ahead of the Six Nations 17 July Wine tasting Twickenham games have become as firmly The established as the fixtures themselves. Mick August chairman at the Quinn had the assembled company in stitches 25 August Bank holiday gourmet with stories old and new – but England dinner prevailed on that day. Congratulations, September nonetheless, to Ireland for holding the French 18 September First World War at bay and winning a deserved piece of silver commemoration service and lunch in Brian O’Driscoll’s last international game. 25 September Grouse dinner The gourmet dinner featured a wonderful 30 September Lord Mayor’s luncheon evening in the style of the Belle Epoque, the era of the Moulin Rouge, Toulouse Lautrec in Paris and the great days of the Savoy Opera Bank holidays and elegant living in London. Chef Mark For the May bank holidays, bars and catering are closed from 4pm on the Leach astounded us all with a magnificent Sunday of the bank holiday weekend recreation of a 1905 menu from Auguste and all day Monday. Accommodation and Escoffier’s Carlton Hotel (which stood on the continental breakfast remains available. corner of Haymarket and Pall Mall). This is an evening which is not to be missed in future. For the August bank holiday, bars and catering are closed after breakfast on statue of the ‘grocer’ is in the offing. So as Members arriving early in the New Year Sunday 24th August and reopen after spring is sprung and the sun and the fowers could be forgiven for thinking that they were breakfast on Tuesday 26th August. come out to brighten up the view. I think we in the wrong place. The cunningly devised Continental breakfast will be available are allowed to look at the outside view for a scaffolding to facilitate the redecoration on Monday 25th August. moment ourselves – which is why I have not of the front hall certainly gave the feel started this report by referring to the letter I of Piccadilly tube station rather than our sent to all members in February. Suffice to say normally spacious hall. However the job is that there is an update on page 15 of East & now done and the results are excellent. The West and there will be a report accompanying hall had not been decorated in 27 years or the annual report and accounts. more and it was a necessary task that also I hope members will join me in thanking our provided opportunities to improve some ever cheerful and loyal staff aspects. The shields have all for continuing to make the club been removed, restored and the place where we enjoy the I hope members will remounted in chronological best of food, drink, company join me in thanking order. As a result the East East & West and fun. It has indeed been our ever cheerful India Room (formerly ‘business as usual’. The carol and loyal staff. It has the Luncheon Room) is concert at Christmas given by now equipped with some Editor: Charlie Jacoby “ been ‘business as 07850 195353 [email protected] the choir of Wells Cathedral comfortable seating as well usual’ Designer: Chris Haddon was a splendid occasion and as tables and is serving light 01279 422219 [email protected] rounded off the year with a food and drinks through the Photography: Phil McCarthy. To download or fourish. I know that Gerry Murphy would day as well as providing the late bar. Members order photography, login to the members’ area of have loved the evening and would also have may use Kindles and iPads for reading in EastIndiaClub.com and follow the instructions relished the Irish victory in the Six Nations the East India Room so the Sydney Morning Sub-editor: Cicely Drewe championship. His humour and his special ”Herald, the Washington Post or The Straits Printed by: Colour3 (ColourCubed.co.uk) smile of greeting is fondly remembered. We Times can be perused with morning coffee or Published on behalf of The East India Club by also remember with gratitude former deputy a sandwich lunch. I will enjoy the view of the Charlie Jacoby, c/o The East India Club www.charliejacoby.com chairman Geoff Mills whose generosity and gardens from the new East India Room. Cover photo: clubhouse in springtime expertise made a significant contribution to the club we enjoy today. Iain Wolsey, chairman
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 3 NEWS In Chess, our teaming with the Oriental Club gives us a good Turnbull Cup start against other London clubs and the cricket section looks forward to the Turnbull Cup played at Chobham Cricket
new event has been added to our club summer schedule providing SPORTS NEWS Aan opportunity to support the cricket section. On Sunday 6 July the in a row against Chelsea Arts’ captain Mike EIC cricket team will be playing a match Chess Radcliffe. Most importantly, no one stood against a Chobham CC President’s XI at upon their Club Cat called Clarence! This their picturesque ground in Surrey (www. by Colin Ferguson would have meant being sent to their room chobhamcricket.co.uk). without any supper or fine wine! The fixture will be played for the our members from the Oriental and The team’s match at the Hurlingham Club Turnbull Cup, a trophy provided by the East five from the East India engaged saw close individual matches. There were India Club in memory of past chairman F in a most enjoyable evening at the notable wins for Sachin Hoyle and John Luke, David Turnbull who was a long-time Oriental Club. After the necessary pre-chess both from the East India Club. Colin Ferguson resident of Chobham village and a keen drink in the bar, we played chess for around (ORI) on board 1 snatched defeat again from supporter of its cricket club. two hours. Clocks were limited to 15 minutes the jaws of victory. Alastair Craggs (ORI) President’s Day is a well attended event playing time each so that all had the chance on debut on board 2 versus the captain of in the Chobham village calendar. This is an of playing against as many opponents as Hurlingham’s Cup Team achieved a creditable opportunity for East India Club members possible. It was good for us to meet Habib draw. The overall result was 2½ v 3½ to and their families to add their support Amir (ORI) whom I am sure will make a good Hurlingham. to the occasion. Spectators can opt for addition to our combined team. As always a sit-down lunch in the marquee (by on these occasions, we all settled down for prior arrangement), enjoy the barbecue a fine meal in the Dining Room afterwards provided or bring their own picnics. (this was the main purpose of the exercise). Contact the secretary for more details. The club plays jointly with the Oriental Club in London league matches, where things are looking up after a run of losses, albeit narrow in one or two matches. The combined team drew 3-3 against a strong team from the Chelsea Arts Club. Highlights. include Yaroslav Voropayev (EIC) on board one fighting a draw against Richard Black, who is a very good player indeed. There were debut wins for Robert McClatchey and Edward Brown (Both ORI) and Colin Club chess in action: the chess section at the East Slice of England: Chobham’s cricket pavilion. Ferguson (ORI) halved for the fourth time India Club has 63 members The club’s cricket section has 110 members
match. This took the club into a decider in Snooker which Cadman was victorious. We look forward to meeting the Oriental in the next round. In order to catch up on Head of table some lost ground we tried a new format and held a one day tournament for the by Bradley Stanton 2012 Harold Bloom cup competition. This he snooker section has had a was a handicap competition and played thrilling few months with some close in an experimental one-day format which T matches both internally and against was a great success. We were delighted other clubs. We entertained our good friends to attract some new players, indeed from the United Club of Guernsey with a one of our new member players, Sanjiv weekend of snooker which culminated Rainthatha, took Hassan Zamir right to with them just clinching the Channel Cup. the final black of the final frame. The We look forward to re-capturing the trophy snooker section wants more players of in Guernsey in September. We enjoyed all standards to compete both internally a friendly match against the Savile Club Hassan Zamir won the Harold Bloom Cup in a final and with other London clubs. We are very against Sanjiv Rainthatha, decided on the black under their own unique Savile Rules which ball. The club snooker section has 42 members lucky to have regular matches against encourages aggressive play. Fortunately other clubs and it is an excellent way of we were able to revert to normal rules Alan Kurtz came in as late substitution exploring clubland. The Hong Kong Club against the Savile for the London Inter-Club and put in an excellent performance with is visiting in July while they are on tour. competition which went right to the wire. Joe Cadman to win their crucial doubles Please contact the secretary.
4 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 NEWS
The Six Nations ended being all about Ireland. Needing to win in France for the first time since 2000 to pip England to the Hub action title, Ireland held on for a 22-20 victory. The club did its best to bring the focus back on to England with a series of lunches Rugby RUGBY LUNCHES
he rugby lunches – brilliantly conceived by Matthew Ebsworth – T allow nations to come together on the Friday before their Six Nations matches, as long as one of those nations is England and the match takes place at Twickenham. This season, the club held lunches in advance Reception in the Rugby Room of the Welsh and Irish games, with a notable speech at one by Mick Quinn. Mick played rugby for Lansdowne Football Club before earning a call up to the Ireland Model player: Henry Gilbert national team. In 1976 he was a member of the Ireland squad that went on tour of New Left-right: the chairman, Francis Quinn and Chairman Tom McGoldrick and rugby Zealand and Fiji. Brendan Foley captain John Messer provide games for 149 members of the section. Tom says that weather affected last season but there was a good turnout for the matches that went ahead. Most fixtures are played at the Hub, Regents Park, kick off 2pm unless otherwise notified. The rugby section committee is currently considering summer participation in the Bournemouth 7s. Players of all abilities very much welcome. Supporters are encouraged and welcome to join the team for a drink afterwards. than last year. To keep up to date with Backgammon London club backgammon, visit www. St James’s Square mccbackgammon.com and click on the A long climb London League tab. gardens ew gardeners in St James’s he club backgammon section Square gardens have brought battles on through a strong N about a transformation. The T London league. Section head David Trust that runs the gardens has agreed Brace has produced a strong team spirit four new parterres to improve the look and backgammon players we have met of the inner circle of bedding and it is from other clubs have been entertaining. now seeking planning permission to Since December, we beat Chelsea Arts, uplight half a dozen plane trees at dusk. lost to the RAC and MCC, and drew with The 30th anniversary of the murder Hurlingham. Roehampton is still to play of WPC Yvonne Fletcher was recently before the end of the season but we are commemorated at her memorial stone by Club hard at it in crowded but casual Chelsea lying second to bottom above Chelsea Arts Arts Club. The backgammon section has 42 some 100 people. on the league table,. Still – that’s better members Old motors here is to be another classic car meeting in the Square. Meet for T private viewing and lunch at the History of Wheels Museum, Eton, then on to St James’s Square to park your classic/ veteran car outside the clubhouse. It and will be held on 18-19 October. Please The fowers that bloom in the spring (tra-la) includes a black tie dinner and overnight stay contact the secretary.
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 5 FISHING Saltwater fyfishing is one of the greatest tests of the fyfisher – and has the advantage of taking place in exotic locations SUMMER within reach of excellent seafood. So it was that the club fyfishing section chose Cuba for its annual bonefishing trip ACTION FISHING Polo by Harman Gill Crumbling splendour
by Stephen Allen
nstead of our usual destination of The daily routine had a touch of Venezuela, members of the club’s revolutionary zeal about it. Up at cock-crow, I fyfishing section ventured to Cuba for a hurried breakfast and off to the fishing tropical saltwater fy fishing this year. After grounds before sunrise. Each day consisted a day perusing the crumbling splendour of unrelenting fishing and constructive of Havana, with its proud blend of modern criticism from our guide, a highly competent services, high culture and make-do-and- but rather serious young man who stretched mend, we travelled to our hotel, the Casona us to the limit of our technique. Boat, tide, de Romano, a renovated sugar mansion. wind and fish were all moving faster than Located in the town of Brasil some 400 we encounter in Los Roques, so presenting miles to the south east of the capital it was a good fy was all the more demanding. A our base for the week. Collective activities typical quick-fire sentence from the guide seem to be the norm in Cuba and our fishing was “bonefish ten metres two o’clock, companions were a group of good natured three o’clock too slow”, but we persevered. Italians, all dedicated fy fishers. On arrival, It was dark by the time we arrived back at Action at Royal Berkshire Polo Club we were greeted by Boris and Anna, our the Casona every evening for drinks, catch hosts. Boris, a consummate sport fisherman comparisons, dinner and a briefing on the t the time of writing, it is the with a tough-guy aura, was a rich source of weather for the following day: bonefish boot first day of the week of British information and slid effortlessly between camp – with cocktails. A Summer Time; what a difference Spanish, English and Italian as he gave us Intermittent cloud, heavy rain showers that hour makes! As well as that, already the lie of the land and introduced us to and strong winds made for difficult sight we have had two barbecues this year and our guides. We felt very welcome. Fishing fishing but we caught bonefish every day the April showers have not even begun. meets with approval in Cuba, and it must be and enjoyed each catch all the more for the One can only look forward to the polo remembered that both Fidel and Che were extra time and effort needed. season with great enthusiasm. aficionados of the rod and line. Following the well-attended trips last Cayo Cruz and Cayo Romano are in a In conjunction with the Lawyers’ year to Guards, Royal County of Berkshire remote corner of the Jardines del Rey Fishing Club and largely organised by and Sandhurst Polo Clubs, the East marine national park. The area was only Peter Matthison, the fyfishing section (44 India Club polo section will once again recently opened up for sport fishing and members) has a full programme of fishing, be attending fixtures at these fantastic no commercial fishing has been allowed. It talks about fishing and a dinner at the club. venues, along with potentially another is formed of large brooding lagoons, sandy This year’s speaker was the excellent Frank London venue. shallows and mangrove stands set in a Renton, Radio 2 presenter and former As always the aim is to deliver a good coastal plain of swamp and scrub forest. Wild director of military music. Among guests value day inclusive of transport, ticket and birds were plentiful in number and variety, was a party of Irish lawyers. Members any extra I can get for normally around particularly waders, and as we drove across were also asked by the Flyfishers’ Club to £40 per person. We will hopefully be the connecting causeways the famingos attend a talk in March on the pleasures of attending four events from May/June were stunningly set off on grey mudfats by fishing in Patagonia. The 2014 Lawyer’s through to September. The level of play the setting sun. We hoped for a matching Fishing Club Beginners’ Day takes place on will vary, from low goal to high goal. abundance of our favoured target, the Saturday 3 May at Rib Valley Trout Fishery in Polo aficionados and anyone just immaculate bonefish. Hertfordshire. Please contact the secretary. wanting a day out with fellow members are more than welcome. Full details will be on the noticeboard as and when the dates are organised. Keep an eye out. If you are on the mailing list you will get the emails too. If you are interested, please subscribe to the mailing list which now numbers more than 100 members. You can do so by speaking to the secretary’s office or adding your name to the notice on the board.
6 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 The great Escoffier helped make London the foodie capital of the world. Chef recreated those days with a dinner that would GOURMET DINNER have dazzled the diners at the Carlton Hotel in 1905 GOURMET DINNER
La Belle Époque’ Andrew Giblin (left) and Robert Porter by Demetri Walters MW
hen my colleague, Mark Pardoe de Jambon balanced by the late harvest MW, asked if I would take his place sweetness of Domaine Rolly-Gassman’s W presenting the wines at the club’s 2005 Gewürztraminer, Oberer Weingarten. annual gourmet dinner, I agreed with alacrity. Sporting lychee and rose petal intensity, I Having been an East Indiaman for some 25 don’t disagree with the ‘superior vineyard’ years, I am ashamed to admit that, aside nomenclature. In closing, something close from the young members’ dinner, this is the to my own roots, Kyperounda’s 2004 first club dinner event that I have attended. Commandaria. Not the fortified style of A great wrong will have been righted; though recent years, but a return to the original not if it turns out anything like the young Cypriot nectar appelled by the Knights members’ dinner from all those years ago. Templar in 1192. Coupled with delicious Anyway, I digress. David Cartwright, Pêches Melba, will there have been any room Sharon Da Silva and Peter Matthison secretary Alex Bray, chef Mark Leach, for coffee and cocktail pastries? Mark Pardoe and I met to discuss the most appropriate wines to complement the splendiferous Edwardian inspired menu worthy of such an evening. Those writing of the ‘Beautiful Era’ (1871-1914) often neglect the advances made in gastronomy. This menu serves to celebrate the creativity of the legendary Georges August Escoffier, then Dimitri Walters Left-right: Giles and Jim Innes, and Philip Andrew Maître Chef de Cuisine at the Carlton Hotel, and is taken from a dinner enjoyed there on the 7 August 1905. We conceived that absinthe would be an authentic scene-setter, though perhaps not the best palate enhancer, more an anaesthetic, at the beginning of a meal launched by a delicate melon terrine. Consommé and Madeira are a heaven- made match, particularly the drier 10 year old Sercial produced by Ricardo Drogo of Barbeito. Soles à la Russe combines two of my favourite things, namely sole and caviar. The perfect partner had to be a taut, mineral 2012 Chablis, Montmains 1er Cru by Jean-Claude Bessin, while Ris de Veau à la Touloussaine, complete with cocks comb, demanded a white wine of a different Left-right: Annette Fillery-Travis, Ron Collins, Maria and Ken Morgan mettle in order to cope with the richness and layered complexity of the dish. We hope that members will have enjoyed Marc Sorrell’s 2008 Hermitage Blanc, Les Rocoules. Half-way there. Back in those day the ducks destined for Caneton de Rouen à la Rouennaise would have been suffocated… yes, ‘tis true. I suspect that these ones faced the kindness of a firing squad without a final sip of Robert Chevillon’s earthy, delicately fruited 2007 Nuits-St Georges, Vaucrains Left-right: Duncan Harris, Helene Carouge, Simon Left-right: Bill Mills, Emma Mills, Jim Miller and 1er Cru. A salad respite before Mousse Camamile, Emma Cowley and Matthew Blagg Helen Miller
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 7 LIBRARY
Our Library is thriving in no small part due to the efforts of displays. These are always themed and librarian Kath Posner. She has reorganised the Library in the usually around anniversaries such as the recent Spanish display that appeared on the two years she has been at the club, and wants it to be the anniversary of Franco’s death. The books perfect place to repair to with a glass of port, providing a for these displays are usually illustrated and collection of both historical and current interest come from books in the Conference Room or Archive Room. They are carefully chosen so members can see books not always available or on display. Classics include the photograph THE CLUB LIBRARIAN album of Kabul after the second Afghan War and an illustrated folio volume of nineteenth by Adrian Steger century travel to Turkey and Eastern Europe. Learning how to care for books was an s most members know, the club and studied for an MA in librarianship, only to activity Kath didn’t expect to have to master has a library, but how is it run and find after qualification that jobs didn’t grow but she has. This includes restoration and A looked after? The answer to these on trees until starting at the In and Out and cleaning the right book in the right way with questions is not ‘the Library committee’. That then with us. Her work at the former relates the right materials – all of which can differ august body may, after weighty deliberation, more to archiving and indexing as they were from book to book. come to decisions of policy but the bombed in the war and had to move premises. Perhaps the biggest change Kath has infuencing of these and their implementation Her activities at the East India Club are rather introduced is the on-line catalogue available to is the work of Kath Posner, the librarian, who different and she has made a number of members through the club membership page. has been with us for just over two years. She changes in the Library. This makes it possible to browse the library at a distance and doing so by many paths – subject, author, theme, language, place etc, rather like browsing in a bookshop. Library usage is increasing as it is promoted more, especially by the webpage, Kath has few followers on Twitter yet! Kath was recently elected chair of the Association of Pall Mall Libraries, which grew out of an informal gathering of club librarians and is really a self-help organisation. Club librarians tend to work in isolation in lovely buildings with perhaps less than ideal facilities. The majority are full time, but all have the same concerns; conservation, digitisation, archiving, cataloguing. They can share experiences; for example we have benefited from their advice in the choice of our online catalogue. She assures me this won’t be too much work and distract her from us! Her husband Hami is a pop musician and their two children are doing A Levels and GCSEs respectively. As Kath originally trained as a musician, music is a big part of her life (as it is with all her family) and she has done everything from playing the Hollywood Bowl with her youth orchestra, to belly-dancing at the head of a samba-band around the City Librarian Kath Posner of London. She attends everything from Wagner operas to Gypsy bands (having studied divides her week between being a librarian The library classification system remains Flamenco for eight years) and Fringe Theatre. for us and the In & Out, and working at the the same but collections of books of various Kath would like to see the library used Royal Opera House. subjects have been moved within the library. more with members browsing, enjoying Her career has seen many changes in The aim being to fit in and create space for lovely volumes, researching their interests librarianship and information access and new books as demand dictates; an example and providing helpful feedback. There can retrieval. She started working in the archives being the furry of books being published be no doubt that she is moving the library of the BBC, literally cutting out articles and about the First World War. The library looks from its origins as a gentleman’s country pasting them together for Newsnight, and more interesting than it did. The moving- house collection to be viewed over a glass then 10 years with Panorama. There the around of collections means more popular of port (if awake) to a collection that can emphasis was more on information retrieval sections are nearer the eye on entering the be appreciated both in the Library and and exchange. In 2008 she thought she library; there are books open on shelves to at distance, and be of both historical and ought to learn how to be a proper librarian invite visitors in and there are the cabinet current interest.
8 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 CRICKET Members and guests gathered in the East India Room to listen to past president of the MCC John Barclay tell of the horror of an over bowling to Viv Richards in the 1980s – including the moment when the umpire called for more balls...
LOST IN THE LONG GRASS
he library lecture in March featured the hilarious John Barclay. He kept John Barclay in action T the audience roaring with laughter for an hour as he described just one over in a match during the 1980s between Somerset and Sussex, which he captained at the time. Born in Germany, he was educated at Eton and was an acclaimed schoolboy cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Sussex, while still at school in 1970. He was an opening batsman who never got quite as many runs as he should have, though having an excellent technique and eye. He also bowled off-spin, dismissing Ian Botham and Viv Richards several times. Left-right: David Bear, Alan Pearson and the Left-right: Prof Roger Benson, Nick and Oliver He succeeded Arnold Long as the County president, Micky Steele-Bodger Bolton Captain of Sussex CCC in 1981 and led the team to second place in the County Championship. His latest book about cricket is Lost in the Long Grass.
Left-right: Cosmo Brown, Clive Mackintosh, John Jessup, Julian Chiles and Simon Samuels
Edward Jones (left) and Peter Blower
Left-right: Max Oram. Jai Sharda, Nick Jones, Chris Masterton-Smith and Tarquin Desoutter Left-right: Julian Wilson, Rupert Neelands, the chairman and Richard Oakman
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 9 PORTRAIT The redecoration of the main staircase led to the decision to Born in Hull in 1752, Home was restore some of the club’s paintings. Perhaps the one most in determined from an early age to become an artist. However, his father, a former need of work is the King of Oudh, by or after Robert Home army surgeon, insisted he went into medicine and so, at the age of about 12, Home stowed away on a ship bound PORTRAIT STORY for Newfoundland. He returned and in the late 1760s began to study painting under Angelica Kauffman in London. He exhibited at the Royal Academy Making the King of Oudh look good from 1780. He worked in both Italy and
by Simon Gillespie
have often walked past the King of Oudh without noticing him in great detail. IThis was mainly due to the painting being filthy. It was covered in a century of city grime. It was when I was asked to look at it in a professional capacity by the club that I could see that underneath the layers of grime there were various films of dis-
coloured varnish. Among this varnish it was Detail obvious that there was a lot of overpaint that was discoloured and which also appeared Ireland before sailing to India in 1791, to cover over significant areas of original where he accompanied the army of paint, apparently for no reason. As a picture Lord Cornwallis as official artist during conservator my first mantra is that there is the arduous campaign against Tipu always a reason for overpaint. On even closer Sultan, later depicted in Home’s large examination with a strong torch illuminating scale history paintings. By the mid the surface it became clear that there were a number of old rips, damages and creases in the structure of the canvas. These various discoloured films fattened out the three The King with overpainting removed dimensions of the image and reduced the colouring survived very well. The blues by as much as 70%, In 1819, when this and reds which quite often fade making for a rather dull and portrait was painted, were intact. The painting had uninteresting picture. Oudh’s capital not been over cleaned in the We embarked on tests Lucknow was one of past therefore the majority of which revealed some well “ the softer paint in the shaded the wealthiest cities preserved, good colours colours was also as originally of the original painting. in India intended. A lot of the painting had After successfully cleaning the painting the old damages were filled, textured and retouched using a fine pin-point sable brush, bringing the painting back to a ”successful image. A thin semi matt protective varnish was then applied. This varnish has a dual purpose in not only protecting the painting but to ‘wet out’ the surface allowing The finished King of Oudh the original colours to be seen at their true depth and vibrancy. 1790s Home was was one of the most This portrait is probably an important successful English portraitists working addition to the work of Robert Home, the in Calcutta. A surprising number of his leading Anglo-Indian artist, though it is evocative and coolly atmospheric portraits possibly by an Indian artist working in the survive (although they are invariably manner of Home. It could have been painted misattributed) and afford us a rare glimpse in about 1819, when Home was the court of daily life for the British in India at a time artist of one of India’s highest ranking Muslim when Britain’s position in the subcontinent rulers, Ghazi-ud-din Haidar, the King of was undergoing a dramatic change. Oudh. Oudh’s capital Lucknow was one of the wealthiest cities in India. The portrait is Simon Gillespie Studio, Fine Art one of only a handful of surviving portraits of Restorers & Conservators, carried out the A century of dirt Ghazi-ud-din Haidar. work on the portrait
10 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 WINE
Three fights of three wines each and attendees at the sommelier’s latest tasting had to work out the one that stands out as significantly different. People are opinionated... TASTING Introduction Pick the odd one out by Eric Lagré
always start the year with an introduction events and the subsequent articles in East & Eric tests his audience with a blind tasting to the wine tasting technique. Contrary West meant that I found myself facing a big Ito the other two events I run, one in July, crowd this time round. It took me by surprise. the other in November, the aim is not to Not much spitting goes on, and every one explore a topical subject in depth. It is not a becomes very happy and noisy by the second lecture. It is far more informal and fun, if a fight, and good on them! Had I not been blind tasting is one’s idea of fun.The concept wearing a microphone, I might have lost my does indeed send shivers down the spine voice by the end of it, that is all I am saying. of most people, and I might have dissuaded I hope the members enjoyed themselves as many members from attending by simply much as I did. uttering the dreaded words. In the end, Part of the pleasure is that it is an the event is nothing too serious, and one opportunity to try a variety of wines from the Eric explains the wines should understand it as a game. I put to the dining room list. Since we are on that subject, attendees three fights of three wines. In may I invite you to have a leaf through next many new entries, so go for something each fight, one of the wines stands out as time you come to dine? The list now features different. The wine team is enthusiastic and being significantly different from the other will be happy to guide you. two. Which one is it and why? The question Magda and I have now long graduated starts the ball rolling then it all turns very from the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust interactive. Some are very opinionated, other and we have been putting that tool to good speak up but wish they had not opened use. With the help of the club, it is now Nora’s their mouths, but between them all, without turn to take her diploma. She will be sitting a realising it, they actively assess what is in the sparkling wine exam in June. I will therefore glass, often with astonishing accuracy. run my sparkling wine tasting again in July. I Usually, the Introduction to Tasting evening will select different wines, so don’t be scared is a rather intimate affair. But the buzz to attend a second time. Bubbly and summer created by the success of last year’s tasting Flights of fancy: Eric offered three ‘fights’ of wine is the ultimate pairing.
glorious evening full of wit and gentle satire. A message from the Pigeon Loft Sydney had a guest bedroom in the basement which any of his friends could by Alan Taylor service life in Reluctant Heroes with Brian make use of. Lying on the bed in the morning, ust as there are vintage cars, there are Rix left him and the rest of the audience you could see the feet of those walking on also vintage pigeon lofters. Apart from exhausted with laughter. After that, he the pavement above. Behind the fat was Jage they have something else in common: turned into the Strand and entered a Lyons’ Doughty Street and the pigeon lofter was they require tuning and polishing before Corner House on the lower side. Hunger in soon taken to see Dickens’ house (fortunately they make an appearance. One ancient post-war Britain could be pleasantly and they had forgotten to pull it down). pigeon lofter regularly uses the club as a base economically assuaged with ‘beans on toast’ – Not long ago the same pigeon lofter was for making excursions to revive old memories. with a small orchestra – on the second foor. in a taxi to Liverpool Street. A diversion Recently he started out along King Street His walk took him up Shaftesbury Avenue led them across Gray’s Inn Road and the until he reached a spot on the south side to Cambridge Circus and the Palace Theatre following exchange took place. Passenger: at the base of Duke Street where the old St where, in 1957, he saw John Osborne’s The “Did you know that Sydney Carter the James’s Theatre used to stand. Here, in 1954, Entertainer with Laurence Olivier’s dazzling folksong writer once lived up there?” Driver: he saw Terence Rattigan’s Separate Tables Archie Rice. Then an evening with that “The name doesn’t mean much. Sing me the with unforgettable performances by Margaret splendid comedian on the piano, Victor Borge. beginning of one of his songs.” And so they Leighton and Eric Porter. Despite protests this He next made for No 143 Gray’s Inn Road approached Liverpool Street Station – the lovely theatre was demolished in 1957. where, on the ground foor, lived Sydney driver banging his steering-wheel and his Next he was off, via Horse Guards, to Carter, a folksong writer and singer. In the passenger stamping the foor and both Whitehall. Turning left, he came to the old mid-fifties he wrote several of the lyrics for singing at the tops of their voices: “Dance, Whitehall Theatre (now Trafalgar Studios) At the Drop of a Hat with Michael Flanders then, wherever you may be; I am the Lord of where, in May 1951, the send-up of national and Donald Swann at the Fortune Theatre: a the Dance, said he ....”
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 11 CHRISTMAS Members and guests from the three clubs on St James’s Square came together before Christmas for carols at the lovely Christopher Wren church, St James’s. The club also held its annual carol concert, this year with choristers from Wells Cathedral School CHRISTMAS MUSIC The congregation packs St James’s AT THE CLUB
he tri-club carol service packed St James’s Church on Piccadilly. With the T help of a professional choir, the carols soared around the Wren architecture. Afterwards, members and guests returned to their own clubs. East India Club members and guests went on to enjoy their annual winter cocktail party. Above and below: members and guests return to the club for the annual winter cocktail party
The three club chairmen The chairman reads a lesson
Carol Concert
ells Cathedral School kindly provided the choir for the W carol concert in the Smoking Room. It is a choir with an extraordinary heritage. It celebrated its 1,100th birthday in 2009. Boys first sang at Wells Cathedral in 909 and the full choral tradition dates back more than 800 years. In 1994, Wells Cathedral became one of the first to launch a girls’ choir. Today, the Cathedral Left-right: Thomas Spinks, Dan Joblin, Ali Ahmed, Choir consists of 18 boys and 18 girl The choir of Wells Cathedral School Maximilian Shapiro and Jack Maxwell choristers (two separate choirs) and 12 men known as the Vicars’ Choral. In December 2010, Gramophone Magazine called the choir the greatest with children in the world, and the sixth greatest overall.
Left-right: Emma and Andrew Papanikitas, and Left-right: Charles Osborne, Alexis Daisley, Colin Boykin, Brian, Wendy and Fergus Daisley, Victoria Legg, Susan and Ian McKenzie-Edwards Fraser Daisley and Amina Sadiq
12 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 EVENTS Robbie Burns did not think much of London, as far as we can tell. He was offered and declined an appointment in London on the staff of The Star newspaper. That does not stop the club’s Burns Night Supper being one of the most popular events in our calendar BURNS NIGHT SUPPER Keith Wallace addresses a nervous haggis
urns lovers love tradition. They enjoy ordering his work and reciting it B poem by poem. So it is appropriate that the elements of the club’s Burns night are fairly well set in stone, from Andy Macdonald to the great chieftain o’ the pudding-race itself, the haggis, which is piped in by Pipe Major John Spoore. As Burns wrote: “...mark the Rustic, haggis-fed, The trembling Andy Macdonald with his toast to the lassies and, earth resounds his tread.” to his left, Fiona MacDonald who provided musical Muff Steele-Bodger (left) and Kay Vartan who interludes replied on behalf of the lassies
Professor David Purdie, Keith Wallace and the chairman The arrival of the haggis Casino evening
rought in by the Young Members’ Committee, this lighthearted B evening of fun money and friendship has become a regular event on the club’s calendar and sees members pitting their wits and luck against the odds. A band plays and professional croupiers set up in the Smoking Room to allow members and guests to feel – if only for a few hours – like the high rollers of Nevada and Monte Carlo. Nick Durcan Trio: Nick regularly plays the piano Flutter: members and guests bet millions in during Sunday lunch at the club pretend money on tables including blackjack and roulette
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 13 When Twink Allen took up a post doctoral position in equine brother Frank after Rip van Winkle because he slept a lot, attended Auckland Grammar MEMBER PROFILE research at Cambridge, a remarkable veterinary career took off. School where he excelled in rowing and He also has an unusual recipe for grey mullet gymnastics. His mother wanted him to become a doctor but failing physics in his first year at Auckland University (happily!) MEMBER PROFILE he transferred to Sydney University in Australia to study veterinary science. He was ‘bonded to return to New Zealand Professor WR (Twink) Allen CBE, ScD, FRCVS on graduation to work for a period to compensate for his education overseas. This he did in 1965 working with farm animals in Kaitaia in the idyllic climate of the far north of North Island. He married his 20-year-old sweetheart Diana at the time and was settling into a happy rural vet’s life when a major car accident intervened. He was laid up in hospital with broken legs for nine months with a further three months in a rehabilitation centre learning to walk again. Lying in hospital Twink spotted an advertisement to work in research on horses in the UK. Treating his application somewhat light heartedly he was surprised, within four days of returning to Kaitaia, to be offered the scholarship to work at Cambridge University in England with, as it turned out, Dr Roger Short FRS, an eminent and brilliant veterinary research scientist. This led Twink into the Twink Allen, field of equine research and furthering near his home in Newmarket his career with acceptance as a graduate student at Magdalene College, Cambridge to complete his PhD. by Michael Bellegarde The Allen home, also the base of his Paul In 1970 he was offered a post doctoral Mellon laboratory, is hung with photographs position at the famous Cambridge Animal hen visiting Twink Allen’s home of top men in veterinary research, friends Research Station, where all the major at Newmarket, England’s centre and colleagues over Twink’s career. These research work was being carried out on W of horseracing on a beautiful are interspersed with the odd horse or animal gametes and embryos. Twink Allen spring morning, I was greeted by Professor elephant foetus, skull or dried faeces, among set up the equine fertility unit, sponsored Allen at the door with “have you ever tasted ceremonial swords, other trophies and by Peter Burrell who was then architect ‘bottarga’ ”? I confessed this was a delicacy memorabilia collected over the years. and director of the British National Stud I was unfamiliar with and was regaled with Twink Allen is a New Zealander with a and a major benefactor. He spent 18 very the discovery of this Italian speciality on his quick and open mind, an infectious sense happy years there on projects which recent trip to New Zealand . It transpires that of humour and a list of honours from included freezing the semen of stallions, the roe of the grey mullet establishments of science and a practice banned by the Jockey Club, due when salted and dried learning all over the world which to their requirement that all thoroughbred Twink Allen is a following a specific recipe, extends to pages. He is also a mares have to be covered naturally. This tastes like nectar when New Zealander with modest man to be pre-eminent outdated rule Allen disagrees with, as he grated over spaghetti in the a quick mind, an in his field of equine veterinary feels scientific and practical advantages company of olive oil. infectious sense of research. should out-weigh any vested interests held Twink Allen having had “ Born in Auckland, New by stallion owners with their extensive humour and a list of the recipe bestowed on Zealand, his airline pilot father stud farms. The Cambridge Animal honours him, had performed the was head hunted in 1938 to Research Station was closed in 1986 but alchemy with diligence and the fedgling National Airways Peter Burrell arranged for his shooting the scientific approach of a culinary master. Corporation (NAC) and became one of its friend the Duke of Sutherland to provide a Spaghetti was prepared and the offering four founding pilots. Kept to the ‘reserved’ 21-year lease for a new purpose-designed duly sampled. Verdict? Yes, certainly an occupation of the domestic airline when the Equine Fertility Unit to be built on 114 acres exclusive titbit which may be served to the ”war broke out, the Allen family grew and of prime grassland on his Stetchworth delectation of the grey mullet gourmet . It Twink was born the second of four children. estate at Newmarket. This project under may yet find its place among caviar and fois His surviving sister, Patricia he still visits the eagle eye of Professor Allen took gras when our travelled explorer perfects regularly in Auckland. two years to build and was opened by commercial production. The young Twink, so named by his older Her Majesty the Queen in April 1989.
14 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 RACING
Racing at Newmarket
Soon afterwards Twink Allen was awarded Retirement could not curtail the energies and Felicity, married to an orthopaedic surgeon a personal Chair of Equine Reproduction at enquiring mind of the man and he continues and living in Spain, a son Jeremy who Cambridge University, funded by Jim Joel’s his research work through the Paul Mellon plays polo and is a equine veterinarian in Childwick Trust under the chairmanship of our Laboratory, based at his home in Newmarket. Newmarket and his youngest daughter own ex-chairman John Wood. Now his chosen sphere of reproduction Catherine, married to international jockey The extent of Professor Allen’s work in interest and activity includes large African Frankie Dettori, three times National equine fertility research is vast. From his animals such as elephants, rhino, giraffe, Champion Jockey who rode for the Godolphin base in Newmarket and indeed earlier from wildebeest and zebra. He travels all over Stable of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Cambridge, Twink has travelled the world for the world to obtain samples of reproductive bin Rashid al Maktoum for many years, and more than 40 years lecturing and furthering organs making the most of placenta and other now rides for Sheikh Joaan of the Qatar royal his research work. His appointments and hard won tissues gleaned from wild animals family. In his extensive career he has ridden awards come from virtually every country to maximise what can be learned from them. many brilliant horses and has won the Prix that has an interest in the horse – from He works in this sphere in collaboration with de l’Arc de Triomphe three times. Poland to Argentina; from Kentucky in the his colleague and Senior Researcher, Dr Twink Allen has achieved much during USA to Helsinki in Finland by way of Hungary, Sandra Wilsher, also based in Newmarket, his life – and continues to do so. He is Australia and Brazil. These are just some of where they continue to undertake a number an expert in his field and his advice and the countries where Twink Allen has lectured of epidemiological studies on the population opinion is sought worldwide, but above all and where his expertise has been honoured. of thoroughbred mares and stallions he has an enormous love and respect for Work at the Equine Fertility Unit continued accumulated in and around that charming and the animal that has been so much of his life for 20 years until Twink’s retirement from historical town in the Fens. – the horse. He also has a liking for people – formal academic life at the age of 67. Twink Allen has three children. The eldest, oh, and ‘bottarga’.
The recent fraud against the club has led to a major review. The chairman, Iain Wolsey, is looking for reparations, and to make sure that this cannot happen again. He pays tribute to the loyal staff who have kept the club running normally LEARNING LESSONS
n the letter to all members, the chairman and procedures . We are progressing with many members who have written, called Iain Wolsey referred to a list of actions our own investigations through our risk and sent email or text messages of support, I the club is taking with the objectives management consultants and we are in offers of help, and suggestions – some of improving processes and procedures to discussion with Royal Bank of Scotland. We based on previous experience. “All of this ensure the highest possible level of security are also in the process of making a claim on has been much appreciated and indeed very in the future, and mitigating the loss by all our Fidelity insurance. useful,” he says. “In addition, I pay tribute to possible means. “The police investigation is ongoing and, our loyal staff who have unfinchingly kept “We now have more knowledge of exactly we understand, the matter will shortly be the club running normally and maintained what happened and how it came about,” laid before the Crown Prosecution Service. all the services to members. It has been says Iain Wolsey. “In the course of this we All these matters will be reported on as fully an especially difficult circumstance for the have established a trail leading to a major as then possible at the AGM on 14 May.” remaining accounts staff whose integrity gambling firm with interests in the UK and All members are welcome at the AGM and dedication to their tasks and to the club off-shore and we are pursuing this link. of course – please remember to bring is not in question. I wish to pay tribute to the “We have received, and are well advanced your membership card with you to help us way both management and all our staff have with implementing, the recommendations maintain security at the door. continued to act professionally throughout of an independent audit of our processes The chairman adds a thank you to the this difficult period.”
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 15 STAFF NEWS STAFF Book review Blocked drain? Flooded shower? The next person you see is likely to be Teo Niguas, from the maintanance department. Indigo & Opium It is a job that needs plenty of application STAFF PROFILE TEODULFO NIGUAS
ritish India in the middle of the 19th century. This is the tale of two B enterprising families from modest origins who made immense fortunes, one from growing and processing indigo and the other from trading opium into China. Their stories are punctuated by shipwrecks, heroic acts in battles (including three Victoria Crosses), romantic trysts and sudden death; a disputed dukedom, unexpected inheritances and political conficts; the Opium Wars, the founding of Hong Kong and a ruinous financial crash. This is the story of the Hills and Dent familes by Army & Navy Club member Miles McNair.
Staff news eo is one of the club’s maintenance was a vacancy in housekeeping. He men. It is not an occasional position. started in housekeeping and moved to T His day starts at 6.30am when he maintenance in 2002. David Gaydier trophy checks all the lights in the club, replacing Teo now lives in Chelsea and his wife bulbs where necessary. He seldom has fewer works for the post office in Greenford. than ten bulbs to change in a day. Then he They have two children: Anthony who is reports to reception to see if there are any 16 and Julius who is 13. Both are at school reports of problems overnight. “Sometimes at St Thomas More in Chelsea. we have a leak or a blocked drain,” he says. “If Teo’s job for the club is five days a week, it is serious – like the food we recently had and he has another part-time job on downstairs – I wait for my colleagues Andres Saturdays. “Sunday is time to spend with (head of maintenance) and the kids,” he says. Junior. The Niguas family went The worst was a “The worst was a to the Philippines on holiday blockage outside the blockage outside the last year. Teo likes to go building. We needed to building. Up to then, there about every three dismantle the pipe. Up the worst had been a years. He has family split until then, the worst was a “ between the Philippines and blocked shower blocked shower.” London – a sister and two inner of the David Gaydier It is an eight-hour day. brothers. One of his brothers, Memorial Trophy for chef of the From the Philippines, Teo grew up in Erik, works in the kitchen at the East India W year at the University of West Manila. He learned marine engineering Club. London is Catriona Bayne, pictured with the and had two years of training on domestic His” job at the club caused some surprise club’s senior manager Bruno Corazza. inter-island shipping. He moved to London in among his family in the Philippines. They The trophy goes to a top catering 1999 where he met his wife. She persuaded had trouble understanding what a club student at the university, formerly Thames him not to make a career in international was. “When I told them I was working in a Valley University, which has one of the shipping. club, they misinterpreted,” he says. “They best catering courses in the country. It is He came to the East India Club via the thought it was a night club. I had to explain presented in recognition of our young chef evening maid, Nelly. She told him that there that it is a members’ club.” who died in a cycling accident.
16 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 CLUB NEWS CLUB the rule are for going directly to and from A word from the secretary accommodation or the gym. by Alex Bray Please keep us up to date with your email address as an increasingly useful method of n early January planning and conservation, St James’s Square keeping in touch. Either send us an email or the staff and is currently benefiting from improvement. In log on to the members’ area of the website I pensioners’ party a number of places the pavement is being to update your details online. The members’ took place and was widened which will have the beneficial effect area also provides other useful options to expertly organised by a of narrowing the carriageway while the assist which are reported to be helpful and staff panel. Many thanks paving itself is being upgraded to traditional includes all the sport and social photographs also to those committee York stone. taken at events. You can print off your own members who kindly Cricket ballot forms are available from the copies or liaise directly with our regular gave up their time to attend. office for the eight seats we have at Lords photographer for professional prints at The breach of trust by a colleague and the Regatta office at Phyllis Court is advantageous prices. has presented a very challenging and the place to contact for reciprocal access to Wishing one and all an enjoyable summer. dispiriting episode. While the committee of Henley Royal Regatta. management pursues the circumstances Just thinking ahead to potentially balmy which gave rise to the breach, the reaction evenings, I regret that the balcony is from staff has been commendable in making regarded as an unsafe area due to the low sure that your experience of the club on a parapet height. As a result, going on to the daily basis is unaffected. balcony is not permissible, I’m afraid. The redecoration of the front hall Congratulations to wine steward Nora staircase from top to bottom has been who earned a distinction in the second unit completed. The combined efforts of all those out of six of the wines and spirits diploma. involved has concluded a successful project. Dress code remains a priority area for The front façade of the building is scheduled our club which prides itself in having for maintenance next and the refurbishment members and their guests fully support the of the Waterloo Room will be undertaken formality of our clubhouse in St James’s. over the summer. With everyone passing through the front As part of a long term project to enhance hall, the club looks to uphold the very best the realm of historic St James’s through town of dress standards. The only exceptions to Ice sculpture at the winter party 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 – SPRING 2014 17 OBITUARIES Obituaries It has been a winter when the club has lost members who have woven their way into the fabric of club life, partly by Canon Gerry helping the club to work but mainly by being good members Murphy John Rundle
by Lucy Rundle anon Gerry Murphy, who has died aged 87, was an Irish rugby C international and later Domestic y grandfather, John Rundle, a the World President of the Junior Chamber Chaplain to the Queen. He was the club’s member of the East India Club for of Commerce from 1977 to 1979, and chaplain for many years and became M 33 years, passed away recently. was elected the Agent General for South chaplain emeritus. Grandpa served as the Agent General for Australia 1980-1985. For his business His warm personality and charm gave him South Australia from 1980-1985 and very success and community involvement, John outstanding success for 22 years as an Army much enjoyed the time he spent living in was awarded an Order of Australia medal chaplain. He then held a series of important London and as a member of the club. in 1981. Husband of Libby, father of Suzy, ministries: to holiday-makers on the Norfolk He passed away peacefully on November Richard and Philip, and brother of Bob, Broads; as vicar of Sandringham and 22, 2013, at his home in Glen Osmond, John will be remembered for his charisma, Domestic Chaplain to the Queen; as Rector South Australia, aged 83. Among his many generosity and love of a good bottle of of Christ Church Cathedral at Port Stanley in professional achievements, John served as South Australian red. the Falkland Islands; and finally as chaplain of the Royal Chapel at the Tower of London. In each he won admiration and considerable affection, and it was often said that he displayed the Anglican ministry at its best. Andrew, the Count McMillan, Baron of Cleghorn
ndrew McMillan was born in Edinburgh, on 7 May 1919. An only A child, he spent his earliest years in the family home in Edinburgh, before commencing his education In Switzerland, where he lived under the care of an uncle who lived there with his wife. In 1928 he returned to Scotland for further schooling, initially at Warriston School for Boys in One of his stories from Afghanistan Born in Bangor, Co Down, in 1926, he was Moffat, and later, in 1933 at Sedbergh School relates to the period when Harold educated at the Methodist College in Belfast. in Cumbria, with which he retained strong Macmillan was Prime Minister and Andrew While a novice priest, he played at fullback ties throughout his life and of which he has found himself invited to the Embassy in for Ireland. He won caps for Ireland against been a most generous supporter. Kabul. There he was asked how his Uncle Scotland, Wales and, in 1954, the All Blacks. It was while at Sedbergh that Andrew was, whereupon he replied, “Who?”. “The Gerry is survived by his wife, Joy, and five first learned to shoot, and developed what Prime Minister”, came the reply. He told daughters. was to be a lifelong interest in ballistics and them that they were not related, and that There will be a memorial service at the in guns and gunmaking. On leaving school, the spelling was different. He was greatly Chapel of St Peter ad Vincular, the Tower of he attended Edinburgh University, from amused by this experience, and not London at 2.30pm on Friday 30 May 2014. 1937-1939, but with war looming, Andrew least by the fact that an invitation to the Members wishing to attend please contact dropped out of his studies in order to join Embassy was subsequently not renewed. Sandra or [email protected] so the Royal Engineers of the British Army, He thoroughly enjoyed dividing his time we can be aware of numbers. where he was trained in bomb disposal. He between his various clubs: the Western saw active service with the Engineers, and Club in Glasgow, the Royal Scots’ Club in time was promoted to Sergeant. By the in Edinburgh and the East India Club Geoffrey Mills end of the war, Andrew was an instructor, in London, where he could renew old and left in 1946, having been awarded a friendships. His 80th and 90th birthday eoffrey Mills, former deupty Certificate of Merit in June 1945. celebrations were generous, stylish chairman of the East India Club, After the war years, he pursued a range affairs, held respectively in the Saloon G played an important part in of learning, pursuits and activities. While of Trades Hall, and the Western Club and smoothing the passage of the members of still a young man, he developed a great love Andrew thoroughly enjoyed and relished the Devonshire Club from their home on St of travel, and aside from visiting most of those events, surrounded as he was by so James’s Street to their new home at the East continental Europe, his travels took him as many good friendships, new and old from India Club. Micky Steele-Bodger remembers far afield as Russia, Afghanistan and South over the years and drawn from so many him fondly for both his modesty and charm, America, and even to South Georgia and different connections. He died after an and for his spirit in driving through important Antarctica. illness on 3 January 2014. changes at the club.
18 EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 T Hastie-Smith Esq R P McNeilly Esq O P Spratt Esq New members NEW MEMBERS R J Hone Esq I D Metcalf Esq S Stepanenko Esq The club welcomes the following: T S Jolly Esq Dr F Moscuzza D W Tremblay Esq JJ A Baker Esq S W C Cutler Esq M J Kane Esq J N Patel Esq A P M Tse Esq N R S Baker Esq Dr Brenda Despontin M P L Chichester Esq T J Evans Esq G W Knowles Esq M Peacock Esq R B Turner Esq P W Clarke Esq R Forrester Esq S Krishnan Esq N Penn Esq B P Watkins Esq M A Connolly Esq A Funnell Esq J W Longden Esq J E Phythian-Adams Esq M A Wildash Esq M R Cooper Esq A C F Gillespie Esq P Lotlecar Esq N G Putt Esq M K Zaman Esq QC D J Costelloe Esq A Grifoni Esq T M Marshell Esq O A Rao Esq T J Cunningham Esq S K Gupta Esq C R McCallum Esq C P Riley Esq
King’s College School, Royal Grammar School, Winchester College New J7 members Wimbledon Guildford E J Y Barnard Esq The club welcomes the following: J Stone Esq E J F Dillon Esq N E Beaves Esq M Ingram Esq L J Evison Esq Ampleforth College Dauntsey’s School S Tonks Esq T J Turner Esq G F Lowen Esq King’s School, Canterbury M C H Fung Esq L F Roberts Esq U Jaipuria Esq Rydal School A L Mitchell Esq Ashville College Dollar Academy A J Braund Esq J Ranetunge Esq J W J Newsome Esq H L Tester Esq King’s School, Rochester J M G Shaw Esq G E W Rutter Esq J D Furniss-Roe Esq Sevenoaks School E T A Wylde Esq Downside School E W T Watkins Esq Barnard Castle School E J S Hughes Esq Lancing College J A J Watkins Esq B R Hick Esq A Nichol Esq E H G Sparkes Esq Wrekin College R D Palmer Esq H T W Orton Esq Bedford Modern School LH Poitrinal D’Hauterives Esq Sherborne School C Fricker Esq J S Harding Esq Leeds Grammar School A Singh Esq Dulwich College Deceased Bedford School T R Mountain Esq Shiplake College Loughborough Grammar T Waldron Esq T R D Irvine Esq P B Burke Esq School H J D Varley Esq K Kapur Esq R D Carver Esq Berkhamsted School Shrewsbury School E P Daly Esq D C Chhaya Esq H P Young Esq Durham School Marlborough College Dr F J Glover J A St John Ellis Esq Birkenhead School J B Hosier Esq St Albans School K Gram Esq T W Perkins Esq J M Beaumont Esq S Duke-Wallace Esq D G E Hilton Esq Eltham College T J Beaumont Esq C W P Hanifan Esq R Hodges Esq Merchant Taylor’s, Crosby J W Smith-Morgan Esq St Ambrose College R H Hodgson Esq Bolton School H J Wilson Esq M CK Cheung Esq E A Thompson Esq R Y Zhou Esq Professor J D Lever MA MD Sc D Mrs J E MacIndoe Eton College Mill Hill School St Columba’s College, Brentwood School T A Bannatyne Esq P Poon Esq St Albans W C McCabe Esq B G Harries Esq F Davies Esq G D Schlaikjer Esq Count A McMillan J M E Jackson Esq Millfield School G W Mills Esq S Kobayashi Esq Brighton College J M C Bloxham Esq St Edward’s School, Oxford Canon J G M W Murphy LVO MA B Blackmore Esq S H Lee Esq G Adams Esq J W P Richardson Esq J J T Norgate Esq BA (Hons) H Zaman Esq Mount St Mary’s College A Shuker Esq Bromsgrove School D G Smith Esq F O E Grassi Esq V Rajkhowa Esq Haberdashers’Aske’sBoys’ St Paul’s School T A Dean Esq Newcastle-Under-Lyme J M Cohen-Setton Esq Gone away Canford School J J K Treon Esq O M Downey Esq School J Zhao Esq T G Foxley Esq S D Rodrigues Esq The Royal Grammar School, We have lost contact with Worcester the following, who may have Haileybury Charterhouse Norwich School Z W Turley Esq J Baker Esq moved without giving the club H Coe Esq D G Wilson-Nunn Esq L D A Chalk Esq their new addresses. If you A CH Leung Esq The Royal Hospital School F M Cosulich Esq know where to contact them, F J J Mack Esq Nottingham High School K Charoenwan Esq B Wilberforce-Ritchie Esq J B B Gallimore Esq please let the secretary’s office Harrow School H Smith Esq know or ask them to get in P M Hart Esq Tonbridge School Cheltenham College W L Arndt Esq touch: W Frome Esq Oratory School W J Baker Esq Highgate School T Lynas Esq T Cotter Esq Christ’s Hospital T A Pelekanou Esq C R C Aston Esq L Turner Esq M J Watkins Esq E J A Godman Esq Wellingborough School G Chow Esq J P T O’Malley Esq Oundle School G T S Farmer Esq Hymers College J Tolan Esq Churcher’s College J R P Pascoe Esq E Gale Esq J O Hall Esq W J Cain Esq C Halfon Esq Wellington College, Queen’s College, Taunton Miss L Hoyer-Miller Clayesmore School Kimbolton School Berkshire T J Howe Esq T W Merriman Esq Benjamin J G Illingworth H Tilmouth Esq E F Kay Esq J F Lacey Esq M M C Yu Esq Sir Thomas Oates CMG OBE Clifton College Radley College B Ozyurt Esq King Henry VIII School T J Bland Esq Westminster School T Marshman Esq J Scarborough Esq E H Gazeley Esq J H Hsu Esq CE R Sealy Esq P Self Esq Cranleigh School G J C Munday Esq King William’s College Repton School Whitgift School H Shim Esq B J Wilson Esq T H J Woolard Esq T E D Wilton-Morgan Esq J E Dunkin Esq O J Walker Esq
EAST & WEST – SPRING 2014 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 ] City of London Club 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 Royal Automobile Club 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 the Hurlingham Club. 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.