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Number 78 June 2016 A New Member of the Junior Ganymede Club by Neil Constable Wodehouse introduces us to the Mayfair district of London at the turn of the 20th existence of the Junior Ganymede, a century. Wodehouse himself separately placed it in fPict.io naG l clu.b for male household staff, in The Code Curzon Street in The Code of the Woosters and “just of the Woosters (1938), and briefly allows the round the corner” from Curzon Street in the later reader a glimpse within its walls some 33 years Much Obliged, Jeeves . Norman, however, proved later in 1971 with the publication of Much Obliged, that the actual address was a nearby public house, Jeeves . Interestingly, though, it would appear that now called The Only Running Footman, located Wodehouse was not the first author to identify this on the corner of Hays Mews and Charles Street. Mayfair establishment and use it as a fictional So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon ‘club’ for gentlemen’s gentlemen to meet and two earlier fictional references to the same exchange opinions on the activities of their establishment in works by Margery Allingham, the employers. creator and chronicler of the exploits of amateur Anyone who has been privileged to join sleuth Albert Campion and his servant, the doleful Norman Murphy on one of his Wodehouse Walks ex-burglar Magersfontein Lugg. In Allingham’s walks, or has dipped into his Wodehouse Handbook , novel Flowers for the Judge – published in 1936, might recall the clues assiduously pieced together some two years earlier than The Code of the over time to fix Woosters – Lugg is the exact location remonstrating with that inspired the his employer over Junior Ganymede . the latter’s in- Like so many of volvement in a Wodehouse’s set- case which he sees tings, it proved to as a ‘sex crime’ be based on a real (wrongly as it address and, in turns out) and this instance, an hoping his own actual meeting part in it may be place (albeit a pub limited: “When rather than an they were all actual club) that talking about it at catered for the the club, discussin’ many butlers, the details, I said valets, footmen, to myself, ‘I do and chauffeurs ’ope I keep out of who served the this’.” Campion households of the inquires: Allusions to The Only Running Footman pub, the source of the Junior Ganymede, can be found in these two Margery Allingham books. Wooster Sauce – June 2016 “When you say ‘the club’, do you mean that nudged along by these earlier references, pub in Wardour Street?” A wooden expression crept into Mr Lugg’s presupposing, of course, that Wodehouse read face. “No. I don’t go there anymore. I took Allingham’s work. Clearly Wodehouse himself exception to some of the members. Very low earned the affection of various leading detective type of person, they were. If you must know, I go to a very quiet, respectable little place in a writers of his day, with Agatha Christie, Anthony mews up Mayfair way. There are several nice Berkeley, and Leslie Charteris all dedicating books people there in my own line of business.” to him. But it is possible that Margery Allingham “Gentlemen’s gentlemen, I suppose,” said was also tipping him the wink in Flowers for the Mr Campion sarcastically. “Exactly,” agreed Mr Lugg belligerently. Judge with the brief appearance of a character “And why not? A nice superior class of person I named Roberta Jeeves, author of Died on a meet and hear all the gossip.” Saturday , as a witness for the prosecution. Whatever the inspiration, for anyone who has It is in seeking to imitate the habits of just such been introduced to both these gentlemen’s a “superior class of person” that Lugg gentlemen through the words of their creators, one inadvertently introduces his employer to a can only wince at the thought of the two coming subsequent mystery, The Case of the Late Pig . face to face at their mutual ‘club’, whether that be Originally published in 1937, the year before The in the private bar (the preserve of butlers, Code of the Woosters , this story commences with gentlemen’s gentlemen, and valets) of the pub of Albert Campion reflecting upon the character of Allingham’s telling or the smoking room of the his general factotum: “Lugg, who in spite of club of Wodehouse’s conception. magnificent qualities has elements of the oaf about Imagine the impeccable, irreproachable, him, met His Lordship’s valet in the Mayfair mews immaculate Jeeves meeting the caustic, derisive, pub where they cater for gentlemen in the service and at times tawdry Lugg (who would think of gentlemen and was instantly inspired to nothing of donning a “remarkable contraption imitation.” The imitation takes the form of reading consisting of a stiff collar with a black tie aloud the Times ’ obituary column to his employer attached” before answering the door). Perhaps the while the other partakes of breakfast in bed. closest we will get to such an encounter is the While Wodehouse knew Hays Mews from the reaction of Jeeves to an approach by the uncouth mid-1920s, when he lived nearby in Norfolk Bingley at the Junior Ganymede as recorded by Street, it is possible that Margery Allingham Bertie Wooster in Much Obliged, Jeeves : learned of the establishment during the period she attended the Regent Street Polytechnic in the early “Good afternoon,” said Jeeves, and I could see that the chap was not one of his inner circle of years of the same decade. It is interesting to friends. His voice was cold, and anyone less speculate whether the Junior Ganymede in some lacking in and deficient in due respect would latent form may have been shaped or even just have spotted this and recoiled. Society News It’s That Time of Year Again you, Sue Williams, and her technical supporting act, Members will have found a higher than usual incidence husband Bryan – we don’t want to put them off right at of inserts (colour-coded for ease, both ours and yours) in the start! this issue of Wooster Sauce . These include application As we’re sure you know, Standing Order and Direct forms for tickets to the Society’s Percy Jeeves Memorial Debit payers’ subscriptions are renewed automatically, Lunch in July, and for our Dinner in October; you can read which (obviously) are the easiest methods for members about these first two below and of course on the forms. and Society alike. Unfortunately, these options are only But the third insert – almost certainly bright yellow – available to members with a UK bank account. Of those is a reminder that your subscription renewal is due, and two options, Direct Debit is the Society’s absolute will only be going to those members who renew their favourite – it is set up online, flexible, reliable (more so subs using cash, cheque, PayPal, or bank transfer. If you than Standing Orders, dare we say), and well regulated. receive a yellow form, we’d be so grateful if you’d renew If you pay by any of the other methods and have a as soon as you can – or let us know if you’re not planning UK bank account, do please consider changing to Direct to renew. It’s such a lot of work keeping track of who has Debit for this renewal. paid and who hasn’t, and sending out second reminders to members who meant to renew but didn’t quite get around to it is surprisingly time-consuming. This is the busiest time of year for our Database Manager, and since Thank you. we have a new volunteer this year – welcome and thank – HILARY BRUCE Page 2 Wooster Sauce – June 2016 Society Meetings: What’s the Buzz? Goole whose name has come to represent sagacity and Talking to a companion over his customary Dirty Martini resourcefulness, and which has brought laughter to the other evening, our impresario noted how it only takes millions. something to happen once or twice before it assumes the Percy was just one of so very many young men lost status of a long-standing tradition. “Who would have in that terrible battle, and ordinarily, few today would thought,” he mused, “that within three short years our know of him. But thanks to P. G. Wodehouse, we do know little quiz would have members beating down the door Percy Jeeves, and as we honour him, this is also our demanding to know when the next one will be?” chance to honour the millions of other young men who Well, he begs to inform those keen to pit their volunteered to fight for their country and died, knowledge against his that they can save their knuckles a unremarked save by their closest family. bruising. For on Wednesday, June 29, they will get their Our memorial event marking the centenary of Percy next chance to dazzle with their brilliance, as on that day Jeeves’s death begins at 1.00 p.m., when we will plant a the Fiendish Wodehouse Quiz Number 4 will take place tree in his name and unveil the Society’s memorial. in the upstairs boudoir of the Savoy Tup, just off the Lunch and afternoon tea in a private marquee will follow. Strand, in the throbbing heart of London’s West End. The There will be some very short speeches at the planting customary apes, ivory, and peacocks will be distributed and lunch, to give us plenty of time to enjoy the cricket, to the winning team, but these are but trash when the beautiful grounds, and the excellent company.

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