JOURNAL OF THE ARMY & NAVY CLUB
36 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JN Issue No. 56 | February 2020
A WAR M WELCOME FROM THE CEO
A warm welcome from 36 Pall Mall to all our Members and I hope everyone is looking forward to the start of the Roaring Twenties at The Rag. We may be only a few weeks into the New Year, but there is much that is already underway, or on the near horizon, as we get the Club and Clubhouse ready for the next decade.
I am delighted to say work has already commenced to have been very low. The Club pays for the monthly replace the boilers and the promise of uninterrupted memberships and at present it is hard to justify doing hot water and heat to all parts of the building is this, such is the low patronage. In an attempt to make something to look forward to. All being well, everything it worthwhile, I have done away with the £10 per visit will be completed by mid-April. fee and made it FREE! Please do use it, or else we Those Members that use the Business Centre will will be forced to lose it. have noticed we have been busy in there too. The On page 6, you will find detail of the incoming new room has been re-configured to provide more work membership IT system that will revolutionise how space and new furniture provides both greater comfort Members can engage, access and pay at the Club. and flexibility. The desktops have been replaced with I am really excited by the system’s potential and see packages more akin to the times we live in and a new it as a great step forward for all. menu caters for those working lunch needs. It really Finally I am delighted to welcome some new, young is now a great space to host those informal business and exciting talent to the team. We have taken the requirements. decision to employ two University Graduates on gap The changes in some of the management team years to bolster the Event, Marketing and Membership has brought a focus to the Club doing its bit for the functions. Conducting the interviews has been a very environment and being more sustainable in what exciting process, as the energy, ideas and fresh we do. In replacing the boilers, we will make a big thinking on display is going to be great to have as improvement to our energy usage. However, there are part of the team. many more initiatives underway, the detail of which I look forward to seeing you at the Club in the near can be found on page 6. future and as always, please do let me know any It would seem Members have not made getting thoughts or comments. or staying fit one of their New Year’s resolutions as take up of the excellent facilities across the Square Robin An update from the Chairman In this edition of the Quarterly Newsletter I would like to take a slightly different perspective on the Club’s development.
With Robin Bidgood now firmly in the driving and optimising our service. Currently we are seat as the CEO, the Board meetings have focussing on essential infrastructure repairs been reduced to one every quarter as with the replacement of the boilers and the well as a meeting immediately after the installation of an integrated management Annual General Meeting, this year on 8 information system, essential for a business July. The Finance & Audit Committee and such as ours. However, the lifts will not last for the Membership Committee continue to ever, the kitchen needs modernisation and have executive roles, but the remainder the standard of our bedrooms continues to of the Directors are now Non Executive in lag behind ever-rising expectations. support of the CEO. This has allowed the We all recognise the changing Board to move away from tactical fire-fighting demographics that we face. The wider which was the priority in 2018-19, towards military community is reducing but we wish Major General considering the strategic opportunities and to retain a military ethos. Our average age A P Grant Peterkin challenges that the Club faces in the next of member is 65 and we must continue the decade. drive to recruit younger members and people We have begun by looking at some of the who are willing to spend money in the Club. problems that we face and at its most recent There are opportunities to recruit members meeting the Board adopted a new Risk from those who work nearby, and particularly Management policy, which describes how to recruit more female members given that we shall manage risk across the business in many of our neighbouring Clubs do not allow accordance with established good practice. women to join on the same terms as men. The policy also allocates responsibilities for We have started the crucial next stage risk management at each level - strategic in the Club’s development with the CEO by the Board, operational by the CEO and and his executive team running the Club technical by the relevant managers - which and ensuring that we are trading profitably, will create clarity and accountability. The with full Board support. You will have many next step in the development process is differing views on what you want from the establishing the framework for the Club’s Club and how you believe new Members management, with the CEO focused on can be attracted. Hence the need for a operational factors in the first 3 years and comprehensive survey to which I hope you the Board on the longer term and strategic will all respond. Your views and aspirations issues. These improvements will allow the for the Club will be important for the Board to Board to fulfil its proper roles of direction hear in our efforts to deliver the way ahead and stewardship of the Club. for the RAG over the next decade. After the next AGM, by which time I expect our revenues to be increasing and when we Peter Grant Peterkin will have a Membership Secretary in place, Chairman I hope that we can once again survey the membership to ascertain what it is that you PS: Again looking ahead, the Club Dinner want from your Club. This should greatly help will be on Thursday 29 October. in prioritising our investment expenditure NEWSLETTER OF THE ARMY & NAVY CLUB CLUB ART COLLECTION NEWS
DEPARTMENT UPDATE THE COLLECTION
Conservation at The Rag is progressing well. In the last few weeks we have welcomed back to the Pall Mall Room our portrait of General Beresford in a much improved frame and with his paintwork expertly restored. In the Drawing Room ‘A Girl with Dove’ has been returned to the Club walls having been restored and with a new frame. Finally, some Members may remember the large painting of the Gunners, ‘Ubique’ by Charles Edward Major Skelton-Stroud and previous Librarian Stewart that was hanging for a time in Mary Duffy. the Smoking Room. Both painting and frame needed a lot of work which has There have been numerous changes in been completed with great success and Our portrait of General Beresford, mid- the department already this year. Firstly we look forward to displaying the work conservation, before its restored frame we sincerely thank Major Paul Skelton- more prominently in the future. was replaced Stroud for his contribution to the running of the Club’s art and library collections as he passes the baton onto Colonel Alan Roberts. The Major has spent many years supporting first Mary Duffy, then Jane Branfield and now myself. On behalf of the Club I would like to thank him very much for all his hard work and dedication to all aspects of the collection and for being such an ambassador for The Rag.
As we embark on a new decade it was felt that the department name could do with a refresh, so it will now be called ‘Collections’, with my job title changing to ‘Collections Manager’. Alice Crossland
A close up of ‘Ubique’ post-conservation BOOK SALE DONATIONS Finally, the next book sale will be on the 6th April. If Members have We have been very books they would like to donate, lucky to receive some either to the library or the sale, interesting donations please get in touch. We have of artworks, including now expanded our selection a portrait of General of military and non-military Montgomery which novels to three shelves, was presented to the so if you have any Chairman by William suitable donations for Bortrick, Chairman of this area they would be Burke’s Peerage and is gratefully received. now on display in the Ian Jacob Bar. You can contact me on [email protected] From left to right – Alice Crossland, Maj Gen Peter Grant Peterkin or on 020 7849 8304. (Club Chairman), William Bortrick and Club member Mark Ayre UPCOMING EVENTS
The Events Office have released a busy and exciting programme of Members’ Events for the first part of the year. To book any of the following events, please contact the Events Office on0207 827 8079 or email [email protected]. Some of the events are ticketed with places at a premium, so do not delay and reserve your place promptly to avoid disappointment.
In Conversation…with Jeremy Houghton RN Dinner: The Yangtze Incident Tuesday 17th March at 18.30 Friday 27th March 2020 at 18.00 The acclaimed artist Jeremy Following the success of last year’s Royal Naval Houghton is a man of many Dinner, join us again this year to honour the heroic homes. These residencies three-month ordeal of HMS Amethyst and its crew will form the core of a talk during their 1949 journey along the Yangtze River – as explored for he is giving at the Royal us by club member Commodore Laurie Hopkins. Academy on 26 March, when Dress Code: Black Tie and Miniatures (or ladies equivalent). he will share his experiences £65.00 per person to include Prosecco reception, 3-Course Dinner, of encapsulating on canvas ½ bottle of wine, coffee and petit fours. the likes of Windsor Castle, Highgrove, Wimbledon, and Goodwood that has produced Grand National Preview Supper, Guest of pieces like those on show here honour: Kim Bailey (on the 30th anniversary of and is condensed in a book published shortly. Ahead of that, here on Mr. Frisk’s Aintree success) Tuesday 17 March, Jeremy will be guest at an Evening in Conversation. Wednesday 1st April 2020 at 19.00 At the table over supper, he will talk about his many patrons such as Few trainers can claim a Cheltenham Gold Cup Her Majesty, The Queen, and His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and Champion Hurdle clean sweep in the same year. Even fewer and hosts like Lord March, Sir Ben Ainslie, the Gentlemen at Arms, can also boast a Grand National win, to boot. Join Kim Bailey, one of Zulus in Kwazulu-Natal, and Kamfer’s Dam’s flamingos. The intimacy only two British trainers today to saddle the winners of these three of this occasion will provide a unique insight into the work of an artist races, to relive his triumph in the world’s greatest steeplechase back on site, and how residencies have enabled him to show unconsidered in 1990 and also share in his consideration of the race this year - For sides and aspects of some of our best known and loved institutions which those attending will receive a free £50.00 bet - and his own and locations. career stretching back over four decades and including success at Please reserve your place at supper quickly as spaces are very limited. the highest level. A night with a history maker who will share the back Dress Code: Smart Casual story of his greatest days as well as look forward to jumps racing’s £45.00 per person to include 2-Course Dinner, glass of wine on day on the world stage. arrival, glass of wine with dinner and coffee. Dress Code: Smart Casual To attend Jeremy’s talk at the Royal Academy, please email: £60.00 per person to include a 3-Course Dinner with ½ bottle of [email protected] wine and coffee.
Bonny Lunch Club Evening Talk: Brigadier John Powell Wednesday 25th March 2020 at 12.00 Thursday 16th April 2020 at 18.30 Initially inaugurated by the late Major Keith Bonny Author and Club member Brigadier John Powell – Hodson’s Horse and prominent Club member – who will give an insightful talk about his biography as a follow-on from the Indian Cavalry Association of General Sir Edward Bulfin – which charts his lunch which he ran. This lunch is also open to successful rise within the military despite his members and notices of future dates will appear background and never attending Sandhurst or in the Newsletter. The speaker will be Dr Andrew commanding a battalion. Lownie, author of the much acclaimed book “The £10.00 lecture with a glass of wine. lives and Loves of the Mountbattens”. Please contact the Events Office to be added to this listing. Dress Code: Jacket (or ladies equivalent) Jazz with Jeremy Sassoon £60.00 per person to include Prosecco on arrival, 3-Course Lunch Thursday 30th April 2020 at 18.45 with ½ bottle of wine and coffee. We are delighted to welcome back Jeremy Sassoon for an evening of Jazz in the Smoking Room Bar. After last year’s sell out event, we have added extra standing room so more of you are able to enjoy the evening. Dress Code: Jacket (or ladies equivalent) £25.00 per person seated or £15.00 Standing – to include the Sassoon Cocktail or a glass of fizz on arrival. NEWSLETTER OF THE ARMY & NAVY CLUB
DINING ROOM EVENTS Army v Navy Rugby Match Package Saturday 2nd May 2020 at 14.00 Join in for the UK’s largest amateur sporting Mother’s Day Lunch event and watch the Army take on the Royal Sunday 22nd March 2020 from 12.00 Navy at Twickenham Stadium, rounded off Treat Mum to a special Sunday lunch by enjoying dinner and an overnight stay at the Club in the Dining Room, family back at the Club. style. Large tables and families of all £170.00 per person to include tickets to the game, standard double ages welcome. room accommodation (Friday or Saturday night), 2-Course dinner in Dress Code: Smart Casual (no ripped jeans or trainers) the Ribbon Bar & a glass of wine or pint. Upgrade your reservation £28.50 Adults, Children (under 12) £15.00 to include 3-Course Lunch. to dinner in the Dining Room for an additional £25.00.
Easter Sunday Lunch Literary Lunch with….Victoria Hislop Sunday 12th April 2020 from 12.00 Tuesday 5th May 2020 at 12.30 Come and join us for a special Sunday This June will be 15 years since Victoria Hislop’s lunch at the Club in the Dining Room, large The Island was published to great acclaim and tables and families of all ages welcome. even greater sales. Join Victoria for lunch to mark Dress Code: Smart Casual (no ripped this occasion and also the release of her latest jeans or trainers) novel, Those Who Are Loved, in paperback. After £28.50 Adults, Children (under 12) £15.00 to include 3-Course Lunch. lunch, Victoria will share her thoughts on her debut and most recent efforts as well as the body of work in-between. Guests will have the chance to have their questions put to Victoria, who will look back at a life transformed THE RAG CURRY CLUB by The Island, her love of Greece, and the day-to-day challenges a writer faces. Book Now! LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH Dress Code: Smart Casual. £50.00 per person to include a 2-Course Lunch, a glass of wine Join us in the Dining Room on the last Wednesday of every on arrival, a glass of wine with lunch and coffee, plus a copy of her month to welcome back the Rag Curry Club. This month’s curry latest paperback. (February 26th) is a Goan prawn and seafood curry with traditional accompaniments. £15.00 per person Summer Reception Lunch 12.30 – 14.15 | Dinner 17.45 – 21.00 Thursday 4 June 2020 at 18.30 Tri-Club Summer Drinks reception with Please book via Reception or the Dining Room the East India Club and Naval & Military Email: [email protected] Club – please register your interest at Telephone: +44 (0)20 7827 8029 [email protected] Online: www.therag.co.uk/facilities/bars-restaurants
COLONEL’S REVIEW Saturday 6th June 2020 at 11.00 Colonel’s Review Parade and Lunch – at the time of going to press, tickets have not been allocated so please register your interest at [email protected]
TROOPING THE COLOUR Saturday 13th June 2020 at 12.30 Trooping the Colour Lunch – join us for a buffet lunch following the parade. Please note that the Club is unable to get tickets for the actual parade. £40.00 per person to include buffet lunch and ½ bottle of wine CLUB NEWS HOUSEKEEPING NEWS
First of all, congratulations to House Porter John Almonte and his wife Ofelia on the birth of their son Johannes who was born on 23 January at St George’s Hospital. A big surprise for mum and dad who had been told to expect a little girl! GOING GREEN Over the last few months we have been looking at ways to make the Club more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Paper napkins have been replaced with linen ones at breakfast and paper cocktail napkins are now linen too. The mini plastic bottles of soap and shampoo in the rooms have been replaced with larger dispensers, made from recycled plastic and the product itself is vegan friendly. We will shortly have two electric car charging points in the garage and large parts of the Club have already been re-lamped with LED light bulbs. We will keep looking at every New vibrating acoustic digital pillow alarms aspect and see if there are improvements that have been purchased. This innovative device can be made to reduce our carbon footprint. One for guests who are hard of hearing listens of the biggest benefits to the new boilers will be to the sound of the fire alarm and then this a far more efficient system that uses much less triggers the pillow to vibrate and a visual energy and they have the potential to be linked aid on the screen indicates to the user that to solar panels on the roof, something we are there is a fire. These devices are available currently looking into. from the Reception Desk.
SUNDAY NIGHT ACCOMMODATION OFFER NEW MEMBERSHIP
Sunday evenings are the one MANAGEMENT night of the week when we have consistently low occupancy. We SYSTEM would love to see this improve, Training for the team is about to get under so from Sunday March 1st a new way on our new system, which we expect to bedroom rate of £60 a night for start rolling out across all areas of the Club single rooms and £75 for twins in April. Many of you will have experienced and doubles will be available for the system at other Clubs, providing a one Sunday night occupancy. We stop facility for Club entry, making bookings hope this provides the perfect and reservations and use in the Bars and opportunity to make a real Dining Room. It will also provide the much weekend of a stay, or a great needed improvement for Members through way to start the working week the website, with Club Event bookings in in style and avoid the Monday particular much easier to facilitate. Regular commute. Full details are available updates on this important upgrade will be from Reception. provided in the coming weeks. NEWSLETTER OF THE ARMY & NAVY CLUB
HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA 2020 The Leander Club are delighted to offer Reciprocal members the opportunity to attend the first and last day of Henley Royal Regatta in 2020 alongside Leander members. The table for the day package is priced at £185 (including VAT) per person and includes:
• Entry tickets to the historic Leander Club.
• A traditional luncheon in the members’ marquee.
• Afternoon cream tea. PRINCE CHARLES WEARING • Exclusive enclosure tickets to watch HIS CLUB TIE the races and soak up the unique atmosphere of this quintessentially English You might have seen recently in the news that HRH The Prince of Wales proudly displayed summer event. his Club tie while visiting a military rehabilitation centre in Leicestershire with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge. Prince Charles has been Reciprocal Members and their guests will seen wearing the Club tie on several occasions but members might be interested to be seated at tables of ten, shared where learn how he came to own it. necessary. Parties of any size can be accommodated but the offer is subject to Major General Mike Shellard, CBE who was Club Chairman from 2000 to 2003 recalls: a strictly limited availability on a ‘first come first’ served basis. Children over 10 are most “It was the Veterans Week in 2005. There Navy Club, the Rag, and he then asked welcome but a strict dress code applies to was a great public display of military how we had managed to get it approved. all. This offer is non-refundable and may hardware, much of it dating from the Second I explained that in 1999 when I was Vice not be used for business entertainment World War, in St James Park and by the Chairman, Captain John Jacobsen, then purposes. Business entertainment enquiries entrance, military charity tents and displays Chairman had asked me to come up with are welcome at [email protected] acted as a very colourful and heart-warming an alternative to our rather quiet City tie. introduction to the event. With some help we arrived at the dark blue Full details of the day will be provided on and red stripes for the Royal Navy and the application and bookings will be accepted Given how close this was to the Palace, Army; that since there were at least 50 from 1 May in writing to: Regatta Bookings, we had royal visitors on all 5 days of the members of the Royal Air Force among Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames, event which was splendid fun for all the the membership, the light blue was also Oxfordshire, RG9 2LP or by e-mail to volunteers manning the displays. Ministers included. As to the green, I can only say [email protected]. Details about the were naturally keen to be associated with that then, as now, the Royal Marines were Club can be found on the Club website it all - but needed someone who knew the strong supporters of all we did and were www.leander.co.uk. charities and the folk manning the stands determined to have some representation! to act as bear-leader! I was at this time Chairman of the Confederation of Service He was very taken by the story and Charities (COBSEO) and was happy expressed a good deal of admiration for to oblige. it. As you might guess, I sent a tie to the Palace and received a charming personal When The Prince of Wales arrived his first note of thanks from Prince Charles -safely remark to me was “What a splendid tie among my papers still. It was very good to that is, tell me about it!” I explained that it see him wearing it again on another public was the Club country tie of The Army and occasion a few days ago.” Sports and Leisure
FITNESS FOR FREE! THE RAG CHOIR
Club Members have for some months now, been able to use the – CALLING NEW RECRUITS! excellent gym and pool facilities across the Square at the In and Building on the success of the choir last year we are again running Out Club. The Rag pays for this service, something we are happy monthly choir sessions with our wonderful choral director Calum. to do if it provides a benefit to Rag members. The facilities include These will take place on the first Monday of each month in the run cardio and weights rooms, swimming pool, Fast Lane, spa pool and up to our performance at the Tri Club Summer Drinks on the 4th sauna and changing facilities. Speak to Reception for further details June. If you are interested in joining us please get in touch with Alice along with opening hours. It is now free to use, so please do make Crossland ([email protected]) - no experience or the most of the services. sight reading ability is required.
CHESS AT THE RAG ARMY AND NAVY INTERCLUB REGATTA
The RAG is pleased to announce that we CLUB ROVING 2020 – LOOKING FOR now hold monthly chess sessions in the SHOOTING SYNDICATE THE NEXT RAG CREW Clive Room. These evenings bring together players of all levels from a number of London (ANCRSS) The East India Club would like to invite RAG clubs such as the Reform, the Lansdowne, The syndicate had an excellent year, with members to take part in the Newman VC the Athenaeum, Brooks’s and the National a number of new (and returning shoots). Interclub Regatta to be held at Seaview, Isle Liberal Club. With 14 days shooting in Devon, Dorset, of Wight on Saturday 12 September 2020. They are very informal and friendly Gloucestershire and Berkshire – so plenty Last year’s Regatta saw 4 teams compete evenings, and as much an opportunity to of choice – both in terms of budget and for the Newman VC Trophy. A trophy named socialise over a drink as to actually play location. in honour of the East India Club’s late member chess. The London Clubs Social Chess Thoughts now turn to the next season, and Lt-Col Charles Newman VC OBE TD DL, Network, run by Anne Abel Smith of the planning is well advanced, and it is hoped to Croix de Guerre, Légion d’Honneur who was Reform, meets every Tuesday in different get the dates and locations to all members awarded the Victoria Cross for leading the London clubs and the RAG has agreed to of the syndicate in March. James Cohen Commandos on the St Nazaire Raid. The host these events on a monthly basis. continues running the syndicate and can be trophy is a silver loving cup manufactured in All members of the RAG are most welcome contacted via email at [email protected] 1913 by the Crown Jewellers, Garrard which to attend, even if you are beginners. We can or by telephone on 07770 335222. If you are can hold about 3 bottles of Champagne. also offer backgammon, for those who would interested in joining the syndicate, just let The event was won in 2019 by the Chelsea prefer this game. There are normally around James know and you will be added to the Arts Club. 15 to 20 players attending, and members mailing list, there is no cost in joining! If you would like to take part and can can feel free to come and go as they please. We typically shooting about 125 – 150 get a crew together (min 3 members and Snacks can of course be ordered from the birds per day (with a few 100 bird days as max 4), please contact Laurence Denton – Ribbon Bar. well), and a typical day will cost between [email protected]. She £500 and £600 per gun per day. The will also be able to give you more details For further information please contact either: 2020/20201 season will take a similar format on entry conditions, eligibility, timing, etc. Robert Lipscomb on [email protected], as the previous season, with the potential The Army and Navy Club will be pleased to or Anne Abel Smith on addition of a shoot in Warwickshire. contribute to this event by paying the £100 [email protected] There is no cost of membership for the deposit on behalf of the RAG Crew. The £400 ANCRSS, if you contact James, you will balance will be due by 7 September 2020 be added to the mailing list and will start by the RAG Crew. receiving details of the shoots.