Issue number 98 Summer 2017

IN OUT SHAIKH IT HALL ABOUT GIFT SUGGESTIONS FROM The East India Decanter THE SECRETARY’S OFFICE £75 directory Ties The Silk woven tie in club Cut glass tumbler 16 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LH colours. £20 Telephone: 020 7930 1000 Engraved with club Fax: 020 7321 0217 crest. £30 Email: [email protected] Web: www.eastindiaclub.co.uk The East India Club DINING ROOM – A History Breakfast by Charlie Jacoby. Monday to Friday 6.45am-10am An up-to-date look at the Saturday 7.15am-10am characters who have made Sunday 8am-10am Scarf up the East India Club. £10 Lunch £17 Monday to Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm Sunday (buffet) 12.30pm-2.30pm (pianist until 4pm) Bow ties Compact Saturday sandwich menu available Tie your own and, mirror

Dinner for emergencies, £22 Monday to Saturday 6.30pm-9.30pm Sundays (light supper) 6.30pm-8.30pm clip on. £20 The Gentlemen’s Clubs of London V-neck jumper Table reservations should be made with the Front Lambswool in Desk or the Dining Room and will only be held for New edition of 15 minutes after the booked time. Pre-theatre, Hatband Anthony Lejeune’s burgundy, L, XL, let the Dining Room know if you would like a quick £15 classic. £28 XXL. £55 supper. Notelets AMERICAN BAR £3.75 Monday to Friday 11.30am-11pm Saturday 11.30am-3pm & 5.30pm-11pm Cufflinks Sunday noon-4pm Enamelled cufflinks & 6.30pm-10pm with club crest, Members resident at the club can obtain drinks from chain or bar. £24.50 Polo shirt the hall porter after the bar has closed. In red or black, EAST INDIA ROOM L, XL, XXL. £28 Monday to Friday. Light food and wine menu. Use of electronic devices on silent is permissible. SMOKING ROOM & WATERLOO ROOM Drinks and light menu from 9am to 10.30pm. Mug Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. £14 BILLIARDS ROOM Open to members from 9am to midnight. Chocolate mint Pass keys will not be issued after 11pm. creams £8 GYMNASIUM Open to members from 6am to 10pm. Blazers Club shield Suitable attire must be worn. £395 (navy) £350 (sports) £35 BEDROOM CHARGE Includes early morning tea, newspaper, English Waistcoat breakfast, discretionary £5 per person per night £160 Golf balls contribution to the staff fund, and VAT. All bed- Titleist golf balls. Bearing rooms are non smoking. club crest. £29 per dozen Members & immediate family Napkin Single with bathroom £120 (£74*) hook Single with shower £100 (£64*) £40 Golf tees Single without facilities £82 (£54*) Tin of 50 ‘personalised’ Double or twin room for single occupancy £155 East India golf tees. £7.75 Double or twin room for double occupancy £178 St James’s Suite £288 Reciprocal members & guests Single with bathroom £150 (£95*) Blazer buttons Golf umbrellas Single with shower £131 (£85*) Double breasted. £50 Made in club Double or twin room for single occupancy £181 Single breasted. £35 colours of silver, Double or twin room for double occupancy £209 St James’s Suite £319 blue and red. £17 * Special rate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday Post and packing for non-breakables from and bank holidays £3. Breakable items are for collection MEMBERSHIP CARDS from the club instead of posting. Members are required to carry their membership cards at all times when visiting the club, and Umbrellas Rugby ball present them on arrival. It is essential that they are CLUB WINE: produced when signing for charges to accounts. Short. £20 With club Long. £25 shield. £25 See page 17 for details

2 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 Blazing June brought a series of outdoor events, from the Club diary... jazz barbecue to the Chobham match. The new club

chairman enjoyed all of them – and thanks his predecessor for CHAIRMAN’S REPORT September 7 Lord Mayor’s luncheon leaving the club in a similar warm and happy state. 19 Library lecture, Matthew d’Ancona 22 Evening of jazz 28 Grouse dinner CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

October particularly enjoyed the rousing St opportunities available through our club. 8 Harvest Festival and lunch George’s Day dinner with the house In early June the EPICS golf section held an 10 Library lecture, Rob Caskie I in fine voice as Iain Wolsey played enjoyable member and guest day at Woking 14-15 Classic cars weekend choirmaster for the evening. And not Golf Club, during Royal Ascot week our box 18 Trafalgar dinner just a choirmaster. Iain has been a great 447, which is decorated to evoke the spirit chairman. There were highs, with the of the East India Club, played host to our November 200th anniversary commemoration of racing enthusiasts, and in early July our 1 Port tasting Waterloo in 2015 proving an inspiration for cricket section played at Chobham seeking 2 House dinner a keen war historian, and lows such as the to repeat last year’s victory and testing my 3 Rugby lunch, Barbarians vs All Blacks divided loyalties as chairman of this club and 17 Rugby lunch, vs Australia president of Chobham Cricket Club. The club AGM was held in early May. December It saw the introduction of the new 6 Tri clubs service and Christmas party governance policy which has established 7 Carol concert and dinner a smaller committee of up to 16 elected 10 Advent carols and lunch representatives, down from 18, with the option to co-opt up to two other members August Bank Holiday if considered appropriate. There are no immediate plans to recruit any co-optees. Bars and catering are closed after I am pleased to report that the club breakfast on Sunday 27 August and continues to prosper and your committee re-open on Tuesday 29 August 2017. is ever mindful of the need to maintain Accommodation and continental and upgrade the club facilities. I am most breakfast remain available throughout. impressed with the excellent refurbishment Duncan Steele-Bodger work carried out on the fourth floor bedrooms Christmas which have met with approval from members. The club closes for Christmas after stresses of handling the fall-out from the There are plans in place to continue this lunch on Friday 22 December 2017 misappropriation of funds in 2014. Iain has rolling programme to include the remaining and re-opens at 9am on worked tirelessly on behalf of the club to floors over time. There are of course always Tuesday 2 January 2018. manage ‘the case’, minimising the chances of challenges and we continue to fight the recurrence and seeking to achieve the best proposed changes in business rates. I am sure Sunday lunch possible outcome for the club. As I take over that this will be a recurring item of discussion On most Sundays throughout the year, the chairmanship from him, I am grateful that during the coming years. a sumptuous lunch buffet is provided the club is in such good health. Members are justly proud of our excellent to the accompaniment of a pianist. The committee also lost the services of and loyal staff and I am delighted to another past chairman as David Cartwright confirm that the changes to the staff fund decided not to stand for arrangements that re-election. He retired from As I take over the were introduced from chairing the wine committee chairmanship, I am January 2016 have proved where he was instrumental in “ grateful the club is successful in raising the improving both the quality of such good health amount contributed, after East & West the club wine list and how our several years without wines are stored. growth. I thank you all for your generosity. Editor: Charlie Jacoby On your behalf I would like to thank both It would not be appropriate to ignore the 07850 195353 [email protected] ” for their outstanding contributions to the tragic events of the spring and summer. Our Designer: Chris Haddon 07792 515056 [email protected] ongoing development of our club. thoughts are with all those affected. The St George’s day dinner was only one We have now seen four separate terrorist Photography: Phil McCarthy. To download or order photography, login to the members’ of many club events this spring and summer. incidents in London and . It will be area of EastIndiaClub.com and select event The weather was kind, if far from glorious, for necessary for all venues, buildings and clubs photography the tri clubs party in the square and kinder to to review their security measures. I would ask Printed by: Colour3 (ColourCubed.co.uk) the point of glorious for the jazz barbecue. that all members show patience as our staff Published on behalf of The East India Club by We look ahead to the autumn and the Lord seek to identify all visitors to 16 St James’s Charlie Jacoby, c/o The East India Club www.charliejacoby.com Mayor’s lunch and house dinner. Square. Cover photo: sculpture in the gardens Before we wish away the summer months, I commend to you some of the many sporting Duncan Steele-Bodger, chairman

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 3 NEWS

The club’s sporting sections have enjoyed full summer programmes, with golfers visiting courses around the south of England, the cricketers playing more matches than ever before and a variety of interests including shooting and motoring. Sports shorts SOLE OF THE CLUB Cricket

by Ben Hurworth by Edward Case

he club’s cricket section began its season with a couple of enjoyable Tfixtures against Provender CC and Allenburys & County Hall CC. The section has a total of 18 fixtures this year against a variety of opposition, which we believe is the busiest season the club has ever had. It has been great already to have had a number of members make their debut for the club but the section is still keen to hear from further members who want to get involved. As well as playing cricket, we plan to have a number of social events through the season and are currently finalising details for a dinner in October to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the re-establishment of the cricket section. If you are interested in getting Golf clubbers: mini tour to Rye and match against the , now ‘holding the camel’ involved in any capacity, please email [email protected] he golfing section has seen a full was followed by dinner at the club. programme. St George’s Hill offered Playing the , a slow-off- Backgammon T us our first taste of competitive the-blocks morning round at New Zealand golf of the year with the course bathed in GC by the EPICS team meant that, despite sun for most of the day during our spring an improved post lunch performance, we he end of the backgammon season meeting. The morning members singles lost 8-4, relinquishing the trophy and only in May saw the club languishing at was won by Alan Botterill (36 pts) ahead of succeeding in picking up the wine tab. T seventh place, ahead of Chelsea local favourite Rod Alexander (34) and Paul Thank you to John Braithwaite for again Arts Club. Sean Williams is our top player. Blows (31). The morning guest singles was organising the mini tour to Rye and match Current winner is . See competitive with the top two players on 41 against our friends from the Reform Club. LondonBackgammonLeague.com points with John Terry winning on countback A round at Royal Cinque Ports was followed from Nick Barton. A prodigious strike from by a two-night stay in Rye visiting our usual Neil Blackstone won the longest drive whilst restaurants. We warmed up on Tuesday for Shooting a more delicate shot from Alan Blackham the match with a game on the Jubilee course by William Downie secured the nearest the pin prize. Following a before the formal match on the main course wonderful lunch, the afternoon greensomes on Wednesday. A well-fought but ultimately members’ prize was won by Paul Blows and halved match meant that the Reform Club his guest, David Freeborn. retained the ‘camel’ trophy. Next, we took to Urban Golf Soho. A President’s Day is on Tuesday 11 July mature EPICS trio lost to three J7 EPICS (after East & West goes to press). It will be at members on the Pebble Beach simulator. This Hankley Common GC.

ime to dust off the side-by-sides featuring MG cars, with many special pre- and over-and-unders for the annual Motoring war visitors, such as the MG PB ‘Cream T inter-club clay competition at Cracker’, together with a great selection Holland & Holland in July 2017. Our shooters of the post war cars we all know and (left-right) Charlie Jacoby, Alexander James, by Tony Allen love. This is an appeal to all MG owners. Steve Ravell and William Downie shot 219, We wish to see as many MGs as we can putting us in eighth place, 38 clays behind onday 28 August is the day when among cars. Remember, an MG TD was winner White’s. Organiser, the City of we hope to see many members voted the favourite car at the 2016 London Club provided an excellent supper. M and their friends display their display. Date for the diary: 14 October Looking forward to the new game season, classic cars of all marques on the lawn at 2017 classic car section annual rally and there are two 100-bird days available to Phyllis Court in Henley. This year we will be dinner. Details from the secretary’s office. members at Gara Barton in South Devon.

4 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 NEWS

While many of the club’s activities take place outdoors during Rowing the summer, the Dining Room remained busy throughout the season, both day-to-day and for members’ events. by Ron Collins

s a permanent reminder of Young members’ dinner our achievement in 2016, the Aphotograph of our crew at Henley n the company of the club’s new dinner speaker, auctioneer and member Royal Regatta is now up on the wall of the chairman, the Dining Room rang to Philip Serrell. From the story of an immovable American Bar. I the cheers of members when deputy cow to his experiences in television, Philip This year, we had a core group on the chairman Matthew Ebsworth spoke of the was entertaining and in demand for chat and bank at Henley, both in Stewards and vibrancy and youthful outlook of the East photographs afterwards. Leander. India Club. This year’s young members’ A strong club attendance at Henley dinner, for nearly 100 men in their old school followed the Boat Race where once again ties, heard career anecdotes from after- we took up positions at Auriol Kensington Rowing Club.

Members in the Dining Room

Pre-supper drinks in the Clive Room Club members and guests at Auriol Kensington for the 2017 Boat Race

Recording the race Matthew Ebsworth addresses young members Philip Serrell and young members

nine teams in the Hamilton-Russell Cup Chess with five wins and losses to MCC, RAC and Oxford & Cambridge. Sam Franklin (EIC) by Nick Lloyd joined us last year as our board 1, having played thrice for Cambridge University. his year marks the 10th anniversary Yaroslav Voropayev (EIC) is on board 2 and of the club’s combined team with the IJ Parry (EIC) when available, is on Board 3. T . In an enjoyable and New recruit is Luke King (EIC). successful season, we came fourth out of We introduced a time-handicap chess Same blazers, different blues: Chris Lynas (left) competition this season with the aim of and Ron Collins trying to increase regular participation. Progress was initially slow before a flurry As part of our ambition to expand the of activity through March completed activities of the section we are looking the group stage, with some unexpected to enter boats in a number of summer progressions to the quarter finals in regattas with options of: April. Both these and the ensuing semi- 15 July Molesey Amateur Regatta finals produced some fantastic matches 22 July Staines Amateur Regatta featuring a number of time-scrabble 29 July Henley T&V Regatta finishes. They led to Habib Amir (ORI) 19 August Oxford City Regatta and Andrew Tseng (EIC) facing off for the We have chosen these as they are all Calcutta Light Horse Trophy. Tight opening after the end of the academic year, to suit exchanges left Andrew with a slightly our stronger university rowers’ schedule advantageous position, before Habib and are competitive for ‘scratch’ crews and wrestled back control of the match and those who row together less often. We are eventually pressed home his advantage to also looking to purchase a set of our own Habib Amir (right) wins the Calcutta Light Horse Trophy become the inaugural winner of the trophy. EIC blades for the first time.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 5 The club’s AGM in May saw the former chairman give his farewell performance, showing the club is in rosy health, despite the efforts of Westminster City Council. In this edited version of his speech, he talks about the clubhouse, the members and club events, as well as the staff, and the latest news on the defalcations ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL

council are seeking to make a significant EAST INDIA CLUB ANNUAL increase in the rateable value of properties including ours, and it is probable that this will result in an increase in rates on the main GENERAL MEETING clubhouse in St James’s Square from the current level of £146,000 to £247,000 for am pleased to report on a year in which the management team for their contribution the current tax year ending March 2018, with there have been continued improvements to a sound performance. further increases to follow over the next Iin the financial health of the club and the The club has enjoyed another good year of four years. I wish to extend the committee’s results reported by the committee reflect events and social activity and has been ever sincere thanks to all our members for their this. The club’s overall revenue grew by 3.2% more popular. Membership continued to grow support in meeting these challenges. Looking to £6.36m and this gave us an improvement gradually, reaching nearly 5,500 by the end of forward, we intend to hold to our policy of in gross profit of 2.6% to £5.1m. This has the year and it is standing at 5,216 currently. keeping subscription increases to a minimum, enabled us to continue to offer the excellent The J7 membership has continued to drive the while recognising that subscriptions are value in the bar and dining room despite a growth of the club accounting for more than the mainstay through which the basic 5% increase in overhead costs; to continue to 38% of the total, stimulating our sporting costs of our club are financed. Demands for reward our excellent staff appropriately, and and social calendar and adding to the vitality higher rates will be strenuously resisted to create an operating surplus of £322k prior and friendly atmosphere which we value by management, by the committee, by the to exceptional and modernisation costs. This highly and of which we are justly proud. The clubs with whom we have shared interest, compares to a drop of -£113k in 2015. retention of J7 members beyond age 25 and and we have the best negotiating support There was a pause in major project into full membership is about one in three, available. However we are unlikely to avoid expenditure after the extensive programmes which is a testament to the ever stronger the increases altogether and to a large extent of the previous two years but, in line with contribution the club makes to the lives of all these may have to be reflected, in part, by our long term plans, a transfer of £464,000 our members. future increases in subscriptions. to the building and modernisation reserves Subscription income remains strong and The social and sporting events of the was made, leaving £37,417 (compared with the implementation of the London Living past year were even better supported £5,981 in 2015) to the profit and loss account Wage in full from the beginning of 2016 by members and their guests. The club’s reserve. The balance sheet reflects a stable has been partly offset by some savings regular social events were extremely popular position and includes the unrealised gain of elsewhere, thus masking the impact in the and were largely sold out. Burn’s night £89,000 on the ISA investments and the year. The full impact will be seen in 2017 dinner was celebrated as never before. The move of £566,000 from an offshore bond to a and will add a one-off increase of 4.9% in gourmet dinner last year was outstanding safer haven in the UK rather timely. The HSBC our overall staff cost in addition to general and different, based on the earliest known loan of £2.78m supporting the investment inflation which we expect to be around 2.5%. cookbook in the English language, published in Old Gloucester Street, due in 2017, has Inevitably this has required an increase in in the reign of King Richard II, including been extended while further evaluation subscriptions for 2017 of 8% – which is humble pie, suckling pig and fig turnovers. of the staff hostel options is undertaken. an unusually large figure – and I am able to St George’s day was given a cricketing Rental income offsets interest costs to a large report that this has been accepted with good flavour by John Barclay. Cocktail parties. the extent. Cashflow has been strong and cash grace by the overwhelming majority of our jazz barbecue, the house dinner and the and cash equivalents have increased from members. We do face a further challenge lunch for Lord Mayor, Alderman the Lord £549,000 to £1.31m in the year. My thanks to in that the government and Westminster Mountevans, were all sold out. New events

The annual general meeting, with Iain Wolsey in full flow and, opposite, cruelly lampooned

6 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 added to our calendar included an evening knows her and she certainly knows all of you have been conducted with the offender with the Spike Wells trio who provided two and has made a very special contribution (whose blameless partner is still employed sets of top quality jazz for a sophisticated to the club over four decades - she will be in the Dining Room here) both to assist with and appreciative audience in the Smoking much missed. It was my privilege to present his rehabilitation and to gain necessary co- Room. Rugby lunches have become a popular Ofelia with her award for 40 years’ service to operation in pursuing the case for recovery feature of Fridays before the international the club, a record that will stand as a unique from third parties. I also wish to extend our GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL games at Twickenham with special guests achievement for a long time. thanks for the valuable support and specialist including David Campese in December. At an earlier AGM, in May 2014, I promised advice we have received in advancing our The activities of the club’s 16 sporting and members that the matter of the defalcations case with RBS and the gaming organisation social sections were again highly successful. would not be ‘swept under the carpet’. through which the stolen funds were spent, The yacht squadron has successfully Accordingly, we have continued to take particularly of course to our lawyers Maxwell launched the Newman trophy, named in appropriate actions on many fronts to Winward. Our efforts to recover funds have honour of Lt Col Augustus Charles Newman deal with the issues raised and to pursue been governed by our own sense of what is VC, a former club member who won the whatever recovery of funds might be fair and reasonable, and our wish to avoid for leading the amphibious possible. It is appropriate at this AGM to exposure to costs with no end result. The assault on St Nazaire on 28 March 1942. summarise the progress we have made and current position is as follows: Club members ventured abroad to visit the to indicate the steps which will bring the Firstly, the Crown Court awarded the battlefields of Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana, the matter to a conclusion. club the contents of the offender’s pension Somme and Ypres. Members also enjoyed The club has adopted a forward-looking fund (which we think is fair, since it a first class programme of library lectures, and positive view on the case. From the first consists entirely of employer’s notably in January last year – it seems a long discovery of the loss we have done contributions made time ago – on Baroness Thatcher by Charles everything possible to mitigate by the club). Moore, her official biographer. David Lough the loss and minimise future Following the on Churchill completed the round of prime risk. We also continue ministerial greats. Anne Murray talked of to seek to achieve Agincourt celebrating the 600th anniversary whatever recovery of the battle, and Rob Caskie recreated of the stolen funds Shackleton’s great Antarctic journey. may be possible. We It is the enthusiasm of members and the retained the services high reputation of the East India Club in of EPIC, a consulting the world that enables us to enjoy these firm specialising outstanding events, with a sparkling in gambling programme already under way in the awareness and current year. related problems. Occupancy rates have continued to All staff have be strong at 75.2% (77.0% this time received training last year), reflecting the value the club’s from them and accommodation offers to members and their advice, which has guests. The room rates are the best value had positive impacts in the West End including as they do the on morale as well as unsurpassed club breakfast. Gross margins security. Interviews are little changed from the previous year, and our staff have enabled us to maintain the excellent standards Members have come to expect from the club. A special thank you to chef Mark Leach and his excellent team. You may be aware that Mark has been unwell recently but he is recovering well and we wish him all the best as he gets back to full strength. It is a tribute to his leadership and to our skilled staff in the kitchen that we have continued to provide the best in the dining room and banqueting events. Maitre d’ Peter Vasilev supported by Jean Paul Machado and all our staff in the dining room have extended the best East India Club welcome to all, and I know members have appreciated the enthusiastic and expert advice on wines from Eric and Magda and the team. I have often commented on the fact that we enjoy the best breakfast in London and I could not let this pass without a particular special mention of Ofelia Santos who retired in April. I am sure everyone

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 7 government’s changes to rules on drawing Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Culture, down pensions, the best and indeed the Media & Sport, and the Gambling Commission only tax-efficient course is to wait until the in Gibraltar, under whose jurisdiction online pension can be drawn down at the specified gambling fell during the period in question. pensionable age of the person concerned, Our complaint in summary is that the single ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL which is 2022. It is also reasonable to gaming organisation involved failed to expect that the value of the fund will have meet its obligations under the applicable grown materially by then, and with the co- gambling regulations; failed to observe its operation of the offender and his lawyer we ‘critical role’ in encouraging responsibility in are in the course of concluding a contractual gambling, did not meet the requirement to relationship whereby the club will become ‘know your customer’, made no adequate the beneficiary. We will in fact only take what attempts to observe its duty in this respect, we think is ours, the rest will fall to his pie. and fell woefully short of the first duty Secondly, we have continued to request under the Gambling Act 2005, (also stated RBS to engage with us and this is now in its published principles), namely ‘the bearing fruit. The bank has previously led us prevention of gambling being a source of to believe that an internal investigation was crime or disorder’. Also, having received the New committee member Ian Barton carried out into the matter and the resulting complete information on all the gambling report exonerated the bank and found that transactions in the gambling account in club leased these premises to a third party its systems had worked perfectly well. The question, there is glaring evidence that called tenant for a minimum of two years, with club had repeatedly requested a copy of this in to question the activities on that account, a six-month break, on a basis that covers report, albeit redacted in order to respect which evidence would have been apparent the majority of the cost of servicing the the bank’s position that some aspects were from normal monitoring of accounts which loan. Under the guidance of the property confidential in regard to the bank’s systems the gaming organisation is obliged and claims committee we are working on plans to and crime prevention measures. It now to have carried out. The failure of the gaming achieve our objectives, both for the needs emerges that there is no such report and we organisation to react to this evidence in a of both staff and members, with the best are forced to the conclusion that the bank timely manner or at all caused avoidable harm financial and practical results. The review of has deliberately misled us in order to avoid to the club and other individuals through the our plan for the two properties is ongoing and the issue. It is clear from the facts that either long series of criminal activities. We are now seeks to take account of the broad range of the bank detected that our account was engaged in without-prejudice discussions. options, with the right quality of solutions, at compromised at an earlier stage and failed to While they deny any legal liability, in contrast acceptable cost. notify us, or that the bank’s monitoring and to the bank I have been pleasantly surprised I would also, in passing, like to thank prevention of crime systems failed completely by their willingness to enter a meaningful Neil Edwards and the committee members until 24 January 2014, after all defalcations dialogue and to recognise that they have who have been providing their time and had taken place. We continue to press the benefited from the club’s loss. We are in an special expertise in tackling the negotiating bank to accept that it has failed to discharge ongoing situation of discussions with them. challenge of the rates demands. its duties and we continue to press for I am also pleased to report that the club’s During the year, in addition to continuing compensation. I can add a personal comment financial management has taken on board to provide us with a first class wine list at that I have never come across a more all the lessons learnt from our experience. exceptional value, the wine committee and disgraceful and arrogant show of behaviour Richard Robinson, deputy chairman and our expert staff have secured our fine wines towards a customer in 50 years of commercial chairman of the finance committee, working and ports in an environmentally-controlled experience. That is what I think of RBS. with David Selfe, our head of finance, has outside store. This change is very much in our Thirdly, we have brought our case to established good controls and disciplines and interest and gives us peace of mind as well as the attention of the chief executive of our budgeting process is professional. We are better space usage in the club’s operational the Gambling Commission in the UK, the again this year going to conduct a further areas. The move was accomplished with independent audit of our processes and apparent ease and no breakages. Thank you procedures to ensure that we meet or exceed to Ricky and all concerned. the applicable regulatory standards and At this point I want to make particular requirements for good management found in mention – sparing his blushes – of David the UK Corporate Governance code. Cartwright who is standing down from the The main committee has the support of committee and as chairman of the wine sub-committees to ensure that we meet committee. His stewardship of the wine the highest standards of management, committee over many years has been truly as well as the expectations of members. excellent and we owe him a great debt and Thanks to Ken Morgan and the property a generous toast later this evening [Hear, committee – working with management and hear]. We are fortunate indeed in having our contractors – we are now progressing available to us an exceptional list of great with the refurbishment plans, completed on wines and ports, built up over the years, the fourth floor, and we have detailed plans in which we can enjoy at very privileged prices. place for the third floor later this year. May I also express my sincere appreciation As you know, the club purchased 46 to deputy chairmen Duncan Steele-Bodger Old Gloucester Street, the premises and Matthew Ebsworth, for their support immediately adjacent to the existing staff and their contribution in many different house, supported by a loan from HSBC. Not ways, both to the success of the club, and Questions from members after the chairman’s speech long after we completed the purchase, the to the progress we have made in refining

8 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 and improving the way in which the club is run and provides service to the members. A sincere thank you to all the members of the committee, past and present. They give their time, energy, and their professional skill and expertise, freely for the benefit of the club GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL and they have always been invaluable. Thank you also to the active sections within the club running our social and sporting events and looking after aspects of the life of the club, particularly of course to the young members’ committee, chaired by Matthew Ebsworth. I also extend again my thanks to all members for their commitment to the club and its unique friendly atmosphere. Turning now to our staff, two members of staff received ten or more years’ service The secretary and last year’s committee (left-right) Alex Bray, Duncan Steele-Bodger, Henry Morris (aloft), Sir Michael Griffiths, Neil Edwards, David Cartwright (seated), Simon Collins, Alasdair Shaikh, St John Brown, Iain awards in the last year: Agron Karaxha in the Wolsey (seated) Robert Williams, Charlie Jacoby, Ken Morgan, Micky Steele-Bodger (seated), Carl Statham, Joss Kitchen and Violeta Rozenaite in banqueting, Bassett (aloft), Richard Robinson and Patrick Storey (apologies from Matthew Ebsworth and Adrian Steger) always a cheerful presence in the Waterloo Room. Thanks for their loyalty and special every demand but our team at the front desk to capacity and greatly enjoyed by all who contribution to the enjoyment of the club. always seems to find a way to help and we attend. Jazz nights are a popular innovation Particular thanks to members of staff who do not often go hungry. If we go sleepless and will continue, St George’s day was more have recently reached retirement: Mohamed the responsibility is our own. Thank you to popular than ever and we have a galaxy of Massoudi, after nine years with us, retired our staff for the efforts beyond the normal summer events before us – look at East & from the bar and was our supervisor at the call. We continue to receive accolades from West for the programme. staff hostel. Of course, I have already referred both members and guests for the food, the While mentioning the magazine I would to Ofelia Santos. wine, the bar, the best breakfast in London, like to thank Charlie Jacoby for his patience I am pleased to report on the changes we the atmosphere and the overall welcome in and expertise in putting together and editing made to the staff fund. Discretionary staff the club. The praise is well deserved. I want East & West. It continues to develop, is fund contributions to Dining Room bills of 5% to extend a welcome also to the 19 new entertaining and informative and I know it and to room bills of £5 per guest per night members of staff who have joined us since is well-liked and well-studied by members have been broadly accepted. Many members January 2016 in all areas of the club. everywhere. The addition of cartoons has have individually chosen to contribute in Turning now to the membership, we added a classic dimension and I receive many their own previous way and some have continue to attract new members of all age favourable comments on it. embraced the new discretionary charges as groups and categories and membership It is most heartening to see so many their method. The result has been a welcome numbers continue to grow slightly. As I said, it activities available to members, from rugby increase in contributions to the staff fund is currently 5,216, just above last year’s level. and cricket, to rowing, fly-fishing (my for the first time in a number of years from It is with sadness that I record the deaths one), shooting, golf, snooker, chess and £166,000 to £333,000 in the latest year. of 49 members over the last year, including backgammon. The yacht squadron is going This has almost doubled the points value. Professor Roger Benson, Derek Cook, Sir from strength to strength as well. We also We therefore wish to continue with this Geoffrey Holland, John Scot-Adie, George look forward to the annual cricket match policy with some modifications suggested Warman, Andrew Vicari, Ed White, among for the Turnbull Cup at Chobham on 2 July by members. The finance committee will many that I knew personally. All friends fondly this year. May I take this opportunity to review all the suggestions and receive remembered and sadly missed. thank everyone responsible for running, so recommendations for implementation from I am pleased to report that we have seven effectively, our sporting sections. Without January next year. members who have achieved 50 years their tireless work it would not be so much of I wish as always to pay tribute to the continuous membership and who are, from 1 a success. whole management team for their skills and January, no longer required to pay an annual Finally, this is the last time I will address enthusiasm in managing the club and its subscription. Congratulations to all of them. the AGM as chairman. It has been my great many activities. He will not like me saying this, The overall occupancy of our rooms is privilege to be chairman for the last five but our secretary, Alex Bray has just passed impressive, both by club members and years. It has been an honour and I have ten years with the club which will in due reciprocals. Weekday occupancy runs at over experienced the great warmth of the support course be celebrated. David Selfe our head 80% and we had 133 days with over 90% (in of members and staff. I like to think the club of finance and all the management team: answer to a question from Mr John Booth). has achieved a lot in these five years and we assistant secretary Tim Wilks, chef Mark This is of fundamental importance to our have successfully built on the foundations Leach and his team, Maitre d’ Peter, Sandra, financial stability and those of us who stay laid by previous chairmen and committees. I Sue, Mariya, Anne, Joe, Tony and Prashant regularly appreciate the comfort and value know it will go from strength to strength. who joined us a year ago, taking over from of our rooms. Thank you to Mariya and the I have borrowed a few words from W B Bruno, have together and individually housekeeping staff. I am grateful for their Yeats: “You who would judge me... come continued set ever higher standards. often unsung efforts to keep us comfortable to this hallowed place where my friends’ I want again to pay tribute to those who and in good order – and to get us up in time portraits hang and look thereon; think where look after our accommodation, from the for breakfast. man’s glory most begins and ends and say my front desk to the house itself. Under the The club’s social programme continues to glory was I had such friends.” pressures of success we cannot always meet be most popular with all major functions full You make me emotional when I think of you.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 9 EVENTS Summer at the club has seen us more and more take advantage of the gardens as the work of the new gardeners has taken root and flowered. They are a gorgeous setting for the tri clubs summer party and, afterwards, we can retreat to safety. SUMMER PARTY

he three clubs on the square came and the chairman took the opportunity together to enjoy a drinks reception to present Micky Steele-Bodger with a After the gardens, the party moved to the Smoking Room T in the garden ahead of the East India certificate in recognition of his 20 years as Club’s summer party. Among a significant president of the club. collection of 20th Century sculpture that Christies had on display, the gathering was serenaded by the five-piece Barbican Brass. Moving on to respective clubs, East India members and their guests were greeted by the chairman and his wife in the Smoking Room where chef Mark Leach had laid on a fabulous buffet. Former chairman Ian Wolsey

Chad & Sharon Murrin and David Selfe The kitchen at work ‘al fresco

Former chairman Iain Wolsey (left) and chairman Duncan Steele-Bodger (right) present Duncan’s father Micky with a certificate to recognise his 20 Barbican Brass blows mightily years as president of the club Rob and Nicky Graham, Dr Paul and Jean Dakin

Also in the Calendar was the Round the We have a photographic competition this SAILING Island Race in July, two cruises and summer year for the best photo of any squadron by Jim Millar party on Seafin. Later in the year is the member while yachting during the months Newman VC Trophy, with many London of November 2016 to October 2017, the o far this year we have had an clubs entering. prize to be awarded at the laying up. excellent fitting out supper in the S Clive Room to beer and curry, a notable feat being the squadron’s favourite shanties, Drunken Sailor and Spanish Ladies, as always with a marvellous solo on the trip up the Channel marks, from the Dodman to the South Foreland, by Paul Rose, our rear commodore racing. On this occasion, the shanties were accompanied by the commodore, a reed player who has failed to get any notes out of any nautical instruments like his tin whistle and piccolo, so he brought in a rather unusual nautical instrument, his alto sax, to lead the assembled company through. The effect was raucous, loud and generally tuneful – everything we would Are you wondering what’s going on aboard Eleonora in this picture? Well, it’s quite simple really. She has 28 people on deck to tack eight sails off Shirley Heights, Antigua. The first mate at the main mast calls ‘ready want. The commodore also subjected the about’ and points to the new heading; the nipper on the bowsprit calls the settings of the flying jib, jib and assembled company to a talk through his staysail; as the schooner rolls into the tack, two foredeck ruffians crank in the foresail boom manually, while recent race on the Herreshoff schooner the commodore and two others ready the jib sheets and foretop halyard, tack and leader lines; two ladies and two men near the main mast operate the flying jib, staysail and queen sheets; six ladies and men work Eleonora in the Caribbean 600. The event unseen behind the afterguard, tensioning up the port main mast and main top running backstays and the was organised in a spectacularly efficient main sheet; the right hand lady is ready to call ‘safe’ to allow the skipper to steer through the tack; the chief stewardess, already on her starboard main top running backstay at the stern, is ready to ease it after the fashion by Dr Alex Langley, rear commodore tack, another lady is running across to man the starboard main mast running backstay; and the bosun is house; a great start to the year. taping the foretop sheet and halyard onto the starboard guardwire, ready for the launch after the tack.

10 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 EVENTS Members have come together to explore the history of the club’s connection with the through a series of tours and dinners. This year saw the seventh, including a visit to the fabulous Apsley House, called ‘No 1 London’ and home of the Dukes of Welllington. COMPANY DINNER by Joss Bassett

s ever, the company dinner party of Waterloo and the Peninsular War. One Hills during the First World War. headed off for a private pre-dinner drawing room is covered in the portraits of Against this backdrop, chef put on a Atour of an historic London landmark. the major players of the wars, along with the stunning Indian feast. This year’s was the For this, the seventh year of the dinner, only depiction of Waterloo that Wellesley best yet. While the usual Indian buffet some 25 of us gathered in the rain, dressed liked, and a portrait of Nelson. was laid on for the main, chef also added in everything from boots and jeans to black Each year, the first Duke held a dinner homemade samosas, and for starter served tie and mess dress, for an after-hours’ tour with his generals to commemorate the up dhal with chapatti that all tucked into in of No 1 London. Better known as Apsley victory at Waterloo. The old dining room the traditional way: with fingers. The wine, House, the London palace and town house quickly became too small for the dinners, whisky, IPA and port made sure that we all is still the home of the Dukes of Wellington, and a new dining room was constructed. The had a merry time and our speaker, Sqn Ldr with the family’s private residence on the length of the building and three stories high, John McFall, had us in stitches telling us top floor. The rest of the house is maintained this dining room is set with one of the many about the time PowerPoint almost cost him almost exactly as it was when the first dining services that the Duke was given by his life in Afghanistan. Duke, Arthur Wellesley, bought the property grateful nations. These dining services are Next year marks the 160th anniversary from his elder brother Richard (a former many hundreds of pieces large and include of the end of the Indian Mutiny and the Governor-General of India and Arthur’s boss matching ornate centrepieces. The Austrian creation of the . Max Kuhnke and when he was there during the 1799 Siege of service includes hand-decorated urns, I are already planning next year’s event and Seringapatam). while the Portuguese service is made from have it set for 24 May. If you’d like to be An English Heritage property, it melted-down coins as the only material added to the invitation list please contact me underwent a full refurbishment for the available to the poor kingdom. But while via the secretary. Waterloo 200 commemorations during 2015. the table is impressive, the walls are more Filled with everything from captured French so, hung with one of the most remarkable imperial colours, to the art collection of the private art collections in the UK, including a first Duke, a 12ft statue of Napoleon as the number of works by Velazquez. god Mars by Canova, and gifts from every There was a moment on the tour royal family and nation across Europe, the though where 25 Eastindiamen bit their house is a treasure trove oozing the history tongues and showed great restraint. One of the rooms has a picture of the Waterloo dispatch arriving in London via the Chelsea Pensioners. Max, our guide, at this point Flyfishing started to tell us of the journey the dispatch took to London. He ended by saying that the he flyfishing section, in conjunction rider found the Prince Regent on Pall Mall. with the Lawyer’s Fishing Club, has This misstep aside the tour was a wonderful Trun a series of days on reservoirs in way to start the evening, and we headed the south of England, trips to Ireland, and back to the club for dinner. continues to take several beats on the River 2017 is the 175th anniversary of the treaty Loddon, on the Duke of Wellington’s estate, at the end of the First Opium War when Stratfield Saye in Berkshire. An extraordinary ceded Hong Kong to Britain. Sir Hugh season for fly in many places has not been Gough, whose portrait hangs over us in matched by trout’s appetites. Curious year. the East India Room was the commander of the British forces in China. Years earlier he had captured the first imperial eagle of the Peninsular Campaign and our display reflected this. The display was bolstered and made memorable with the help of fellow members Marcus Budgen and Ed Davis, both of Spink, who brought along a selection of incredible medals related to these campaigns and the club, including an East India Company medal for Burma from 1824-26, the Naval General Service Medal awarded to James Morris following Trafalgar, and the CBE awarded to Lt Col WB Tate, a Flyfishing section chairman Peter Matthison with a well spotted brownie on Lough Sheelin club member, for his expedition in the Chin Sir Hugh Gough

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 11 EVENTS Mix Shakespeare, roast beef and Gilbert & Sullivan, and it can only be the club’s patriotic outpouring that is the St George’s Day dinner. Entertainment reached new heights this year with guests Bill Dakin and Allan Lamb ST GEORGE’S DAY DINNER

embers and guests enjoyed roast Sarah Fields’ Embassy Brass with tenor beef with after-dinner trimmings Ian McLarnon led the singing of traditional M including the former chairman’s anthems, before the by now patriotic anecdotes about English traditions and audience descended on the American Bar to his and Alasdair Shaikh’s performance of see the night out with one, maybe two, for The club in good voice... Gilbert & Sullivan songs. The chairman the road. then introduced former England hockey player Roger Dakin who kept the audience laughing as he interviewed fellow guest and all-time great batsman Allan Lamb about his memories of Viv Richards’ West Indies and the fearsome Malcolm Marshall. Acknowledging the attendance of British Olympic Association chief executive Bill Sweeney, Roger concluded his speech with compliments to the British Olympic teams’ ...and reasonably fond of England performance in Brazil, especially hockey. Alasdair puts the Shaikh in Shakespeare

Messrs Warren and Portal Bill Dakin (left) interviews Allan Lamb Robert Williams ‘proves’ the beef

14 September: Day in Rome Eastindiaman Battlefield tour 15 September: Return to Heathrow The charge is £895 per person. he club is holding a battlefield This includes flights, accommodation, tour of Anzio and Monte Cassino feeding on the battlefields, transport T in September 2017. Organised and guides. Accommodation is based on through member Capt Robbie Wilmont sharing rooms. If you would like a single of the Irish Guards, it promises to be a supplement there will be a surcharge. fascinating tour run by JC Journeys. Please contact the secretary by 4 August Maj Gen Sir Sebastian Roberts and 2017. his team have kindly agreed to conduct the battlefield tours of Anzio and Monte Casino. We will be visiting the cemeteries and laying wreaths. This is the itinerary: 11 September 2017: Assemble Heathrow, fly to Rome, brief at hotel and dinner 12 September: Depart for day tour of Anzio 13 September: Depart for day tour of The riband for gallantry King’s Police Medal in the Sherman tanks disembark from a landing ship in 1938 New Year Honours has the same colours and Monte Cassino the harbour at Anzio, a similar pattern to the club tie/colours. Does any member know why?

12 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 The popular library lecture season continued in April with a visit by a former head of the army. His experience gives General LIBRARY LECTURE LIBRARY Sir Peter Wall an informed view on world affairs. LIBRARY LECTURE WITH GENERAL SIR PETER WALL by St John Brown

packed Smoking Room heard a fascinating talk by General Sir A Peter Wall in April, entitled ‘Current Threats to UK Security’. General Wall was head of the army at the time the savage defence cuts were imposed by the coalition government, following the 2010 Strategic Review. The army was reduced in size from more than 100,000 people to 82,000 “not enough now to fill Sir Peter Wembley Stadium”. General Wall offered Sir Peter gave his talk in the Smoking Room the observation that President Trump, in forgetting what real capability looks like. He his first 90 days, seemed to have achieved also pointed out that the Defence Budget more in foreign policy terms than President feels closer to 1.6% of GNP (the target 2% Obama did in his eight years: the Russians was only achieved by accounting sleights are now having second thoughts about their of hand); and that “serial efficiency savings” adventurism in Syria and the Middle East after a while became real cuts. “at the very cheap cost of 59 Tomahawk In terms of external threats, he sees missiles” and China is, at last, making serious as potentially the most relevant to efforts to restrain North Korea. the UK. Russia’s opportunism could provoke Other areas he covered included the something in Europe, which as member of current political uncertainty and economic NATO would almost certainly involve the UK. weakness in much of the West; a view that He handled a wide range of questions ‘intervention-lite’ is a foreign policy solution from members and guests with a mixture of Then club chairman Iain Wolsey, Sir Peter and (when we hadn’t thought through the real wisdom, insight and good humour. library committee chairman St John Brown purpose of our involvement); a decreasing commitment to NATO by some of the There are two library lectures in the member countries (potentially including the autumn: Journalist Matthew d’Ancona on USA); complacency and rhetoric overstating 19 September and Rob Caskie on the battle our real capabilities – there is a danger of of Isandlwana on 10 October

Questions from the floor

Sir Peter answered questions from members and guests in the Dining Room after his talk St John Brown

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 13 The club’s new chairman is a banker, cricketer, soccer and hockey player, who enjoys golf, cigars

MEMBER PROFILE and believes in tradition. He keenly upholds the joys of club life in his private life, while in his professional life he runs an Islamic bank. He has no plans for the club to abide by shari’a. Duncan Steele-Bodger

uncan Steele-Bodger is the new Duncan is now chief executive of QIB (UK) chairman of the club. A modern PLC It is the London based subsidiary of Qatar D banking chief executive with more Islamic Bank with 40 staff, and takes Duncan than a foot in British banking traditions, he has to the Gulf two or three times year. He started a close but guarded interest in the new, and a this job lastSeptember after 12 years as respect for the best of the old. London-based head of Emirates NBD. In his 50s, Duncan was born in the family If you think that all of London’s banking home in Tamworth in Staffordshire where his sector runs on a combination of usury and parents still live. The middle of three children, alcohol, think again. Neither of those fit with he has a younger sister, Clair, and a brother, Islamic teachings. “London is the leading Guy, who is 18 months older. He went to the centre for Islamic banking in the West and, Old Hall prep school in Shropshire and then although my previous career to date had been Rugby School, where he thrived. “For with conventional banks, I am enjoying being a someone who is gregarious and enjoys part of this growth story.” sports, Rugby was blissful,” he says. Duncan married Tanya in 2008. They have Duncan went from Rugby to Exeter two children each from previous marriages University to study economics, which aged 22 to 30, and two grandchildren. They cemented a lifelong love of the South- live in Ottershaw, where Duncan is president West. “In the late 70’s we started going to of next door village Chobham Cricket Club. Trevose in Cornwall as a family and I still “I enjoyed cricket and rugby at school,” he make that trip every year,” he says. says. “At Exeter University, you turned up for After Exeter, Duncan rugby and everyone else there was joined Barclays in the I enjoy the enormous, so I reverted to soccer Birmingham region. “At structures of which was my first love. Over the years the time, I had no fixed“ a corporation. I played club hockey and cricket, and ideas about a career,” latterly I played cricket for a few years he says “I was late to Everyone should at Chobham. the ‘milk round’ of career play to their “Nowadays it is more the enjoyment interviews.” strengths of a sunny day out, a few beers and a He worked at Barclays in cigar.” the Midlands for five years including the A keen golfer, he plays at Worplesdon Golf Club, Colmore Row regional head office, and then ”near Woking, and for EPICS. went to London with the firm and was While Duncan was making his way in the ‘fast-tracked’. world of banking in the , his To a young banker, London in the 1980s father, club president Micky Steele-Bodger, was was considerably more interesting than in the West End putting in the hours to turn Birmingham. “Barclays was busy creating BZW around the fortunes of his club, the East India. after the Big Bang of deregulation at that At the time, Duncan was vaguely aware of what time,” he says. his father was up to. “I didn’t know Micky was “but working in senior management, those down here two days a week in the mid 1980s,” mundane years in Birmingham, understanding he says. however over the past twenty years the basics of banking, have proven very useful.” the time we have spent together since I started Duncan was posted to for three coming to the East India Club regularly has been years in the early 1990s. When he came home, the making of our relationship.” he headed Barclay’s South Asia private client Duncan describes himself as a team player. “I business. By the time he left Barclays after have never been entrepreneurial,” he says. “I have 13 years, he was concentrating on working always enjoyed the structures of a corporation. with private clients. His career led him on to Everyone should play to their strengths. Credit Suisse, where he specialised again in “I enjoy being a clubperson and, like many the private banking sector. His first senior others, have always enjoyed the atmosphere management role was as General Manager at at the East India.. . It may not be modern and Discount Bank & Trust Co in London. ‘cutting-edge’ but the market will supply what “Until the end of the 1990s, banks had people want. And, among the collegiate, there their own individual characteristics,” he says. are plenty of people who want a Soho House, “however in the decades since they have all plenty who want a Home House, and as we been ‘McKinseyfied’.” can attest plenty who want an East India Club.”

14 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 Fools, jellies and syllabubs: how do you get them to members Beer tasting & DRINK FOOD in the Dining Room in a perfectly sweet, wobbly and, above all, cold state? In a kitchen that specialises in hot food, it is a he club is famous for being the problem to which chef has bent his mind. cheapest pint of good-quality beer T in London’s West End (please let the secretary know if you find cheaper). We are also interested in beer in and of FROM THE HOTPLATE itself, and not just downing it. So imagine our delight to welcome head brewer by Mark Leach, head chef and also keep food safe during service Georgina Young and Bert Peeters of times, the committee decided to trial plated Fullers to the club in May to talk about it. desserts from the kitchen for the month of ummer this year has June. meant sun and, at the This allowsw us to offer the type of dessert S club, the welcome that have been requested, that require last return of our British summer minute finishing, as well as heat sensitive fruits and the many desserts ones, such as delicate Jellies and fools. that they provide us. The great British pud, Consequently, it will also help ensure food packed with cream, is, however, a challenge safety, as food will not be displayed for long for a hot kitchen on a hot day. periods unrefrigerated, which strengthens Georgina and Bert The club’s management has looked into our defence of due diligence and helps protect purchasing a refrigerated dessert trolley the club from any possible prosecution. but these are large, heavy and difficult to It will allow the club’s chefs to be more manoeuvre over carpet. They also make a creative and to produce more desserts in noise and blow out heat. This type of trolley house that are both seasonal and suitable, is not ‘kind to the eye’ and would look out of such as summer pudding with elderflower place in our Dining Room. sorbet. Over the last six months some members If you have a favourite dessert that you have given suggestions for desserts that would like to see featured on the menu Serious business they would like to see on offer. Many of then please let me know via maitre d’, Peter these, such as crème brulee, Eton mess and Vasilev. We are in a much better position now syllabub are, unfortunately, not suitable for to provide a wide range of desserts. a trolley service, as they require last minute Incidentally, first mentioned in print in compilation and finishing in the kitchen. We 1893, Eton mess is commonly believed to have to tailor what we offer to how we serve originate at Eton College and is served at the it. Until now. annual cricket match against the pupils of In an attempt to address these requests Harrow School. The beers in the tasting

perfect holiday. A message from the Pigeon Loft Gradually camping sites in (some of them run by a town close at hand) by Alan Taylor done and minutes later they disappeared became less attractive. The single line of – waving – down the road. Good weather tents round the edge of a field gave way to n July 1957 (with most of his university and stout walking shoes then made for a packed rows of camping vans bristling with toils behind him) this pigeon lofter splendid holiday. television aerials. Gone the ‘popping over’ Idecided it was time for his first camping In July 1964, the same two campers to the nearest tent to see what they were holiday. Having stowed a flimsy ‘garden’ tent decided on a more adventurous expedition. cooking and having a chat about it. into the back of a 1935 Austin Cambridge, Meeting in they started out, this time It will not surprise anyone to hear that he and his brother set off. After one or two in an old VW ‘Beetle’ (it was the 1960s), some pigeon-lofters are planning to overnight stops, when the tent demonstrated for Provence. Three days later they arrived recapture the old camping spirit for one it was not waterproof and the spirit cooking- and put up their small, waist-high tent on night in our garden. On a warm summer stove showed it was surprisingly flameproof a piece of private farmland with no other evening tents will be erected and supper – they arrived at Grasmere in the Lake campers in sight. By late evening, the heat cooked outside. Then after a sing-song District. A shady spot with a wonderful view was still unbearable and the pigeon lofter (arms linked and swaying, of course) we will on a hillock outside the town seemed to be decided to sleep outside the tent. In the retire to our beds. A few carefully trained ideal for their stay (in those days you camped early hours, a dog came up and gave him dogs will be let in to give us a friendly sniff anywhere that suited). a friendly sniff. In the nick of time it was only and to remain on guard. Those outside Once off the road the car just would not prevented from leaving a ‘parting gift’ for the garden taking a late evening stroll will make the slope to the top. Luckily a lorry other ‘doggy friends’ on the prowl. The be curious and will even contemplate a full of Scouts came by and, guessing our weather, the countryside, and places closer look. To discourage this, copies of predicament they jumped out and offered like Arles and Avignon for two amateur our pigeon lofter motto will be prominently to give us a push. No sooner said than historians to explore guaranteed another displayed: ‘Let sleeping dogs lie.’

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 15 Elias is proud that members call the club a ‘home from home’ and he works hard on reception STAFF PROFILE STAFF to maintain that expectation. He has been at the club for 15 years, starting as a waiter and moving to his current position of senior receptionist. STAFF PROFILE Elias Kyriazis

apprenticeship scheme with Westminster Kingsway College. In three years he achieved NVQ levels 1-3, including working as a chef at the Atlantic Bar & Grill in Piccadilly. He went to Simpsons in the Strand as a commis chef for three years. From there, he looked around for a job in a smaller kitchen and eventually found it at the ICA on Pall Mall. His passion for food kept him going. However, the hours were still long and that eventually drove him to look beyond cookery.

I have done everything from first aid to “ security work with high-spirited members

Elias started work in what was then the Ladies’ Drawing Room in 2003 and moved” to his current job in Reception in 2008. He is now senior receptionist, working in a team of five during the day and evening, booking rooms and meals for members. They maintain close links with staff across clubland. “We get on well with o not be fooled by the name. Elias are from large families and they are the other clubs,” he says. is a Londoner. His father is a Greek only ones of their siblings to marry ‘outside’. To begin with, the idea of the D Cypriot, his mother is Irish, and they Taking the theme to the next step, Elias gentlemen’s club was a surprise for Elias, met in London in the early 1970s. It was is married to Agnes, a Philippino he met in but he quickly grew to like the friendliness an extraordinary marriage. Elias’s father is London. Married for five years, they have of members towards staff. Greek Orthodox while his mother is Roman four children – one from a previous marriage “I have done everything from first aid to Catholic. He grew up mainly in Swiss Cottage – Eliane, Carlos, Elekos and Nikos. they live in security work with high-spirited members with a brother and a sister, taking holidays Upton Park. and guests in this job. I think you can teach in both Ireland and Cyprus and even moving When he left school in 1996, Elias that kind of thing, but experience is the to Cyprus for a short spell. Both his parents knew he loved catering. He went on to an key to learning great customer service.”

native Philippines and plans to be back in Ofelia Santos time for Christmas. In an emotional thank- you speech, she expressed her pleasure at Farewell to the having worked for the club for 40 years. breakfast boss

he committee gathered in the Water- loo Room to welcome Ofelia and her T husband and present her with part- ing gifts as she retired from her job managing the best breakfast in London. She is spending the first few months of her retirement in her The committee gather around Ofelia Iain Wolsey (left), Ofelia and Micky Steele-Bodger

16 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 A WORD FROM THE SECRETARY SECRETARY by Alex Bray

n behalf of the spoils the reverence and style of the club if classified beside drugs and alcohol, the club management dress is not top notch. There are dress code continues to provide awareness training for O and staff I exceptions for those heading to bedroom our staff through EPIC Risk Management take this opportunity accommodation or going directly to the gym, who, in addition, have been talking on the to congratulate Iain but I urge members at all other times proudly subject to Hospitality Action who provide Wolsey for his dedicated, to cherish being the best attired people in a wide range of support for people in our imaginative and skilful St James’s. One tip to avoid dressing in the industry. chairmanship of the club over the last five wrong trousers is the rule of the ‘visible Congratulations to Candy in the accounts years and send our best wishes for his seam’. If there are seams or pockets on the department on the birth of her daughter continued enjoyment of the club. We heartily outside, they are considered unsuitable. Isabella; to Agron, promoted to sous chef welcome Duncan Steele-Bodger to the The website EastIndiaClub.com grows in the kitchen; and to six supervisory staff chairmanship and wish him great success in in popularity and usefulness. Explore the who benefitted from attending a leadership the role. members’ area by logging on with your training day. Apprentice chef Zoe received Investment in the club’s facilities member number and the email address we an overall high merit in her last college continues with a commitment over the have recorded for you. All the photographs assessment which included being the only summer to refurbish seven more bedrooms of club events can be found there and the student assessed to gain a distinction for one on the club’s third floor, replace the front hall recently updated by-laws are part of the of her dishes – well mentored, chef. And to and main staircase carpet, and invest in the club rule book under the download page. one of our two teams for coming fourth in the Duke Street lift. Updating the website is a work in progress. staff ten-pin bowling competition organised Please be conscious of the club’s dress Thinking ahead to the especially busy by the Association of London Clubs. code. A positive steer to your guests on autumn and winter dining period, please In closing I highlight the carpentry efforts the pleasures of dressing smartly for your keep maitre d’ Peter up to date on any of our maintenance supervisor Teo, who club usually goes down well and ensures changes to your table bookings to help him responded to a request from the library no embarrassment, especially as you lead in his efforts to please as many members as committee to produce a shelving insert to by example of course, with ties knotted possible. protect the oversized books on sports and to the collar come hell or high water. The As mentioned in the AGM report on sportsmen after their restoration. spirit of the club’s dress code is that it page 6, with problem gambling medically Wishing one and all an enjoyable summer.

East India Club Wine Order Form

ORDER THESE WINES ORDER THESE WINES FROM OUR WINE FROM THE ACCOUNTS MERCHANT FOR HOME DELIVERY OFFICE FOR PAYMENT AND COLLECTION FROM THE CLUB

Wines and spirits per case of 12 bottles Club claret £127 Club white £132 Club red (de Ciffre) £132 Club white Burgundy £162 Club Champagne (per case of 6) £149 Club Cognac VSOP per 70cl bottle £43.50

Wine gift box Three East India Club wines in Wine per case of 12 bottles Please order on-line or by phone. presentation Club Champagne / £155 for 6 box – Club white / £144 club claret, Davy’s Wine Merchants, club white Club white Burgundy / £174 161-165 Greenwich High Road, and Club red (de Ciffre) / £144 Greenwich, London, SE10 8JA club white Club claret / £139 Tel: 020 8858 6011 Burgundy. £43 Fax: 020 8853 3331 Email: [email protected] All prices include VAT Website: www.davywine.co.uk/eic Not chargeable to account. Card with handling fee, cash or cheque.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 17 Club members take full advantage of our wonderful reciprocal clubs (listed on the back page). Here is the latest news from ANZAC Day in RECIPROCAL CLUBS RECIPROCAL the best of them around the planet. Adelaide

his ANZAC Day, 25 April 2017, Marcus CEYLON’S LITTLE ENGLAND Budgen had the luck to be in Adelaide, T South Australia to see the impressive parades to commemorate the first instance of The Hill Club, Sri Lanka Australian and New Zealand troops going into action during the First World War. by Marcus Clapham the kitchens. Accommodation is clean and Following the procession through the comfortable, with good bathroom facilities, centre of the city, he was hosted at the or years I had dreamed of seeing the television in every room, and a turn-down Adelaide Naval, Air Force & Military Club by Hill Club, that extraordinary outpost of service that provides hot water bottles; the Tony Ford DFC. The two are pictured below in F Empire, in the Central Highlands of Sri club is at more than 6,500ft above sea level the Medal Room, which houses an impressive Lanka, known as Little England, and unofficial and nights can be chilly. Those who want collection of awards to former members of capital of the Ceylon tea trade. My wife and to relive imperial grandeur should book the the club and a comprehensive run of every I were fortunate enough to visit it, arranged South Suite which is a truly magnificent set campaign medal awarded to date. through travel agent Cox & Kings, as the Hill of rooms. Just over the road is the golf club, After sampling the bar, a most Club is now part club and part hotel. and day tickets can easily be obtained. recommendable lunch was enjoyed. Do visit the club the next time you are in Adelaide.

Marcus Budgen and Tony Ford DFC

I have been privileged to stay in more than TripAdvisor reviews are ambivalent about a dozen of the EIC’s reciprocal clubs, and the the club. Some reviewers love it, others find room for dinner is hardly an imposition Hill Club stands out. Its setting, its colonial it old-fashioned and less than clean. I cannot and helps maintain the club aura; those architecture and its splendid gardens – imagine who these discontented people who wish to dine less formally may do so front and back – are a joy. The back garden are; we found the facilities clean, the food – elsewhere in the club. is devoted to vegetables, fruit and herbs, especially the Sri Lankan dishes – good, the I have stayed in clubs with more modern and includes orange trees from which the staff friendly and helpful. The requirement facilities but I have never stayed in a club Hill Club’s excellent marmalade is made in to wear a jacket and tie in the main dining where I felt more comfortable.

Hibernian Club Ushered to my room, large and close to the club. Dublin University (Trinity comfortable with all the necessary College) and the Temple Bar area are also

by Ian Holmes amenities, I decided to drop my case and close by. Then to collect my tickets for the head for the bar, as I really required some match, I decided to walk to Ballsbridge 15 was in Ireland to attend the Ireland vs refreshment: a large gin and tonic. Besides minutes away, where there are several well England rugby international at the Aviva the night porter, four others (a couple from established hotels, as well as the rugby I Stadium (formerly ‘Lansdowne Road’) on Kenya, an Ulsterman who had travelled from stadium and the horse showground. I the St Patrick’s Holiday weekend this year, Glasgow, and one from Cheltenham) were remained in that area for the next 12 hours and chose to stay at the Stephen’s Green enjoying a relaxed night cap in pleasant meeting old friends, witnessing a great Irish Hibernian Club. It turned out to be a wise surroundings. They too were all in town victory and celebrating. Eventually, I walked move. This club is the only one in Dublin with for the rugby. Several mutual friends were back to the club, to be greeted again by the which we share reciprocal arrangements. found from within this group, so the chat night porter. After a little refreshment and Built in 1756, as a private home, it became a continued into the small hours. a short rest, I was on my way back to the club in 1839 and was reconstituted under its The Saturday morning was dull and airport (20 minutes by taxi). present name in 1840. damp, but a sumptuous breakfast (with In summary, this wonderful club is well Due to poor weather over the British Isles the same group) set me up well for the day situated in the city centre, has excellent but on St Patrick’s Day, I didn’t arrive at the club ahead. It didn’t take long to find the famous limited accomodation, and offers an informal, until 11pm. The night porter was there, as Shelbourne Hotel or the busy, bustling relaxed atmosphere managed by polite and promised, and I received a warm welcome. shopping centre of Grafton Street, both helpful staff.

18 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 AGT Flint Esq J Ker-Reid Esq AM Rudkin Esq New members HM Gleed Esq JF Lambert Esq AJ Ryan Esq NEW MEMBERS The club welcomes the following: Dr EB Golson MW Ledray Esq FD Sedelmayer Esq Dr JPR Gooch S Lewis Esq FJ Sedelmayer Esq J Birchall Esq SJ Greenfield Esq ST Lloyd Esq J Shah Esq KI Bourne-Turner Esq The Rev JC Alexander R Griffin Esq D McInerney Esq N Shilitto Esq AP Arnold Esq ND Brummitt Esq PFM Calderari di M Haigh Esq VL Melwani Esq Dr Sir M Smurfitt KBE LLD DJ Bagshaw Esq Palazzolo Esq S Head Esq A Mohammed Esq MA Sweeney Esq BS Baker Esq AD Carmody Esq GRJ Heddle Esq DP Nicholas Esq JHR Tunningley Esq RA Barr Esq BPA Carroll Esq GJ Hill Esq NHC Nugent Esq M Vann Esq CJ Barratt Esq JP Catt Esq MR Hubbocks Esq GD Rameaux Esq M Weatherall Esq C Baxter Esq MJ Cullen Esq OR Humphrey Esq IRM Ramsay Esq P Wilkes Esq PJ Billcliff Esq P Flannery Esq SP Jordan Esq SJ Revell Esq

AD Halpenny Esq Queen Elizabeth’s St Olave’s Grammar School New J7 members R Shroff Esq Hospital School O Hakimazari Esq The club welcomes the following: W Mortimore Esq Abingdon School Cranleigh School Kimbolton School St Paul’s School HRC Tipple Esq J Harvey Esq OF Harper-Smith Esq Radley College V Tray Esq OMH Horridge Esq RAA Young Esq King Edward’s School, Bath Alleyn’s School Dauntsey’s School JS Barnard Esq S Bagga Esq T Elmanharawy Esq Reed’s School St Peter’s School OEP Graham Esq AM Todd Esq EWG Kettleborough Esq King Edward’s School, Barnard Castle School GEA Metcalfe Esq Birmingham JHW Sargent Esq Dulwich College Reigate Grammar School MJ Levell Esq JEJ Stevens Esq HMO Chu Esq JL Meakin Esq Tonbridge School RFR Collins Esq JB Evans Esq King’s College School, Bedford School B Cookman Esq Reigate Grammar School HDA Howard Esq Wimbledon A Amin Esq KOPG Gilani Esq S Scillitoe-Brown Esq SJ Lowres Esq NJ Connor Esq T Humphreys Esq OC Smith Esq C Wells Esq SBF Clark Esq JJB Stewart Esq Repton School J Wells Esq M Jullien Esq Berkhamsted School CR Hilton Esq RKL Wong Esq Eltham College W Van der Shoot Esq BE Collett Esq King’s School, Bruton WN Keeler Esq A Kapur Esq Wellingborough School JE Matthews Esq MJ Briston Esq D Lunt Esq Royal Grammar School, JG Dutton Esq Guildford Emanuel School Malvern College Bloxham School MR Cole Esq West Buckland School D Kelly Esq HH Luk Esq T Haynes Esq JW Sharpe Esq Rugby School Epsom College Marlborough College Bradfield College WJ Bourne Esq Westminster School TJ Howarth Esq A Blair Esq W Gray Esq WA Carr Esq HG Harting Esq P Style Esq JJ van de Wetering Esq Eton College Millfield School British School, Muscat TJH Priestley Esq H Weir Esq H Baxter Esq Sedbergh School BD Jones Esq Deceased Framlingham College Monmouth School It is with regret we announce Campbell College LJ Peterson Esq WJA Wright Esq HE Bridges Esq the deaths of the following AJ Nagar Esq Sherborne School members: Haileybury Oakham School PG Creamer Esq Canford School TA Miller Esq CH Abbott Esq DG Carter-Clout Esq C Wolferstan-Bannister Esq TPJ Oliver Esq LJ Payne Esq Mrs SW Duggan J Walker Esq Shrewsbury School BC Hervey Esq Charterhouse Oratory School HJ Bradshaw Esq RD Hatt Esq Harrow School JOD Camilleri Esq LS Gannon Esq JH Hill Esq AC Robinson Esq EC Daw Esq BJ Gilliat-Smith Esq L Hodson Esq City of London School TOG Lywood Esq Sir Geoffrey Holland KCB AI Marinoiu Esq Ipswich School Perse School T Mitamura Esq CO McAllister Esq GJM Stewart Esq Sidcot School WI Jollie Esq D Marcos-Ashworth Esq J Sabben-Clare Esq Clifton College John Lyon School Portsmouth Grammar J Peters Esq AN Savage Esq DA Evans Esq HS Bains Esq School JD Schepers Esq IA Soutar Esq O Daniels Esq EE Creamer Esq Colfe’s School H El-Masry Esq St Albans School GP Wilson Esq RDMFRICS WOJ Walker Esq WA Emamian Esq EJ Razzell Esq Sir Roger Young

colleagues. They manage ‘Wuppertal City Glücklich zu sehen Works’, which operates the hanging rail- by Rupert Wood At the bar, one of my friends overheard way. Herr Jaeger kindly agreed to help me another group talking. “I’m pretty sure they’re find a work placement. n a night in early January I came speaking German,” he said – and added as a After a few calls to the HR office I was back to the East India for the first joke: “Perhaps they can give you a job.” invited to start work as an intern in the O time in six months, having been To his horror, I stood up and approached hanging railway’s marketing and distri- teaching English in as part of them. We got chatting and they told me they bution department. Over the next three my university year abroad. I met up with a are from Wuppertal, a city I knew as ‘the months I learnt about marketing as well as couple of good friends whom I hadn’t seen place with this upside-down train’. In 1901, other departments. since I had been away. However, what was to replace the trams and save space on the So, when life produces a difficult situa- on my mind was my need to find a job in streets, Wuppertal built a train that hangs tion, the solution probably lies in meeting Germany for a few months to fulfil my de- from tracks. The gentlemen I met was club good friends in the clubhouse for a London gree course. member Ulrich Jaeger and a couple of his Pride and one of those bowls of twiglets.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2017 19 Reciprocal clubs

BERMUDA PAKISTAN The East India welcomes members of Tucker’s Town Mid-Ocean Club Karachi Sind Club other clubs from all over the world, Islamabad Islamabad Club CANADA who may use the club’s facilities as if SRI LANKA they were their own. A reciprocal Montreal ] James’s Club Colombo Colombo Club arrangement has been made for University Club Nuwara Eliya Hill Club Saint John, NB ] Union Club members to visit these clubs when a SINGAPORE card of introduction, obtainable from Toronto National Club Singapore Tanglin Club the club secretary, is required. These University Club of Toronto SOUTH KOREA clubs have all been chosen for their Albany Club Seoul ] Seoul Club suitability for our members but have different facilities. Vancouver Terminal City Club UK Vancouver Club Belfast ] Ulster Reform Club If you are going to visit any of them, Victoria, BC Union Club of Edinburgh New Club Royal Scots Club we suggest you telephone first and British Columbia Glasgow Western Club find out about them. Let us have your EUROPE Guernsey ] United Club views on your visits and tell us if you Henley on Thames Phyllis Court Club have found other clubs with whom we Barcelona Círculo Ecuestre Liverpool ] Athenaeum Club should enter into reciprocal Bilbao Sociedad Bilbaina London ] arrangements or if one of these, in Brussels ] Cercle Royal Gaulois ] ]] Hurlingham Club your opinion, is no longer suitable. (membership card and Dublin Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club photo ID is essential )

Frankfurt Union International Club Newcastle Northern Counties Club upon Tyne AFRICA Gothenburg ] Royal Bachelors’ Club Perth Royal Perth Golfing Society & County and City Club SOUTH AFRICA The Hague ] Nieuwe of Literaire Societeit Cape Town Cape Town Club de Witte USA Albany, NY Fort Orange Club Durban Durban Club Hamburg ] Anglo-German Club Berkeley, CA Berkeley City Club Johannesburg Country Club of ] Helsinki Svenska Klubben Boston, MA Algonquin Club Johannesburg Luxembourg ] Cercle Munster Harvard Club Union Club Rand Club Madrid ] Financiero Génova Bethesda, MD Kenwood Golf & Pietermaritzburg Victoria Country Club ] Real Sociedad Española Country Club Polokwane Pietersburg Club Club de Campo Cincinnati, OH Queen City Club Chicago, IL Standard Club Oporto Oporto Cricket & Lawn Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth St George’s Club Union League Club Club University Club of Chicago KENYA Paris ] Cercle de l’Union Interalliée Detroit, IL Athletic Club Nairobi Muthaiga Country Club Los Angeles, CA Riviera Country Club Mountain Lake, FL Mountain Lake ZIMBABWE Stockholm ] Sällskapet Osterville, MA Wianno Club Bulawayo Bulawayo Club (open May-Nov) HONG KONG Harare ] County Club Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Club Hong Kong ] Hong Kong Club Harare Club New York, NY Princeton Club ] Hong Kong Cricket Club Lotos Club AUSTRALIA Metropolitan Club INDIA Union League Club Adelaide Adelaide Club Norfolk, VA Norfolk Yacht Calcutta Tollygunge Club Naval, Military and Air Force & Country Club Club of Adelaide Royal Bombay Yacht Club Philadelphia, PA Union League Club Public Schools’ Club Golden Swan Phoenix, AZ ] University 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 Hobart Tasmanian Club Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth 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 Australian Club NEW ZEALAND University Club Melbourne Club Auckland Northern Club ] Accommodation not available Christchurch Canterbury Club ]] Sports facilities not available Newcastle Newcastle Club Christchurch Club Members are reminded that the production of a Perth ] Western Australian Club current membership card and photo ID is essential Weld Club Dunedin Dunedin Club when visiting . Our reciprocal clubs Napier Hawke’s Bay Club Sydney Union, University & usually require an introductory card which may be Schools’ Club Wellington Wellington Club obtained from the secretary’s office.