Issue number 102 Christmas 2018

QUICK COCK HICK ROCK TICK-TOCK GIFT SUGGESTIONS FROM The East India Decanter THE SECRETARY’S OFFICE £85 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 up the East India Club. £10 Lunch Monday to Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm Scarf Sunday (buffet) 12.30pm-2.30pm (pianist until 4pm) £17 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, Anthony Lejeune’s burgundy, L, XL, let the Dining Room know if you would like a quick Hatband classic. £28 XXL. £55 supper. £15 Notelets AMERICAN BAR £3.75 Monday to Friday 11.30am-11pm Saturday 11.30am-3pm & 5.30pm-11pm Sunday noon-4pm & 6.30pm-10pm Cufflinks Members resident at the club can obtain drinks from Enamelled cufflinks the hall porter after the bar has closed. with club crest, EAST INDIA ROOM chain or bar. £24.50 Polo shirt Monday to Friday. Light food and wine menu. Use of In red or black, electronic devices on silent is permissible. L, XL, XXL. £28 SMOKING ROOM & WATERLOO ROOM Monday to Friday Tea and coffee from 9am Light menu 10am-10.30pm Drinks 11am-11pm Mug Weekend Light menu 10am-10pm £14 Drinks 11am-10pm BILLIARDS ROOM Chocolate mint Open to members from 9am to midnight. Pass keys will not be issued after 11pm. creams £8 GYMNASIUM Blazers Club shield Open to members from 6am to 10pm. £395 (navy) £350 (sports) Suitable attire must be worn. £35 BEDROOM CHARGES (from 2019) Waistcoat Includes early morning tea, English breakfast, £160 Golf balls discretionary £5 per person per night contribution Titleist golf balls. Bearing to the staff fund, and VAT. All bedrooms are non club crest. £29 per dozen smoking. Napkin Members & immediate family hook Single ensuite £127 (£77*) £40 Golf tees Single with small shower £106 (£66*) Tin of 50 ‘personalised’ Single without facilities £85 (£56*) Double or twin room for single occupancy £173 East India golf tees. £7.75 Double or twin room for double occupancy £187 St James’s Suite £302 Reciprocal members & guests Blazer buttons View from the Single ensuite £166 (104*) Double breasted. £50 garden Single with small shower £145 (£92*) Single breasted. £35 Double or twin room for single occupancy £208 Print of the club Double or twin room for double occupancy £228 exterior. £65 St James’s Suite £356 Post and packing for non-breakables from * Special rate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays £3. Breakable items are for collection from the club instead of posting. MEMBERSHIP CARDS Members are required to carry their membership cards at all times when visiting the club, and Umbrellas CLUB WINE: present them on arrival. It is essential that they are Short. £20 Rugby ball produced when signing for charges to accounts. Long. £25 £25 See page 17 for details

2 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 With the Christmas party season in full swing, the chairman Club diary looks back at a long, hot, summer in London (though drenched

January 2019 for our barbecue), and a pleasant break in Paris visiting one of CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 8 Film club the best of our reciprocal clubs. 8 Wine tasting 23 Members’ & daughters’ dinner 25 Casino evening 31 Burns supper CHAIRMAN’S REPORT February ne of the less heralded benefits of the library committee and St John Brown, and 8 Rugby lunch v France our club membership is the extensive to see the Sandy Burnett Trio organised by 12 Wine tasting list of reciprocal clubs available to the jazz section and Howard Lambert. 22 Jazz at No 16 O the discerning traveller. Although certainly The Lord Mayor’s lunch is always fully March less exotic than the unforgettable Mid Ocean booked and marks the start of our autumn / 5 Film club Club in Bermuda, which my wife and I visited winter programme of club events. This year 5 Library lecture & dinner in 2015, our prime reciprocal in Paris, the had a particular significance as the centenary 15 Rugby lunch v Scotland Cercle de l’Union Interalliée, still makes a real year of its introduction at the 21 Gourmet evening impression. Situated next door to the British in 1918. To mark the occasion, we invited all former Lord Mayors who had joined the April East India as honorary members and were 3 Sports dinner delighted that six were able to attend. It was 7 Oxford & Cambridge boat races a splendid and prolonged afternoon, and we 17 Young members’ dinner now look forward to the next hundred years. 23 St George’s day dinner The harvest festival service, held at the May Tower of London, is another club regular, and the house dinner with Henry Blofeld is 7 Film club especially memorable. A legendary figure in 15 AGM the cricketing world, he boasts a lifetime of 6-8 Champagne tour Test Match Special anecdotes. As you would Christmas expect the event sold out in a very short time. The chairman speaking at the Lord Mayor’s lunch The club closes for Christmas after The autumn rugby internationals took lunch on Friday 21 December 2018 Embassy on the Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré, place on successive Saturdays throughout and re-opens at 9am on Wednesday it boasts grand rooms and an elegant first November. As well as Australia, Japan and 2 January 2019. floor dining room overlooking beautiful, South Africa there was particular excitement private gardens. After the excitement and as England also took on New Zealand for Sunday lunch party atmosphere of three days at Le Golf the first time since 2014. At time of writing, On most Sundays throughout the year, National, watching Europe regain the Ryder this represents a daunting challenge but a sumptuous lunch buffet is provided Cup, it was a welcome change of pace for a should give a clear indication of their relative to the accompaniment of a pianist. celebratory lunch on the Monday before our strengths with the Rugby World Cup in Japan Ascot flight home. I can highly recommend it. only 12 months away. The club’s box at Ascot has dates As we look back on the hottest and driest The club ballot for debenture seats was available for booking. Please contact summer on record it is still painful to recall the over-subscribed, as ever, and Matthew the membership secretary. biblical deluge that befell our Club barbecue Ebsworth organised rugby lunches at the in July, as it was so localised and yet so heavy. club prior to the New Zealand and Australia The upside was a display of stoicism from our fixtures which set the scene perfectly for the staff and the jazz band that following day’s matches. was impressive to behold As the year end as almost 200 of us were The upside was a approaches, all members relocated from the square to display of stoicism will be receiving their East & West the clubhouse at the double. “ from our staff and renewal letters for Editor: Charlie Jacoby It is an extraordinary feature 2019. As forewarned, 07850 195353 [email protected] the jazz band that of our club layout that, with the committee has had Designer: Chris Haddon the Dining Room already fully was impressive to raise subscriptions 07792 515056 [email protected] booked that night, the crowd again to offset the Sub-editor: Lucy Sloan [email protected] could still be accommodated, fed, watered and continuing increase in business rates and entertained within the Waterloo, Smoking the expected” uplift in London Living Wage. Photography: Phil McCarthy. To download or order photography, login to the members’ and East India rooms. It was a triumph It is unwelcome but sadly inevitable and I area of EastIndiaClub.com and select event snatched from the jaws of disaster and much hope that you will continue to support both photography appreciated by members to judge from the the club, by renewing your membership, Printed by: Colour3 (ColourCubed.co.uk) numerous letters I received in the aftermath and the staff who have looked after us with Published on behalf of The East India Club by congratulating the secretary and staff. such dedication during the year, by giving Charlie Jacoby, c/o The East India Club www.charliejacoby.com In the months since, we have had a generously to the staff fund appeal. Cover photo: Waterloo Place full house for library lectures on the RAF centenary and then Churchill, organised by Duncan Steele-Bodger, Chairman

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 3 NEWS

All active members of the section gained ROWING valuable experience both on and off of the water, and our relationship with Auriol Kensington RC has gone from strength to strength. We borrow their equipment to NEW BLADES supplement our own coxless four, Cecil. by Mike Biggs and Rory Hunt In September, we had our section annual dinner, enjoyed by all. The committee or the first use of our brand, new bestowed awards to the following members: trailer, we brought three crews to the oarsman of the year Peter Pratelli, coxswain F delight that is Henley-on -Thames. of the year Zac Wilde, and clubman of Another first: our visit to Henley Town & the year Ron Collins. We also welcomed Will Tait and Ron Collins at the rowing dinner Visitors’ Regatta started a tour of many in new committee members: Ron Collins regattas throughout the summer of 2018. to chairman, the writer to treasurer and meritorious service to the section on or off of Maidenhead and City of Oxford regattas coach, Will Tait to fundraising secretary the water. We are proud to have Nottingham- followed, then in the autumn by the Fuller’s, and Rhys Major to social secretary. The based Godfrey as our rowing clothing supplier. and an excellent result at Head of the River incoming chairman, Ron Collins, welcomed We have a busy programme of head races Fours – where despite a clash with London RC the new committee members and thanked planned for 2019, so please look out for the – we finished ahead of our starting position. the outgoing ones for their efforts, toils and new calendar card, that shall be available in the We had a successful summer, winning in troubles throughout the past year. early part of 2019. These include Henley 4s and the coxed four, coxless double sculls, and also In the club itself, the section held its Ergo 8s, Bedford 4s and 8s, Hammersmith Head, and the single scull over these summer events. in–house rowing competition. The object is the Head of the River, before we plunge back to row 2,112m, the distance raced at Henley into the regatta season, thus welcoming back Royal Regatta, on the Ergo rowing machine our undergraduate J7 contingent. on setting ‘6’ in the gym. This year’s winner is As always, we wish to welcome all club Archie Hilder, completed in 7:08:02. members to join us, be it on or off of the We have plenty of apparel on offer too, water. There are also opportunities for including ties, bow ties, pocket squares, members to accompany the coaching team,

The club in action at Oxford - just losing by two ft rowing training clothing, and a blazer that in the launch, while the oarsmen are training. in the final is awarded by the section committee for All levels of experience are welcome.

In early September, nine members went EPICS on tour to Perth, Scotland. We were hosted magnificently by the Royal Perth Golfing Society with some members staying at Long drive their club. We did however lose in the match against them at Blairgowrie. Our tour also by Ben Hurworth included games at Lundin Links and Loch Lomond. anny Flowers (35pts) won the Paul Blows, Ian Holmes, Patrick Duke and morning singles in the autumn Left-right: Matt Dennehy, Alan Hamilton, Colm the captain represented the club in the Prendergast, Alan Botterill, Ben Hurworth and D meeting at New Zealand GC from Perry Gale at Worplesdon Bath Cup at Woking in early October but Patrick Duke (32) and Chris Salmon (31); struggled to find form. We continue to have John Braithwaite and Adam Stevens had the Colm also had the longest drive whilst mixed results in our matches: against Royal longest drive. David Freeborn secured the Captain Ben had nearest the pin. The final of Blackheath we secured our normal draw, guest prize on countback from Paul Preddy our millennium cup was also played on this while a win against the Bar GS was followed (both 36). Captain Ben Hurworth and Chris day with Alan Botterill just edging out Matt by a loss to Wrotham Heath. Salmon won the afternoon foursomes. Dennehy. With the clocks having moved back we The Captain’s Day at Worplesdon was We took part in the inaugural four-way look forward to our Christmas lunch on Friday won by Perry Gale (31) just edging out new match at Sandy Lodge against the Reform 7 December, dinner with the member, Colm Prendergast (30), with Alan and Oriental Clubs and the China Golf on 28 February 2019 and our annual dinner Hamiliton beaten into third on countback. Society, which will be played again next year. on 20 March 2019.

cancelled unfortunately due to lack of member given the preceding seven years’ worth of Polo take-up. Then the second trip planned was trips have generally been oversubscribed. to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, For those who are not aware, the section by Harman Gill which was sold out, but the weather got the is open to polo newbies and aficionados better of it: not because of rain but because alike and is a nice way to spend a day in the he list of members of the polo section of the extreme heat drying out the ground to country with fellow members and goes from strength to strength. the extent play was deemed not safe. I hope their guests. T However, we have been unlucky in next year will prove to be a more successful There has been some momentum in terms of trip organisation. We had planned one one with a bit more luck on our side. I have no getting a playing side going. Please let the event to the Guards Polo Club that had to be doubt that we will return to some normality, secretary know if that interests you.

4 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 NEWS

State visit Shorts Behind the scenes

n October, the King and Queen of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander and I Máxima, made a state visit to the UK. By kind invitation of member Captain R Wilmont MBE, ten members were invited to be guests of the Irish Guards to see the behind-the- Left-to-right: John Coverdale, Michael Burmester, scenes preparations and deployment of Edward Davis, Richard Wheeler, Harmanpiar Gill, Roger Bance, John Monk, Christopher Kemp, and ceremonial troops for a major state event. Martin Polaine They arrived for a 10am sign-in at Wellington Barracks guardroom where they forming up and march off. At 12.10pm, they were met by Captain Wilmont. heard the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery he club team that played against Following briefing and coffee in the library, fire a 41-gun salute, and they watched the the Chobham XI for the Turnbull they went to the parade square to watch the troops return by 1pm. T Cup. The club lost in the last over. Rugby lunches Library embers are enjoying borrowing he club has been holding a full the club’s books. The frequency programme of rugby lunches, M of signing books out and back T organised by Matthew Ebsworth in has been on the increase. The club’s and held on the Friday before an autumn inventory of books is searchable through international where England is playing. the Members Area and under Facilities, in As well as these, the club hosted a lunch the website. Recent new additions to the for a cause close to rugby players’ hearts: shelves include: the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Fire and fury: inside the White House by Named after Scottish international Doddie Michael Wolff Weir, the foundation raises money for Citizen Clem by John Bew research into motor neurone disease, This is going to hurt by Adam Kay which afflicts Doddie. Prisoners of geography by Tim Marshall Doddie Weir is one of rugby’s most Posh boys: how the English public recognizable personalities. He earned schools ruin Britain by Robert Verkaik 61 caps for Scotland during a successful The library committee welcomes playing career, and represented the British member suggestions for new acquisitions. and Irish Lions on their successful tour to Left-right: John Zimnoch, Iwan Tukalo and Neil If you have any questions or comments South Africa in 1997. Edwards at the Doddie Weir lunch about the library please do contact the librarian, Jane Trodd, librarian@ eastindiaclub.com For more about the recent library Like clockwork lectures, see pages 12 and 13.

e are indebted to member Reverend JC Alexander, who Homelessness W offered the club his skills as a horologist, overhauling the clocks in the club’s possession. We gratefully received the offer. When Rev Alexander is available, he spends a morning at the club on the skilled work of keeping quality mechanisms in good working order. He is pictured here working on the intricate mechanism of the clock in the Waterloo Room which is a mahogany ember Simon Camamile is bracket clock, circa 1900, strung with raising funds for Abolish Youth boxwood. An arched gilt face is inscribed M Homelessness in the UK. Jumping ‘A Johnson, Middlesborough’ with three from 16,000ft. It was, he says, “a bit subsidiary dials, the case with a swan neck extreme and a fabulous day”. pediment and corner colonettes. The Reverend JC Alexander

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 5 MOTOR CARS MOTOR A day that starts with a dose of motoring history in Hampshire ends in the pleasant surroundings of the club in London, as the motoring section bring their cars to St James’s Square. THE SQUARE THRUMS TO PROPER MOTORS

Doug Hill, chief engineer at Beaulieu explains that he motoring section’s assault on vehicles. It even has a recreation of a rustic even Shelby admitted the 427 Cobra is a handful the square took place in October. 1930s garage, packed full of artefacts, T It started at the National Motor fixtures, fittings, tools and ephemera. From Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire. From there, the section puffed, putted and purred motor carriages dating from 1875 to classic its way to St James’s Square where they family saloons, the museum has one of parked in the garden before enjoying dinner the finest collections of cars, motorcycles in the club. and motoring memorabilia in the world. It The motoring section has enjoyed more includes legendary F1 cars and land speed events than ever before this year, including a record breakers in a collection of 285 summer trip to Brands Hatch.

David Holmes’ 1954 R-Type Bentley

Members and guests outside the National Motor Museum

Ian and Myra Forrester and their Jaguar XKR which Richard Muir Beddall and daughter Milly in his 1972 Left-right: MG Magnette, Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 S sports the Ecurie Ecosse emblem Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 S and a 1956 Alvis Series 3

Phyllis Court Club classic car display

hyllis Court in Henley held an August This informal gathering was not a Bank Holiday classic car display concours d’élégance but a display of well- P featuring the iconic Model T Ford. loved cars, mainly owned by Phyllis Court Thanks to Richard Muir Beddall, members of classic motoring members and some exciting the East India Club’s motoring section and cars owned by specially invited guests. This their guests were invited to participate in year Phyllis Court featured the Model T Ford, the reception, lunch and classic car display. with two models from Ken Tuckett who The reception was held in the riverside imports Model Ts and spares from the USA. pavilion, lunch in the ballroom and the cars A parade of cars took place, with themselves on the lawn in front of the commentary and interviews by Phyllis Court

clubhouse. president, Piers Flashman. The Phyllis Court lawn event

6 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 The club archive grows, with the purchase of a modern map of the square and gardens, highlighting the famous names and Tudor room shady characters who inhabit it, and a pre-1937 postcard. ember Nick Gould spotted this picture on eBay and bought M it for the club archive. It is a CLUB BUYS SQUARE MAP picture postcard showing what is now the Canadian Room. The caption calls it by Adam Dant St James’s Square assume the mantle of the ‘the Tudor Smoking Room’ at the ‘East Russian spy visiting a dead letterbox, the India United Services Club’, which shows nlike many other public squares covert couple conducting an illicit love affair it pre-dates our 1937 merger with the in London, St James’s Square is or the minor royal jogging incognito. The real Sports Club. U in possession of a certain aloof, action here has to be invented as nobody is The Canadian Room gets its name upper crust aura, in keeping with the private giving anything away. from the generosity of Canadian officers finance offices and gentlemen’s clubs that Secrecy is the order of the day at the who donated money and wood to hide behind its well-attended facades. Royal Institute of International Affairs, better refurbish it after the second world war. Dogs are no more permitted into the known as Chatham House whose famous gardens here than they would be in the ‘Chatham House Rule’ guarantees speakers London Library, the East India Club or the there unattribution, which encourages headquarters of British Petroleum. the sharing of sensitive information. Until Whilst sketching from a bench in the recently, the church of Rome managed square beneath the statue of King William III, to keep their ownership of a handsome I noticed that not much appeared to be going townhouse in the square under wraps, on in this square. Such an atmosphere of having purchased it with Mussolini ‘s money. restraint in a public arena prompts all manner It is in this spirit that my depiction of the of fanciful notions as to the real identities, square prompts the viewer to speculate on activities and motivations of passers-by. the characters’ goings-on and to animate Much in the same vein as a novel by London their stories, according to the roster of St Library habitué Graham Greene, visitors to James’s ‘types’ shown in the border.

The St James’s Square map the club has bought appears in Maps of London & Beyond by Adam Dant. It is published in conjunction with Spitalfields Life. It is a spectacular, large-format collection of Adam Dant’s fine art maps, giving a unique view of our history and life today. Witty and subversive, his map offers a compelling view of history, lore, language and life in the capital and beyond

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 7 GAME

The club’s shooting section has a new breath of life, thanks to the J7s. They instigated a series of game, clay and target Drewton’s shoot events for members, for all from the experienced to novices. Yorkshire birds

CLUB SHOOTING SECTION embers of the club enjoyed shooting at Chris and Eileen lub member Sanjay Bhattacharya has outings, to recharge the rest of the shooting M Taylor’s excellent shoot followed in the footsteps of Adam section. You may have received a survey via Drewton Manor on the edge of the C Rigby, who organised rifle shooting email. Sanjay is behind it, and has used the Wolds in Yorkshire. They stayed at the results to inspire a series of shoots and other manor in great luxury. Thanks to Maria events in the club for members. Morgan for the pictures. “With the help of fellow shooting section members Richard Hobbs [elected first chairman of the section], William Oakes and Charlie Jacoby we are working hard to revive what should be a thriving part of the EIC community,” he says. At present the shooting section – the largest sporting section in the club by members – has confirmed The shooting party two shoot dates for this season, the second one on Saturday 16 January 2019 at Stratfield Saye estate, south of Reading. It is a 200-bird day at £880/gun/day, with ten guns. There will also be informal drinks at the clubhouse, a group visit to a London gunmaker, and to a clay-ground Charlie Jacoby (left) and Ken Morgan near London, “for novice members who are looking to start game shooting with the assistance of more experienced members Sanjay Bhattacharya on the day,” says Sanjay. Cost no more than £400/gun. Sanjay is a J7 and has instigated a popular WhatsApp group for members of the shooting section. Pyper the labrador

It is a popular dinner in the club’s calendar Grouse dinner and books up early. Once again, the kitchen produced more than 80 superbly cooked t was not a good year for grouse. The birds at exactly the same time, complete Beast from the East earlier in 2018 with game chips. After dinner, the speaker I killed much chance of big days on many was Robin Page, former Daily Telegraph estates. But do not let that stop you eating coiumnist, former presenter of BBC TV’s grouse. The birds are not rare – just not in One Man & His Dog, and now the driving enough numbers for big shoot days. And so force behind the Countryside Restoration the club fell in and ate grouse in October. Trust. He has a rare ability as a raconteur, so laughter aided digestion.

Members and guests enjoyed good grouse, good wines and an excellent after-dinner speaker. Vocal yokel: Robin Page in full flow

8 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 EVENTS The club has a way of extending summer sports into the Medieval trout autumn. Henry Blofeld was the star turn at this year’s house dinner. Meanwhile, the flyfishers turn to bass and grayling. by Stephen Allen he flyfishing section has access to rods on the Loddon, a well-stocked ‘MY DEAR OLD THINGS’ T and nearly pristine tributary of the Thames which rises in Hampshire. It fished ou have probably heard the story well in 2018, even with the hot summer, told and retold in the American including a 6lb brown caught by a member’s Y Bar. It is Noel Coward’s recipe for guest. Section chairman Peter Matthison the perfect martini: lots of gin and ‘wave it and I had an exquisite day there in July and in the general direction of Italy’. That was even caught some fish despite the hot bright just one of the classic anecdotes members conditions. The wildlife was abundant and and guests heard from retired cricket varied, and the beat was nicely kept but commentator Henry Blofeld at this year’s not overly manicured. Being a corner of Old house dinner. England not far from London the setting He was one of the highlights of an makes one wonder what Geoffrey Chaucer, excellent and packed evening in the Dining said to have been fond of trout, would have Room. A speech by the chairman preceded thought if he had glimpsed the section and followed ‘Blowers’, and all of that chairman in action with rod and line on such after an excellent supper. To remember it, a day in the 1370s. With apologies for the everyone took home Henry’s recent memoir. Blowers and his book... obvious anachronisms, and to any members who are proper scholars of Middle English, it might have been as follows:

Prologue to The Fly Fisher’s Tale A reeve of Essex to Loddon comen Whan somtyme floures sprynge wexen weel He was nay unkonnynge knave But versed in magyk natureel

With sleighte of caste and sondry flye He did the sleekit trutta berd And to hymself seyde pryvely “thys must be cleped to the herd”

Nempen Peter sonne of Matthy Sikerly maistre of water wyrken Siche travayle swithe and nevere yelden Wynnen sovereynetee for freynd and clubbe

Pardieux! thee parfit paas for lyfe Waterside maketh joye and blisse Whan Peter ne was to the lawes more owen ...and entertaining members after the house dinner He comen a myghty fishere!

Flyfishing section activities

he club’s flyfishing section September brought a trip to fish for sea continues its happy association bass in Chichester Harbour aboard the Salty T with the Lawyers’ Fishing Club. Dog and guided by owner Paul Haldenwang. In October, there was a visit to the Elinor Trout Fishery, Northamptonshire, which comprises 50 acres of spring fed, gin clear limestone water. In November, members enjoyed a day on the River Test at Wherwell after grayling, in conjunction with Hugh O’Reilly who manages it. The annual dinner is on 2 February 2019. Cost is £69 per head including entry to the club casting competition, traditionally held in Ken Morgan with a 4lb bass in Chirchester Harbour the East India Room. Stephen Allen and his catch

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 9 WATER

The Newman VC trophy has become a popular inter-club race, this year attracting Royal Thames Yacht Cub, Army & Navy and the RAC to compete against the East India’s two boats. The cup is

concentrated on boatspeed, their very tired helm nevertheless constantly playing the named after Col Newman, who led the St Nazaire raid during the secondmainsheet in slightly fluke but nicely puffy south-westerly air. The RAC were left behind and world war. soon the Royal Thames were overhauled. For some reason the East India & St Nazaire crew were the only one not to grossly over-stand the windward mark in the fast west-running stream and very surprisingly rounded it with a substantial lead. Still not knowing the course, they guessed the line may be next and headed for it at top speed. For a moment after passing the line, no cannon was heard, but there was soon a boom and they had guessed RAGAMUFFINS WIN HARD-FOUGHTright. The Ragamuffins roared home in second to give them the regatta and after a prize RACE presentation our trusty crews all split to set off on their ways.

by Jim Miller run to the west, first in the shallow moorings from about 1300, then in the deeper water aturday 15 September dawned out towards No Man’s Fort and the Cambrian beautifully off the Isle of Wight for Wreck nearer 1400. With an almost half S the Newman VC Trophy regatta. This moon, the currents would be moderate as we is an invitation-only keelboat racing regatta, were 57% between springs and neaps. for London, reciprocal and some other clubs The first race saw fast upwind sailing by challenged by the East India Club. The the Royal Thames, although the East India trophy is named after late club member Col & St Nazaire boat appeared able to catch Charles Newman, the only one of the club’s and harry her nicely downwind. But the

four known holders who was latter could not pass, and the Royal Thames The East India's Vice Commodore and Solent Captain after hard day's work

awarded the medal for action on/from water. obtained a fine first in race 1. East India Club The Newman VC Trophy will be presented formally to the worthy winners, the Army & Navy The East India’s vice commodore Paul Rose and Two boats from the East India Club’s 2 had an altogether more leisurely opening, Club, at the Laying Up Supper of the East India Club's yacht squadron on the evening of Solent captain Alex Van ingen Friday 9th November. yacht squadron sailed in line astern on to coming home at the tail of the fleet neverthe- Results the outer moorings at Seaview at 0745. The less after a seamanlike and enjoyable whizz Royal Thames at the final windward mark, the Crew Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Points Place commodore, Jim Miller, and vice commodore, round the course. Army & Navy ClubEast India "Ragamuffins" & St Nazaire 3 boat1 caught1 4 a large2 7 1 East India Club & St Nazaire Society 2 4 2 3 1 8 2 Paul Rose, on the Rustler 36 Eagle were Race two was one of the most confusing Royal Thames Yacht Clubpuff just as the former’s1 3 spinnaker4 2 collapsed.3 9 3 4 2 5 1 4 11 4 looking forward to racing in a combined- races ever sailed in these parts. Settling now East InTheredia Club 2 was nearly an5 overtake5 3 25 yards5 short5 18 5

crew boat with Captain Stuart Henderson as a well-oiled machine with the captain at of the line but suddenly the East India and St RN, of the St Nazaire Society. Stuart belongs the stern on the tiller, mainsheet and spin- Nazaire’s own bag collapsed, giving the Royal to the society because his grandfather com- naker halyard, the vice commodore in the Thames third by a nose and a half. manded the Fairmile motor launch ML306 middle of the boat on the jib sheets, traveller So, at lunchtime the lead was jointly held during the St Nazaire raid and was killed and spinnaker guy and pole stowage and by the Ragamuffins and Royal Thames, the during the fighting. the commodore in the bows on the Cun- East India & St Nazaire and the RAC joint third The East India’s Solent captain, Alex Van ningham, outhaul, kicker, pole up and down and East India 2 in a comfortable fifth. The Ingen, skippered a four-seater East India Club and kite stuffer and trimmer, the East India Ragamuffins attributed their success to quite 2 crew. Others taking part were the Army & & St Nazaire boat truly rocketed off the line a quantity of Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherry In Race 3, a very interesting first leg on the starboard gybe after reaching start involved a Navy Club’s ‘Ragamuffins’, the RAC and the on the first windward beat to lead the fleet that they had been using to keep themselves hairy incident in which the RAC and Royal Thames, already quite near one another were a . comfortably up towards the mark. But then fully lubricated over the morning. The sherry little surprised to have the East India & St Nazaire's nose become overlapped between them. In what appeared to be a misapplication of rules, the latter were advised that they Mustering on the deck at Seaview at 0900, an inauspicious early tack causing a radical supplies running low, they would be open- were "not allowed in". In short and for the record, there was an overlap under rule 11 of a the crews had clearly been granted a glorious undercooking, a misreading all round of the ing their Kendall mint cake stores for extra windward boat required to give way, it was debatable whether rule 14 was being observed autumnal day for their sport: long visibility, current for which every man holds his hand afternoon power. as all boats should avoid collisions, rules 15 and 16 relating to course changes and the generally blue skies and fresh airs. The wind, up, resulted in two boats overtaking before After a major refuel though all round on acquisition of right of way were in order, yet rule 17's observance was questionable as the recorded in the ship’s log of Eagle at 0800 the mark. This was simply a sign of larger the Seaview deck, the crews went out to a latter boat were not above their proper course; fortunately, the incident vanished upon the as force three from 280 degrees magnetic, impending disaster. The commodore, never a slightly rising blow in the afternoon. loss of overlap anyway. After the gybe, an even more hairy port reach involved the boats racing along at top speed even nearer to one another. generally maintained these characteristicsAt some point near the kite drop, the keen exponent of the windward bag launch, In race three, a dominant Ragamuffin boat East India 2 boat were T-boned for reasons unknown by another boat; whether each crew through the day, apart from some odd shifts managed to get it into a position in which appeared, and they took another fine win at completed any 360 is not known to the writer and he was very busy, head-down in the bows prior to lunch and a slight puffing up to force the kite was simultaneously wrapped around the head of the fleet. Your writer apologises on his bag-retrieve, stuffing and mainsail trim work so only heard the crunch and yells a few four in the later afternoon. With Portsmouth’s the forestay yet also under the pole, the pole that he does not remember much about Race feet behind him; but it is fact that neither retired and so by inference under the rules it is high water at 1620 BST, according to Imray, having flown up almost vertical next to the four other than it was rather windy. And clear no damage occurred! Out of the chaos, a picture of a dominant Ragamuffin boat the water would be east-running off Seaview mast: not a pretty sight. Yet the crew were there was apparently another race. A cannon appeared and they took another fine win at the head of the fleet. in the morning with the direction turning to still rocketing long and a minute or two of blast signalled this but the East India & St

commodorial attention on the foredeck had Nazaire’s radio had broken and so they had the kite the right way up, trim and proper not heard the course. Dashing back towards among a tightly packed fleet with boats flying the start it appeared that it must again be a along within six feet on both sides. A busy reaching start. Bereft of knowledge of the leeward mark had just about everyone calling course, the East India & St Nazaire boat made for water and some giving it. With all settled educated guesses. and making way up to the windward mark For a moment after passing the line, no just west of Seaview, the wind let through cannon was heard, but there was soon a a series of huge shifts. We had boats on the boom and it turned out they had guessed same tack beating yet pointing 90 degrees to right. The Ragamuffins roared home in sec- one another. Suddenly, the Ragamuffins and ond to give them the regatta. RAC hove into view well ahead of all the oth- The Newman VC Trophy was presented ers, having sneaked a safe path through the formally to the worthy overall winners, the lulls and shifts, powering forward to take the Army & Navy Club, at the laying up supper The Newman VC Trophy, at Seaview top two places. Just a short distance behind in November. The Newman VC Trophy, at Seaview

Your writer apologises that he does not remember very much about Race 4 other than it 10 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 was rather windy and he was getting rather tired with constant two-six heaves to assist the Vice Commodore on the bar-tight genny sheets, launching, gybing, retrieving and stuffing the bag. With no Kendall mint cake aboard, energy levels were falling in the bows and the Commodore was placed on helm to bring the boat into the moorings.

Except that there was apparently another race! A cannon blast signalled this but the East India & St Nazaire's radio had clearly broken and so they had not heard the course. Dashing back towards the start it appeared that it must again be a reaching start. As the boats shot off the line with the Royal Thames in the lead to windward and the RAC overlapped below the East India & St Nazaire boat, most of the course was obtained and the latter LAND

Hillwalking in the Chilterns Jazz at No 16 by Howard Lambert by Lee Farmer sell-out crowd enjoyed a great he second meeting of the September evening at the latest newly-formed hill walking and A ‘Jazz at No 16’. We were entertained T mountaineering section was by the Sandy Burnett Trio with special guest attended by four members. They enjoyed guitarist Terry Smith. the Buckinghamshire countryside, real The trio is led by Sandy Burnett on double ales, and an interesting avian display. bass. Sandy has performed, toured and Despite not knowing each other before recorded with many of the finest musicians, hand, the section members quickly found artistes and ensembles from Britain and each other at Great Missenden Station beyond. His playing can be heard on the film at 10am. They began a tramp from there soundtracks of Evita (1996) and Le Weekend to the nearby town of Wendover via (2014). He is also a BBC classical music Ballinger Common, Chartridge, Asheridge, were close enough to pick out the features broadcaster, conductor and lecturer. Hawridge, Cholesbury, Dunbridge Manor, of their chestnut plumage. On piano was Gunther Kurmayr, who hails St Leonards Common, Milesfield, Wendover Disaster met the team, upon entering from Linz in Austria. Since 1997, Gunther has Woods, Boddington Hill, to Wendover, all the village of Hawridge. An eight-foot established himself in the local jazz scene told about 15 miles. The weather was kind, high hoarding surrounded the Rose in London playing with many top names. being dry, warm, and sunny throughout and Crown public house. It was sadly Since 2004, he has been with the Ray Gelato the day. The route was undulating in parts closed and vacant: perhaps a victim of Giants, a seven-piece band that performs with a few stiff climbs through chalk heavy changing tasted and likely destined to around the UK and all over the world. fields, with the reward of going through be a development of houses. Supporting Dennis Smith on drums, has been one beautiful ancient beech woods at the the rural economy clearly came too of the great characters of the London jazz top of the hills, which showed the early late for this pub. So a slight change of scene since the 1960s and has jammed with signs of the onset of autumn with leaves plan saw us head westwards through the likes of Sonny Rollins and Jimi Hendrix. He just turning into shades of brown from woodlands, towards Hawridge Common has also played in many West End musicals their summer lustre of deep green and and Cholesbury where, in a convenient and London’s contemporary dance theatre. beechmast crunching underfoot. sunny corner of a field, packed lunches There is not much more we can say about After one particularly hot and long climb, were eagerly consumed. our ‘own’ Terry Smith. He has worked in the band of walkers found themselves Passing through St Leonard’s Common, Ronnie Scott’s Big Band and backed many US walking past the Blue Ball public house the team was confronted by a dozen or so stars such as Esther Phillips, Marc Murphy, in Asheridge. I suggested a restorative alpacas who lined up in a row to see who the Walker Brothers and JJ Jackson’s soul libation may be in order, stressing the need the intruders in their field were. band , with whom he recorded two albums. to keep hydrated on a hot day such as this, At the foot of Wendover Woods the He made a further five albums with the jazz and the band readily agreed. Chris Kemp team took the exacting route of walking rock band If with Dick Morrissey, touring added that he felt duty bound to support along a section of the Ridgeway, an ancient Europe and the USA. the rural economy. Thirsts quenched, the through-route used for more than 4,000 The evening consisted of top class team continued. In some villages, it was years by drovers and travellers and now a straight-ahead jazz, with music ranging from difficult to find the footpaths in among National Trail. It was and remains high and bossa nova, blues to classic standards. The grand and well-kept houses. Raymond dry ground above the dense woodland that audience was captivated by Terry’s brilliance O’Mally was pleased with this test of once covered much of Britain. and a really swinging trio. It was a fun night. navigation, as he was soon to attend a It links Ivinghoe Beacon in the north- The club will hold four jazz evenings in national navigation award course in the east of Buckinghamshire to Overton Hill in 2019, the next being on Friday 22 February. Brecon Beacons. Six red kites wheeled Wiltshire, 80 miles to the south-west. Please book early to avoid disappointment. above one field, calling to one another. We We walked beneath a beech tree canopy before this gave way to an unmade byeway and eventually the conurbation of Wendover. The day finished at the top of Wendover town near to the train station in the Shoulder of Mutton pub just after 4pm with further rehydration, generously acquired for the team by David Barker. It was agreed that the 15-mile ramble was a great day out and over drinks and muscles beginning to stiffen, future plans and trip ideas were discussed for future EIC Hill Walking and Mountaineering Section excursions. David Barker, Chris Ryan, RaymondDavid O’Mally Barker, returning toChris the walk Kemp after rehydrating and Raymond in The Blue Ball O’Mally If you would like to sign up for this or returning to the walk after rehydrating in the any section, please contact the secretary. Disaster met the team, uponBlue entering Ball the village of Hawridge when a foreboding eight foot high hoarding that surrounded the next point of interest came into view; Jazz in the Smoking Room namely The Rose and Crown Public House, which upon inspection was sadly closed and vacant; perhaps a victim of changing tasted and likely destined to be a ame o late to for The development of houses.EAST Supporting & WEST the – rural CHRISTMAS economy clearly 2018 c 11 Rose and Crown. So a slight change of plan saw them head westwards through woodlands, towards Hawridge Common and Cholesbury. Where in a convenient sunny corner of a field lunch packed lunches were eagerly consumed.

Passing through St Leonards Common the team were confronted by a dozen or so Alpacas who lined up in a row to see who the intruders in their field were. At the foot of Wendover Woods the team took the exacting route of walking along a section of The Ri dgeway; an ancient thro ugh route (now a National Trail) being used for over 4,000 years by travellers, then being high and dry ground above the dense woodland that once covered much of Britain. Linking Ivinghoe Beacon in the north east of Buckinghamshire to Overton Hill in Wiltshire over eighty miles to the south west. Once again they were beneath a beech tree canopy before this gave way to an unmade byway and eventually the conurbation of Wendover.

The day finished at the top o f ver Wendo town near to the train station in The Shoulder of Mutton Public House just after four in the afternoon with some much needed further rehydration, generously acquired for the team by David Barker. It was agreed that the fifteen mile ramble was a great day out and over drinks and muscles beginning to stiffen, future plans and trip ideas were discussed for future EIC Hill Walking and Mountaineering Section excursions.

+++ends+++

Copy: Lee Farmer Photo Lee Farmer commemorates the 100-year anniversary of of Britain and a fictional second world war CENTENARIES Library lecture the Royal Air Force. Officially endorsed by the series featuring ‘Sergeant Jack Tanner’. His RAF, and with unique access to their historic interviews with veterans of the second archives, the broadcaster James Holland uses world war are available at the Imperial War 100 YEARS photographs and documents to tell the story Museum. of the people, planes and missions as never He has a special love for the RAF story. From before. its genesis in the first world war, when pilots

OF THE RAF He came to the club to tell the story of were open to the elements in craft made of the service. He delivered it with the kind of wood and fabric, to the Battle of Britain of he centenary of the formation power and thrust you get from a jump jet, the second world war, through to missions of the RAF led to a number of and he covered an enormous amount of carried out in today’s trouble zones, James’s T commemorations and even history in a short time. He regretted leaving book looks at the men, women and aircraft celebrations across the nation. Much of the out the last years of the RAF’s history – he that are at the heart of this great service. marking of military matters in 2018 has says the club will have to ask him back to Some of them attended the talk and, related to the centenary of the end of the complete that one. during supper, read out excerpts from letters first world war. The RAF story provides a more James’s career is built around the study of and the experiences of pilots. They provided upbeat strand of the narrative. RAF 100: The the wartime experience. His books include moments of poignancy in an evening that Official Storyby James Holland celebrates and Fortress Malta, Italy’s Sorrow, The Battle celebrated the best the RAF has given.

Serving RAF officers who came to the talk plus St John Brown and, far right, former Air Chief James Holland James discusses the Second World War Marshal Sir Andy Pulford

100th Lord Mayor’s lunch

he club welcomed the Lord Mayor of London to its annual lunch in T his honour – and this one was a special one. The tradition began in 1918 at the Eccentric Club, which brought it to the East India Club when many former The Household Cavalry members joined in the 1980s. To celebrate the centenary, the club invited former lord mayors to the lunch and seven of them were able to attend. The club also minted a medal The Lord Mayor inspects the Company of Pikemen in honour of the centenary, which went & Musketeers of the Honourable Artillery Company to all who came. As ever, the incumbent lord mayor was guest of honour. Charles Bowman is the 690th Lord Mayor of the City of London. He launched the City of London Corporation’s Business of Trust programme, Members and guests enjoy the speeches which seeks to create ‘a lasting legacy of better business, trusted by society’. A partner of PwC, he is a member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Grocers and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Members thronged the Smoking Room and Dining Room for an excellent lunch, followed by speeches by the chairman and one from Charles Bowman. The chairman greets the Lord Mayor The Lord Mayor and previous lord mayors

12 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 A series of library lectures at the club included the well-known LECTURES historians Professor Andrew Roberts and James Holland, and Harvest festival newcomer Dr Seth Alexander Thévoz, all with a story to tell. he club made its annual outing to join the congregation of St Peter ad T Vincula at the Tower of London for SPIRIT OF CHURCHILL the harvest festival service presided over by club chaplain – and royal chaplain – the rofessor Andrew Roberts gives Reverend Roger Hall MBE. popular talks at the club, and A thoroughly enjoyable service in such P this time he chose perhaps his an historic setting is not to be missed most popular subject to date. He sums up and made all the more impressive by the Churchill’s credo as being about spirit: ‘With superb singing of the chapel choir, whose enough spirit he believed that we can rise recording of music inspired by the psalms above anything, and create something truly of David is available through our secretary. magnificent of our lives.’ Roger’s sermon made reference to the Andrew’s new book, Churchill: Walking famous poets like Keats and Betjeman who with Destiny, was the subject of his lecture. have utilised nature in some of their most It is a detailed defence of the great wartime famous poems. Ahead of the service both leader. He was able to draw on fresh material Roger and his wife Barbara encouraged for it, including the diaries of Ivan Maisky, the support for the Tower Hamlets food bank. Consequently, the altar was festooned

Andrew signs copies of his book about Churchill with contributions from the congregation topped off by our chef creating a harvest Soviet ambassador to Britain, and the diaries loaf, this year presented by our youngest of George VI, available to historians for the attendee Miss Poppy West. After the first time in an unedited form. service a return coach to the club for the In the book, Andrew makes the case that ever-delicious Sunday lunch buffet. “When it came to all three mortal threats The chapel welcomes attendance at all to Western civilisation, by the Prussian its services. Arrive at the middle drawbridge militarists in 1914, the Nazis in the 1930s entrance, declare your wish to attend the and 1940s and Soviet Communism after the service, and be nodded through. second world war, Churchill’s judgment stood Andrew speaks in the Smoking Room far above” that of others.

When clubs ruled the world

uthor Dr Seth Alexander Thévoz British Victorian and Edwardian public came to the club to talk about life took place behind the closed doors of his first book, Club Government: the gentlemen’s clubs of St James’s. Some A Rev Roger Hall and the congregation How the Early Victorian World was Ruled would argue that elements of society are from London Clubs. Many modern histories still trying to punish us for this today. Seth refer to ‘club government’, which is the brought an analytical approach to this assumption that all the big decisions in subject, and concluded that clubland was, indeed, the seat of power in the land. By looking back over club archives as well as other sources, Seth Alexander is able to show the role played by London clubs immediately following the Reform Act. He points to the Reform and the more than to Whites and Boodles. He says that, although MPs were drawn to the more ‘political’ clubs, the great influence clubs had was as an enabler for the parliamentary process – ‘with their unique use of space, their sociability, their facilities, and their open access to whipping’ – was their greatest contribution to politics. All clubs, he says, are guilty of providing the smoke-filled

Seth Alexander (left) and library committee rooms that damage democracy but get The club’s gift: (left-right) Rev Roger Hall, Poppy chairman St John Brown things done. West and the secretary

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 13 Howard is an enthusiast: in his working life a property builder and developer, in his private

MEMBER PROFILE life, his passions include boats, classic cars and golf. A former president of EPICS, he is a keen member of Crocks and a fan of club life.

He is a keen but ‘social’ golfer. One of his Howard Seymour first acts moving to the East India Club with 100 or so Eccentric members was to join life spent working hard at work and the EPICS. “I joined every match that was working just as hard at having fun going,” he says. “It is terrific camaraderie and Amakes Howard Seymour one of the you meet people. I have got to know many greater club characters. Born and bred in members of other clubs through golf. I am Kingston-upon-Thames, Howard went to proud to have been president of EPICS for a Tiffin School, where rowing was his main number of years. sport. He rowed at Henley and Head of the “It’s about maintaining a friendly River. The young Howard did not show great atmosphere with a lovely group of people application in academic subjects, preferring who play wonderful courses. instead to build dinghies. “The headmaster “We play golf against the Bar. They are all suggested I follow a career in more practical Sir This and Judge That, and they call me Lord work, so I went on a five-year management Seymour of Winchester. What lovely people.” training scheme with building company Howard handed the EPICS presidency George Wimpey. I spent a lot of the 1960s to his old friend Graham Naisbitt. It was on site, mainly on London office buildings. Graham’s father, Arthur, who asked Howard I was at Centrepoint for a year working to join Crocks. Howard calls Crocks, the former as a surveyor on the foundations and lunch club, “a hugely convivial dodging the tube. I met the developer group”. He adds: “I came to the East India Club Harry Hyams. He was a god.” with two or three Eccentric Club friends after When Howard was 21 years-old, he the handover. We thought it was wonderful persuaded the owner of a small building and, apart from a lick of paint, it hasn’t altered company in Croydon to sell it to him. “I much. “I think the future at the club is great. didn’t have any money There is such a good mix of ages but I found myself, at 21, We thought and accessibility. You can go to the employing 30 people,” the club was bar and talk to anyone.” he says. “ wonderful and, One of Howard’s first friends Howard kept the at the East India Club was club company for five years apart from a lick president Micky Steele-Bodger, and gradually turned of paint, it hasn’t a friendship that has endured into a commercial altered these past 30 years, along with property developer. his son Chairman Duncan. “During the 1970s, I was a bit of a Howard’s current interest is classic cars wheeler-dealer, mainly building ”and, especially, international car rallies. He offices for Government departments drove 15,000 miles around South America. around the UK.” He bought a 1980s Ford Granada for £250 It allowed him to retire by the age of and drove it from London to Mongolia, via 40. By then, he was a member of the the ’stans’. “I found out that Granadas are Eccentric Club, had a house on the River not so good at fording rivers over boulders,” Beaulieu in Hampshire, and he decided he says. “But it was very comfortable and it to take a couple of years’ sabbatical. “Well, didn’t have a puncture.” you get a bit restless,” he says, and he soon He is a regular at the club’s own classic went back to work. “I have dabbled in property car day, though East & West would like to ever since. It pays for my days’ out!” apologise to Howard for mis-captioning his One property deal stands out for Howard: 1954 Bentley a Rolls Royce. He does have a “I bought a cinema and bingo hall near Rolls Royce. It is a 1920s 20hp model he calls Gatwick and I turned it into a Waitrose ‘Miss Daisy’ after his granddaughter. His car supermarket and office building.” collection also includes a 1988 Jaguar XJS Messing around in boats has long been convertible, a 1930s Singer Le Mans, a 1930s a passion. Howard sailed the Atlantic in boat-tail Austin 7, and a Series 1 Land Rover the 1990s. He now has a motorboat on the from 1955 which he has had for 50 years. Itchen which he cruises, he says, “from pub Daisy is one of five grandchildren he has to pub”. He also has a 1904 Dutch barge from his two sons, and he has three great which he and his partner use to cruise grandchildren. His partner of 20 years, Ann, peacefully round the canals of the Continent. also has two boys and two grandchildren. “It has three bedrooms and is currently in the “I am a very lucky man. I have a lovely Alsace,” he says. “We move it wherever we family, and a lot of friends. It’s what you want to go. It’s a home from home.” make of life,” he says.

14 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 WINE

The very thought of Spanish wine makes some members gloomy, and the possibility they may be asked to taste sweet sherry or Málaga is a real fear for some members. Imagine the delight of wine tasters when club sommelier Eric Lagré introduced them to the best Andalusian wines. OVERCOME YOUR FEARS by Eric Lagré, head sommelier Huelva, palomino in Cádiz and Pedro Ximénez in Córdoba. A range of styles is achieved by ast July, I decided to introduce our using two distinct maturation processes. members to Andalusia’s burgeoning Either the fortified wine is biologically aged L scene of new-wave wines: wines that under a veil of yeast growth that gradually put a modern twist on ancient traditions in turns it into a delicate manzanilla or fino the southernmost region of Spain. No sooner full of those aldehyde compounds that give had I started to set the scene than it dawned sherry its signature smell (reminiscent of on some of the attendees that Andalusia was glue stick to me – in an attractive way) or the the land of the acquired taste that are sherry wine is deliberately oxidised into a robust and and Málaga. They pulled faces. Happily, nutty oloroso. Gran Barquero’s fine example stylistically speaking, my selection was the of amontillado, which undergoes both ageing most varied to date. processes one after the other, reminded us Spain didn’t have much to offer beyond that even Montilla-Moriles, the poor cousin Swotting up at Eric Lagré’s Andalusian wine tasting cheap bulk wines in the 1950s. After the of sherry, can yield one of the great wines of death of Franco, the national wine industry the world too. sweet and dry, can be made from Moscatel. modernised and flew in consultants from Biological ageing saw the light of day in His sweet MR did indeed display plenty of abroad. If that foreign influence contributed Sanlúcar de Barrameda back in the late 18th grassy freshness and juicy fruit and none of to restoring quality, it somewhat stripped century as a primitive form of manzanilla was the confected Turkish-delight perfume one Spanish wines of their individuality. being developed, which wasn’t fortified. I usually associates with the cultivar. MR has Interestingly, people’s faces radiated with presented two contrasting examples of that nothing to do with Málaga as most people glee when I poured the wine by founding newly rediscovered style. know it, made from sunned grapes mixed father of Ronda Wines Juan Manuel Vetas, for Apart from the Pedro-Ximénez-based (or with a grape-juice reduction to syrup called it was a mature Bordeaux blend made with PX) wines used as sweetener in the making of arrope. I closed the evening with the rare Bordelaise savoir-faire… and club members Harvey’s Bristol Cream, the British favourite, tintilla de rota by El Gato, which, like PX and love a good claret. In contrast, they showed the ‘sherries’ of the Atlantic-influenced valley traditional Málaga, looks like black treacle. little enthusiasm for Finca La Melonera’s are always bone dry. Sweet wines are more of Tintilla is an indigenous black grape variety, MHV blend of obscure indigenous black grape a speciality of the mountainous province of yet the wine is not an expression of the varieties. Málaga on the Mediterranean. Málaga itself terroir of Andalusia. It is a catalogue of all Surprisingly enough, production is is made from white grapes too, including the techniques that were used in the ancient dominated by white grapes in Andalusia. The Pedro Ximénez but more specially moscatel. world to stabilise wine for trade around the sherries and sherry-like wines of the valley Nowadays, producers like Telmo Rodríguez Mediterranean. Tintilla de rota roots the of the Guadalquivir are made from zalema in show that refined, delicate wines, both region deep in 3,000 years of wine history.

via the different types of bread to fruit and A message from the Pigeon Loft cheese before making his choice. This task is made easier by all dishes being always by Alan Taylor for making the herring in tomato sauce go exactly in the same place. Even the little ometimes this pigeon lofter likes to further. If, when this happened, a message jars of honey are where they should be – in recall times in his life to rejoice that had come through the ‘early-warning the second row from the left. Sthey will never return. Certainly he system’ in time, we secretly slid the helping Back at ‘base’, his coffee and hot milk are has no longing for the breakfasts at school, into paper bags we had brought with us. there to greet him and his brown toast is which he entered in September 1946. The These were then buried near trees outside. seen weaving its way towards his table. sight of bare wooden tables with piles of It was rumoured that the trees later Appetite and thirst are soon satisfied, and white bread and margarine (mixed with suffered decay or even death as a result. he has time to look around him and then milk) did not tickle his taste-buds. Neither ‘Enough, no more!’. With relief the pigeon bury his head in his newspaper. He can did the tin plate full of porridge with lumps. lofter returns to the present. At breakfast concentrate on this because the hearty A neighbour sitting on the same wooden time in the club, he makes for the Dining laughter and conversation at dinner time form had a splendid idea for dealing Room with eagerness. He is given a warm have been modified into chuckles and with this. When he thought no-one was welcome and, if possible, staff lead him to quiet exchanges. watching, he slipped these lumps into his favourite table. Soon it is time to leave. In keeping with his mug of sugarless tea. Alas, this was Unfortunately, he has to resist ordering general practice, he greets other members observed and the lumps had to be scooped a hot dish (age takes its toll). Instead, he he knows warmly, but briefly. Longer out and swallowed. Any porridge left over makes for the buffet table. conversations are kept till later. Members from breakfast was later used at supper On arrival he eyes everything from cereal certainly know how to launch their day.

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 15 Between 6.45am and 1.30pm, five floors-worth of bedrooms are cleaned from top to bottom, STAFF PROFILE STAFF rigorously inspected and passed as fit for members to use. Part of that remarkable team is Norma Carrión Armijos. Here is what she does – and how you can make her job easier. STAFF PROFILE Norma Carrión Armijos

window is always a good place,” she says. From 8am, she starts knocking on doors to see if they are empty, so she can clean. “If I see people leaving rooms, I know I can clean them,” she says. “Reception also tells me who is checking out.” But members should not forget the importance of the ‘Room is free for servicing’ dangly card for door handles. “Some people use the card,” she says. “But some people accidentally use it the wrong way round so it says ‘Do not disturb’. Then I have to wait until 11am before I can knock on their door. “It would be more easy if people use the

If I see people leaving rooms, I know I can clean “ them. Reception also tells me who is checking out

card,” she says. Each room takes 35 minutes. The newly refurbished rooms take longer” to clean than the old rooms, because of the new showers. “After I do a room, Fay checks my work to see if it is OK. She is strict.” ow here’s a thought: you know those Norma works six days a week. She looks Norma comes from Loja, a city in southern dangly cards you can put on doors after all floors over the weekend and on Ecuador, not far from Peru. Her father is a N to say room is ‘free for servicing’ or Mondays. During the busier Tuesday-Friday joiner and carpenter and her mother works ‘do not disturb’? You would make Norma’s life stretch, she works only on the first and as a seamstress. She stayed in Loja until the easier if you left them showing ‘room is free second floors. age of 17, then moved to Spain to visit her for servicing’ when you left the room for the As members groggily awake – or perhaps brother for three months, who was studying day. Here’s her day’s work to explain why. they have been up for hours – it is Norma’s at Navarra University. She says she has Norma has worked as a chambermaid since job efficiently to deliver their early morning “many” brothers and sisters. Two sisters are 2004. She arrives at the club around 6.20am tea or coffee. But where to put it? Clothes currently in Spain, she has two in the UK to start her day at 6.45am. Her first job is and briefcases may be parked or draped and the rest are in Ecuador. Norma lives in to prepare everything for housekeeping, over available spaces. She sometimes has Lewisham and her two UK-based sisters live including the early morning coffee. carefully to make a space on the table. “The nearby. “After that, I came to London,” she says. “I was the last to come to London. And the East India Club was my first job.” Norma married in 2005. She has two Pensioners’ party sons, aged seven and 13. “My children understand Spanish, but they don’t speak ld faces came back to the club it,” she says. in the summer for the annual Her working day finishes at 1.30pm and O pensioners’ tea party. They gathered she either has lunch in the staff canteen or in the Waterloo Room to enjoy tea and she goes home to pick up her children when sandwiches, and included former maitre d’ they come out of school at 3.20pm. James Dempsey, and the much-missed Ofelia What Norma most enjoys about her job is Santos and Laurie McCluskey. At the same working with Fay and the other housekeeping time, the chairman presented long-service staff. “I like the same faces,” she says. “I like awards to Eric Lagré (10 years) and Jaleel the ‘good mornings’ and the ‘goodbyes’.The (Paul) Sheikh (20 years). Club retirees and long-service awards members here are nice people.”

16 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 A WORD FROM THE SECRETARY SECRETARY by Alex Bray

eflecting on charged for any consumption over our Managerially, assistant secretary Tim Wilks the sounds allocation from the sub-station. It has and my assistant Claire have put in the R of summer, therefore been important to control hard yards with the contractor to review, one of them is the the most power-hungry element of the refine and test the content. I look forward cry of the property bedrooms, which is the air-conditioning. As to reporting on features once we have committee, and the the units work from the moment you turn launched. finance committee them on, they do not need to be left on It is farewell and thank you to banqueting for that matter: “Are while you are out of your room. and bars manager Joe O’Farrell who is we there yet?” The By installing a single control point as leaving at the end of the year after nearly reason? These committees have so far part of the refurbishment, the room key 30 years’ service. Profiled in December overseen the upgrade of 37 single rooms activates all of the room’s power apart 1996’s East & West when he took over as over the last five years. from the power socket in the safe. That banqueting supervisor, Joe has decided to We have six rooms still to complete, socket is on a separate circuit to allow you carry on with life from his home in Spain. which are earmarked for the first part of to recharge your devices when you are out Joe has brought great stability to the role. 2019. The works have included a thorough with your room key. He has been a character around the club and refurbishment of the single rooms, with In the future, we will replace air- members enjoy his cheeky sense of humour. improving electrics, chasing-in wiring and conditioning units with the latest power- Calm under pressure, his knowledge of upgrading the bathrooms. We have adapted efficient versions when the opportunity members’ events, Twickenham coaches and to the quirks of the different bedroom arises. The twin effort of key control and members’ preferences in the bar has been layouts and worked within agreed budgets updating air-conditioning should reduce an asset to the club’s management and will with the support of a cost-conscious design consumption of electricity over time. be hard to replace. There have been many company, which helped with procurement. All being well, by the time you read this, appreciative letters from members for the An excellent firm of builders has now we will have launched a refreshed website arrangements and service from Joe and worked on a number of areas of the with more fluidity and features, and under- his team over the years. He goes with our clubhouse over the years. the-bonnet improvements as the IT industry gratitude for a job well done. Cost of energy is an ongoing issue, calls it. Mr Jacoby has led the initiative Wishing one and all a most enjoyable especially with premium tariffs being with input from fellow committeemen. Christmas and new year.

East India Club Wine Order Form

ORDER THESE WINES FROM OUR WINE ORDER THESE WINES 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 Wine per case of 12 bottles India Club wines in a Club Champagne / £155 for 6 Please order online or by phone presentation Club white / £144 Davy’s Wine Merchants, box – Club white Burgundy / £174 club claret, 161-165 Greenwich High Road, club white Club red (de Ciffre) / £144 Greenwich, London, SE10 8JA and Club claret / £139 Tel: 020 8858 6011 club white Fax: 020 8853 3331 Burgundy. £43 Email: [email protected] All prices include VAT Website: www.davywine.co.uk/eic

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 17 A foreign posting gives one young Royal Navy officer a chance a fitness centre and a dining facility. On arrival, I was greeted by a friendly and RECIPROCAL CLUB RECIPROCAL to sample a reciprocal club in the USA, and it is superb. welcoming reception team in the main club house, and the administration of registering as a temporary member took a matter of THE NORFOLK YACHT minutes. I took this opportunity to explore the large main house which includes a ballroom, two dining rooms, two conference rooms, AND COUNTRY CLUB several well-appointed lounges, and direct access on to the river and the club’s private by SLt Ollie Pelendrides joint strike fighter, the aircraft set to become mooring facilities. The main house also the mainstay of the RN’s carrier strike group. boasts a number of bungalow-style rooms n late June 2018, I passed the modern While taking some much-needed shore leave for the use of the club’s members and guests. equivalent of my examinations for I decided to take advantage of our reciprocal On visiting the dining facilities across the I lieutenant and received my navigational arrangement with the Norfolk Yacht and gardens, I found a casual bar and dining room, watch certificate, qualifying as an officer Country Club. the latter featuring floor to ceiling windows of the watch for the Royal Navy. I was also The club is built on the banks of the making the most of the glorious views over honoured with assignment to HMS Queen Lafayette River, with views over the tranquil the Lafayette River bathed gold in the final Elizabeth, the first of the RN’s new ‘super river and on towards the main civilian port. A rays of a September sun. carriers’, in time for her maiden deployment to major highway runs beside one edge of the I took luncheon in the casual dining room the eastern seaboard of the United States. club but is well hidden by the established and was given an impressive seafood menu and varied wine list of both new and old- world wines. Being such a welcoming club, they had kindly allowed three of my fellow officers from the Queen Elizabeth to join me in my use of the facilities. We dined well on king scallops, fish soup and various local catches, accompanied by a refreshing riesling. After our hearty luncheon we retired to the fitness centre which includes one indoor and two outdoor pools, a full gym and pleasant terrace with attached bar. We proceeded to spend the remainder of our afternoon swimming and lounging by the pool. The four of us agreed that this had been one of the most relaxing days of our deployment thus far. The Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, Norfolk, VA A beautifully situated club, with welcoming staff and fine facilities, I would recommend During early September, HMS Queen trees and hedges of the club’s small but that anyone travelling within Virginia take Elizabeth visited Norfolk Naval Station to on pleasant gardens. The site is made up of full advantage of our arrangement with the load the trials team for the F-35B Lightning three principle buildings; the main club house, Norfolk Yacht and Country Club.

PORT Wheelchair DELIVERY Christmas bonus rugby Wine for a week

he club is selling some of its vintage he ‘Worlds’ takes place every four port. We have more than we are years and bring together the top T likely to drink in the medium term. T 12 teams across the globe. It is Therefore, members are offered the following one of the three blue riband events of the ready to drink Symington Family Estates wheelchair rugby calendar, the others Vintage Port from the club cellar which is being the Paralympic Games and the World surplus to requirements. Prices per case Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, held alongside of 12 (per bottle): 1997 Gould Campbell the Rugby World Cup. The 2018 semi-final £414 (£34.50); 1997 Quarles Harris £402 against Australia was probably the best (£33.50); 1997 Smith Woodhouse £390 performance from a GB team in recent times. (£32.50); 2000 Quarles Harris £426 Australia managed to narrowly edge into the (£35.50); 2000 Smith Woodhouse £390 final against Japan. (£32.50). The port is priced per bottle for Submitted by honorary member David off-sale only. Please contact the American Pond, CEO of GBWR Snapped by a delighted member: a week’s supply Bar or the accounts office. of wine arrives at the club

18 EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 New members JND Gray Esq JJ Meyer Esq N Regan Esq NEW MEMBERS The club welcomes the following: JF Hartshorne Esq M Patel Esq RJ Sargent Esq H Ho Esq Dr UB Patel LJ Seward Esq A Babadi Esq GA Cathcart Esq AS Hughes Esq CH Pitts-Tucker Esq AJE Stratton-Christensen SR Baker Esq SB Chatterjee Esq M Iurza Esq D Raithatha Esq Esq AC Bloomberg Esq PN Elkington Esq JD Karas Esq M Rakhmatov Esq TJB Strong Esq DT Butcher Esq His Honour Judge Eyre QC AF Kilby Esq DSA Ray-Hill Esq LJM Wright Esq MC Camacho Esq NP Graham Esq Dr JR Lewis DA Reed Esq DCN Yates Esq New J7 members The club welcomes the following:

Ampleforth College THH Lo Esq SCJ Thomas Esq W Hawksworth Esq KD Shirvani Esq TM Eyston Esq O McNamara Esq RWO Hutchings Esq JSH Jaffa Esq LGS Wright Esq HCJ Wong Esq Bancroft’s School Merchiston Castle School Sherborne School Wrekin College R Samanta Esq Eltham College J Johnson Esq HS Fisher Esq JA Davis Esq G Seymour Esq MA Hoevelhaus Esq Bedford Modern School Mill Hill School C Liebers Esq Emanuel School O Miles Esq CH Cowen Esq Shiplake College T Hallam Esq Bedford School Deceased R Stevens Esq Eton College Millfield School TW Ursell Esq WHB Connell Esq Shrewsbury School It is with regret we announce Birkenhead School LJ Oades Esq J Malyon Esq the deaths of the following JI Mitchell Esq J Olszowski Esq Monkton Combe School CL Shaw Esq members: M Palazzo Esq ABDD Webb Esq EHG Warner Esq ND Chapman Esq (joined 1992) R Taylor Esq Bradfield College A Ward Esq DD Fullarton Esq (joined 1985) HJ Bird Esq Nottingham High School St Albans School CTC Hind Esq ZD Mills Esq Mrs M Hatch (joined 1968) Charterhouse Fettes College DS Ross Esq JA Read Esq (joined 2000) I Sheikh Esq HRD Mclean Esq Pocklington School MJW Rogers Esq (joined 1991) GET Cole Esq St Paul’s School Cheltenham College Haberdashers’ Aske’s SU Hasan Esq NG Wall Esq (joined 1988) O Giuseppetti Esq Boys’ CL Low Esq AJ Banarsee Esq Portsmouth Grammar J Webb Esq M Lee Esq School Stonyhurst College TJF Ross Esq E Harriss Esq Colfe’s School Haileybury Gone away MC Arawwawala Esq J Lever Esq Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital Tonbridge School HI Brooks Esq CS McCabe Esq EP Piska Esq OJ Bee Esq The club has lost touch with E Le Gassick Esq M Negodyuk Esq TJC Dingle Esq the following: CT Thompson-Copsey Esq Radley College TA Pollington Esq T Walker Esq Hampton School HG Day Esq H Blackett Esq CPG Lindqvist Esq Cranleigh School Victoria College WHG David Esq JPF Subba Row Esq Harrow School Reigate Grammar School CJ Wilding Esq PD Jones Esq J Bird Esq B Adey Esq H Brown Esq Culford School RG Robinson Esq EPC George Esq Warwick School M Meile Esq CM Schofield Esq SC Varma Esq JJ Chapman Esq GA Terry Esq H Yu Esq WGW Niemeyer Esq Royal Grammar School Downside School Ipswich School Guildford Wellington College A Patenge Esq PS Camprubi Royle Esq TEC Barrett Esq T Bains Esq Berkshire WJH Klintworth Esq STJ Parfitt Esq PAM Poitrinal D’Hauterives Esq

Dulwich College King’s College School C Sathirathaya Esq LGWW Downham Esq Wimbledon Rugby School Winchester College D Harindiran Esq AD Ng Esq E Hawksworth Esq HE Chapman Esq SF Sheikh Esq

The photograph of last year’s club committee in the last issue of East & West accidentally omitted Henry Morris, who served on the committee for 15 years. We apologise for this error. For the record, here is the picture again. Pictured (left-right) are Henry Morris, Ian Barton, Charlie Jacoby, Alex Bray, Alasdair Shaikh, Richard Robinson, St John Brown, Sir Michael Griffiths, Simon Collins, Matthew Ebsworth, Neil Edwards, Adrian Steger, Duncan Steele-Bodger, Carl Statham, Patrick Storey, Joss Bassett and Ken Morgan.

EAST & WEST – CHRISTMAS 2018 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 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 find out about them. Let us have your Glasgow Western Club EUROPE ] views on your visits and tell us if you Guernsey United Club have found other clubs with whom we Barcelona Círculo Ecuestre Henley on Thames Phyllis Court Club Isle of Wight Royal London Yacht Club, Cowes should enter into reciprocal Bilbao Sociedad Bilbaina arrangements or if one of these, in Liverpool ] Athenaeum Club Brussels ] Cercle Royal Gaulois your opinion, is no longer suitable. London ] Dublin Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club ] ]] Hurlingham Club (membership card and Frankfurt Union International Club photo ID is essential )

AFRICA Gothenburg ] Royal Bachelors’ Club Newcastle Northern Counties Club upon Tyne SOUTH AFRICA The Hague ] Nieuwe of Literaire Societeit Perth Royal Perth Golfing Durban Durban Club de Witte Society & County and City Club

Johannesburg Country Club of Hamburg ] Anglo-German Club USA Albany, NY Fort Orange Club Johannesburg Helsinki ] Svenska Klubben Berkeley, CA Berkeley City Club Rand Club Luxembourg ] Cercle Munster Boston, MA Harvard Club Pietermaritzburg Victoria Country Club Madrid ] Financiero Génova Union Club Polokwane Pietersburg Club ] Real Sociedad Española Bethesda, MD Kenwood Golf & Country Club Club de Campo Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth St George’s Club Cincinnati, OH Queen City Club Oporto Oporto Cricket & Lawn Chicago, IL Standard Club KENYA Club Union League Club University Club of Chicago Nairobi Muthaiga Country Club Paris ] Cercle de l’Union Interalliée Detroit, IL Athletic Club ZIMBABWE Los Angeles, CA Riviera Country Club Bulawayo Bulawayo Club Stockholm ] Sällskapet Mountain Lake, FL Mountain Lake

Harare ] Country Club Osterville, MA Wianno Club HONG KONG (open May-Nov) Harare Club Hong Kong ] Hong Kong Club Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Club AUSTRALIA ] Hong Kong Cricket Club New York, NY Princeton Club Lotos Club Adelaide Adelaide Club INDIA Metropolitan Club Naval, Military and Air Force Union League Club Calcutta Tollygunge Club Club of Adelaide Norfolk, VA Norfolk Yacht Mumbai Royal Bombay Yacht Club & Country Club Public Schools’ Club Golden Swan Philadelphia, PA Union League Club Brisbane Queensland Club Phoenix, AZ ] University Club JAPAN Tattersall’s Club San Francisco, CA Marines’ Memorial Association University Club Canberra Commonwealth Club Tokyo Tokyo American Club St Louis, MO ] Racquet Club Hobart Tasmanian Club MIDDLE EAST Seattle, WA Rainier Club Launceston Launceston Club Bahrain ] British Club Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Club Melbourne Athenaeum Club Dubai Capital Club Washington DC Army & Navy Club Cosmos Club Australian Club NEW ZEALAND University Club Melbourne Club Auckland Northern Club ] Accommodation not available Royal Automobile Club ]] Sports facilities not available Newcastle Newcastle Club Christchurch Canterbury Club

Perth Weld Club Christchurch Club Members are reminded that the production of a current membership card and photo ID is essential Sydney Australian Club Dunedin Dunedin Club when visiting . Our reciprocal clubs Napier Hawke’s Bay Club Union, University & usually require an introductory card which may be Schools’ Club Wellington Wellington Club obtained from the secretary’s office.