Issue number 95 Summer 2016

BRAVO YORKER BAKERS ZULU EASY The East India GIFT SUGGESTIONS FROM TUMBLERS THE SECRETARY’S OFFICE Decanter directory £75 The ATTIRE 16 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LH Club ties Telephone: 020 7930 1000 Silk woven tie in club Fax: 020 7321 0217 colours. £20 Cut glass tumbler Email: [email protected] Engraved with club Web: www.eastindiaclub.co.uk crest. £30 DINING ROOM Breakfast BOOKS & CDs Monday to Friday 6.45am-10am Saturday 7.15am-10am The East India Club Sunday 8am-10am – A History Lunch by Charlie Jacoby. Monday to Friday 12.30pm-2.30pm An up-to-date look at Sunday (buffet) 12.30pm-2.30pm Scarf the characters who have (pianist until 4pm) £17 Club bow ties made up the East India Tie your own and, Club. £10 Saturday sandwich menu available for emergencies, Dinner clip on. £20 Club polo Monday to Saturday 6.30pm-9.30pm In red or black, Sundays (light supper) 6.30pm-8.30pm L, XL, XXL. £25 Table reservations should be made with the Front Desk or the Dining Room and will only be held for 15 minutes after the booked time. Hatband AMERICAN BAR £15 Club V-neck Monday to Friday 11.30am-11pm Lambswool in burgundy, Saturday 11.30am-3pm L, XL, XXL. £55 & 5.30pm-11pm Sunday noon-4pm & 6.30pm-10pm Cufflinks The Gentlemen’s Members resident at the club can obtain drinks from Enamelled cufflinks the hall porter after the bar has closed. with club crest, Clubs of London chain or bar. £24.50 New edition of EAST INDIA ROOM Anthony Lejeune’s Monday to Friday. Light food and wine menu. Use of classic. £28 electronic devices on silent is permissible.

SMOKING ROOM & WATERLOO ROOM OTHER ITEMS Drinks and light menu from 9am to 10.30pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. Mug BILLIARDS ROOM £14 Open to members from 9am to midnight. Pass keys will not be issued after 11pm. Chocolate mint GYMNASIUM creams £8 Open to members from 6am to 10pm. Club blazers Club shield Suitable attire must be worn. £315/£345 (navy) £345 (sports) £35 BEDROOM CHARGE Includes early morning tea, newspaper, English Club waistcoats breakfast, discretionary £5 per person per night £160 contribution to the staff fund, and VAT. All bed- Golf balls rooms are non smoking. Titleist golf balls. Bearing club crest. £29 per dozen Members Napkin Single with bathroom £115 (£71*) hook Single with shower £96 (£61*) £40 Golf tees Single without facilities £79 (£52*) Tin of 50 ‘personalised’ Double or twin room for single occupancy £149 Double or twin room for double occupancy £171 East India golf tees. £7.75 St James’s Suite £277

Reciprocal members & guests Blazer buttons Single with bathroom £145 (£91*) Golf umbrellas Double breasted. Single with shower £126 (£81*) Made in club Double or twin room for single occupancy £174 £45 colours of silver, Double or twin room for double occupancy £201 Single breasted. £30 blue and red. £17 St James’s Suite £307 Club print * Special rate on Friday, Saturday, Sunday A picture of the Post and packing for non-breakables from and bank holidays clubhouse on a £3. Breakable items are for collection typical London MEMBERSHIP CARDS from the club instead of posting. early evening. Members are required to carry their membership cards at all times when visiting the club, and 52.5cm by CLUB WINE: present them on arrival. It is essential that they are 40cm. See page 17 for details produced when signing for charges to accounts. £61.50

2 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 Leather meets willow meets the boundary meets applause as Club diary... the club wins the Turnbull Cup. It is one of the highlights of a

happy summer of club events, from toasts to HM The Queen on CHAIRMAN’S REPORT August 29 Bank holiday her 90th birthday in the gardens to an excellent gin tasting

September 19 Lord Mayor’s luncheon CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 29 Grouse dinner

October he ball eased over the boundary as & Out took the microphone to introduce the 2 Harvest festival and lunch smoothly as a glass of club claret toast, led by all three chairmen, to HM The 29 Classic cars T and – yes! The East India Queen on the official celebration of her 90th 19 Trafalgar lecture and dinner Club had beaten the Chobham President’s birthday. I could not resist letting John know XI by six wickets with seven overs to spare of my own appointment as Admiral of the November and so claim the Turnbull cup for the first East India Yacht Squadron! The buffet supper 3 House dinner and conversation back in our own Smoking 9 Library lecture and dinner Room was full of the buzz of the famous 11 Rugby lunch East India Club warmth and hospitality. I also 16 Port tasting was struck on that most pleasant summer evening how magnificent the garden looks. It December was particularly good to have the gardeners 2 Rugby lunch themselves present. I am sure you will join 7 Christmas party me in expressing to them and to the St 8 Carol concert and dinner James’s Square Trust our appreciation of their 11 Advent carols achievements. My late father’s birthday was on 23 June. He had a successful career in the Royal Air The chairman presents Chris Douse, captain of the Force and this year he would have been August bank holiday winning East India Club team, with the Turnbull Bars and catering are closed after cup. Organiser Duncan Steele-Bodger looks on 101. I always think of him with gratitude breakfast on Sunday 28 August on his birthday. On this 23 June I cannot of and reopen on Tuesday 30 August. time in three attempts. The augurs were course avoid mention of the EU referendum, Accommodation and continental already set fair when the East India Club which has forced its way into all our lives. As breakfast remain available. bowling attack took the first three Chobham predicted the result was indeed very close and wickets for no runs in the first over of the day. thus I can assume that East India members are Congratulations to Chris Douse and his team. to be found on both sides of the debate with Christmas Once again we had a fine lunch and a great their customary commitment and passion. The club closes after lunch on Friday day out at Chobham and this fitting memorial For my part I found the debate itself hard to 23 December 2016 and reopens at to former chairman David Turnbull is firmly listen to and I am glad it is over. It is up to us 9am on Tuesday 3 January 2017. established in our calendar. now in the best East India Club tradition to The cloakroom and day lockers will David, who was an accomplished Jazz mend the divisions and seek the most positive be cleared of left items. pianist, would also have enjoyed our evening outcomes for the future. at the start of the weekend. The Spike Wells We are just past midsummer’s day and it is Trio provided two sets of top quality jazz for a the height of the season. It seems to me this sophisticated and appreciative audience in the summer is more lush and green than ever. Smoking Room, reorganised The fishing is going well for me into jazz club layout for and I am building up a stock of I am resolved to the purpose. This informal excellent smoked trout – it goes atmosphere, excellent cottage continue with my down well with club Burgundy. pie and the free-fowing balanced diet: a glass Shortly, we shall have the East & West wine and the immaculate in each hand highlight of the Jazz Barbecue classic jazz from Spike and the“ in the Square (weather gods Editor: Charlie Jacoby permitting) and I am looking 07850 195353 [email protected] trio made a very successful evening. I particularly enjoyed a lovely number forward to the trip to the battlefields the Designer: Chris Haddon 01279 422219 [email protected] entitled Gabriel’s Oboe and the rousing finale following week. This July marks the 100th year Photography: Phil McCarthy. To view, download of the second set was a jazz setting of a hymn since” the battle of the Somme. The dark days or order photography, login to the members’ - I am sure it will encourage us to have some from June to November 1916 serve to remind area of EastIndiaClub.com and select event more jazz evenings in future. us that we have much to enjoy at present in photography The summer party was I think better than what Churchill would describe as ‘the sunlit Sub-editor: Cicely Drewe ever. The reception in the Square had a special uplands’. So I wish everyone all the best for 3 Printed by: Colour (ColourCubed.co.uk) atmosphere, helped by the Champagne and the remainder of the summer whether fishing, Published on behalf of The East India Club by some fine canapés. The In & Out, the Rag and sailing, playing, watching or just relaxing in Charlie Jacoby, c/o The East India Club www.charliejacoby.com the East India have successfully established the shade. I am resolved to continue with my Cover photo: the tri clubs summer reception a tradition of coming together for this balanced diet: a glass in each hand. event. Vice Admiral John McAnally of the In Iain Wolsey, chairman

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 3 NEWS From steamy evenings in the Smoking Room listening to jazz The open road to hot trips across South Africa in search of heroism, the club has offered a feast of events for members to enjoy in 2016. The rest of the year looks just as good Motoring section

he motoring section will hold its And all that jazz popular classic car day in October. T Set for Saturday 29 October, it he Spike Wells Trio played a top Tubby Hayes Quartet. He has since worked will include a rally in St James’s Square quality evening of jazz to an with Ronnie Scott, Humphrey Lyttleton, and dinner. No need for you to own a car T enthusiastic audience of members. Peter King, Stan Getz and many other British to attend. Last year’s event saw some While sharing a study at school the chairman and American stars. Spike was joined by wonderful vehicles collect in the Square. and Spike discovered a love of jazz. Spike Mark Edwards on piano and Chris Laurence In July, members in the section became a drummer and went on to join the on double bass. attended the Shelsley Walsh hill-climb in Worcestershire, the oldest operational motorsport venue, and they enjoyed the Pendragon enclosure by the start line with a free bar. Please contact the secretary for more about motoring section activities.

Last year’s gathering in the Square The Spike Wells Trio in the Smoking Room

Zulu Wars Rorke’s Drift

by Christian Schaffalitzky

select group of Eastindiamen, Christopher Lynas, Chad Murrin and AChristian Schaffalitzky, accompanied by wives Sharon M and Geraldine S, took part Overlooking Isandlwana battlefield in the club Battlefield Tour in South Africa. Our guide was the excellent Rob Caskie. powerful reading of ‘Drummer Hodge’ by He is a brilliant guide – the battlefield visits Thomas Hardy. The group at Three Hill Lodge. Back row were highly informative and brought to The hospitality and accommodation (left-right) Chad Murrin, Rob Caskie and Chris life by his expert knowledge and evocative at the two lodges we stayed in were Lynas. Front row: Sharon Murrin, Geraldine Schaffalitzky and Christian Schaffalitzky storytelling. He looked after us extremely wonderful. In addition, both Fugitive’s well throughout and could not have done Drift and Three Tree Hill provided walking more to make the tour a success. We visited and driving game excursions, where we and explored Isandlwana, Fugitive’s Drift got up close to the African wildlife. and Rorke’s Drift of the Zulu Wars, then As good Eastindiamen and women, the Ladysmith and Spionkop of the Boer Wars. company was great and Rob was not just What was especially striking was the vivid a guide but also a sociable companion. and moving way Rob presented the heroism If the club were minded to arrange a and sacrifice from both sides of the conficts. similar tour again, we would thoroughly Chad caught the mood at Spionkop with a recommend it to other members. Zulu memorial at Isandlwana

4 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 NEWS The club’s sporting sections are maturing nicely. The cricket Sports shorts section’s win at Chobham is a marker, and other sections are thriving just as well, with new ones appearing on the Rowing noticeboard all the time he rowing section competed in this year’s . It Turnbull triumph acclaim T qualified for the Ladies’ Challenge Plate (for men’s VIIIs below international ongratulations to our cricket team level) in a combined crew with Martyrs who beat Chobham in an exciting Boat Club, the old boys’ boat club for St C game to win the Turnbull Cup. Held Edward’s School, Oxford. It was a brave in memory of former club chairman David try. In the end, Amsterdamsche Studenten Turnbull, who was an enthusiastic supporter Roeivereeniging Nereus from Holland of Chobham Cricket Club too, the East India beat the East India Club and Martyrs Boat Cricket Club beat the Chobham President’s XI Club by three lengths. by six wickets with seven overs to spare. The club took three wickets for no runs in the first over. Organised by Duncan Steele-Bodger, this The action on the pitch and (below) Alex Langley Rugby is the third time the match has been played enjoying it and the club’s first win. he club’s rugby section will be back in action in the autumn, as T will Matthew Ebsworth’s popular rugby lunches, held the day before England’s matches and attended by both players and rugby enthusiasts. The club also has ballot forms available for the autumn internationals at Twickenham Stadium. All kick-offs at 2.30pm: l 12 November England v South Africa l 19 November England v Fiji l 26 November England v Argentina l 3 December England v Australia Please contact the membership secretary for the ballot forms The pavilion reacts to the final wicket

from left) Gavin and James Hamilton-Deeley, combe. Among shooting opportunites for SHOOTING Jim Lyon, Dr Peter Lilius, William Downie, Paul the section this season, member Adrian Cameron-Taylor, Nick Kerr and Max Taylor, Steger has a 200-bird day available on by William Downie all of whom agreed the occasion was well a family shoot/private syndicate just organised and thoroughly enjoyable and north of Brecon in Wales on 12 November. embers of the shooting section should be regular event on the club calendar. Mostly pheasant, some duck and a few enjoyed an outing in May to West With the shooting season approaching, partridge, it offers varied drives, several of M London Shooting School to try out members’ thoughts are turning to moor and them high, with stonkers. £37.50 per bird, Purdey’s range of shotguns. nine guns, includes lunch and tea. The event was held during the morning in exceptionally good weather and commenced with coffee and tea and a brief introduction by Stephen Murray from Purdey on the history and development of their shotguns. Members were then invited to use a range of Purdey side-by-side, hammer and over-and- under shotguns on the clayground including the new Sporter, both in 12-bore and 20- bore. These were much admired by all who pulled the trigger. The morning’s outside activities concluded The club’s team at the inter-club shoot at with a ‘fush’ for teams of four and then Holland & Holland Shooting Ground, at which all adjourned for a splendid lunch before they admit they ‘could have done better’, Club shooters in front of a mound of cartridges following a jammed gun. They are (left-right): departing for the holiday weekend. The at West London Shooting School (not all of them Alex James (captain), Chris Taylor, Robert members attending were (pictured right, their own) Bryant-Pearson, Andrew Harting

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 5 At the AGM, held in May, the chairman, Iain Wolsey, expressed his pleasure with the club’s progress. He made the case for continuing investment in the clubhouse, for changing the way the staff fund collects money and for constitutional reform to bring the club’s articles of association and bylaws up to date. These were last reviewed almost half a century ago ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL

St James’s Square. It was a great success and EAST INDIA CLUB ANNUAL we are very proud to have been part of such a significant event. Our particular thanks go to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal for GENERAL MEETING making it very special and for unveiling the commemorative plaque, which you can see on am pleased to report a highly successful I should point out that the committee has the front of the building as a lasting reminder. year for the club. The results reported by decided rightly to implement the London Congratulations also to the Waterloo 200 and I the committee show a return to our more living wage in full from the beginning of the New Waterloo Dispatch organisations normal healthy pattern. The overall revenue 2016 and this will create a further rise in for their tireless efforts and a particular of the club grew 3.7% to £6.17 million and staff costs of 4.9% above the level covered thank you to our secretary Alex Bray and his this gave us an improvement in gross profit by the increase in subscriptions. Inevitably team for their significant contribution to the of 3.6% to £4.94 million. This has enabled us this will require some additional increase in success after a long period of hard work and to continue to offer the excellent value in the subscriptions next year, but again we will hold detailed planning. bar and Dining Room despite some increases to our policy of keeping the increase to the The club’s regular social events were in costs, to invest £314,000 in completing an minimum. As reported last year, this level of also extremely popular and were largely extensive programme of refurbishment to the membership is regarded by the committee as sold out. The sporting activities also bore club’s principal rooms, to continue to reward close to the maximum we can handle without witness to the enthusiasm and excitement our excellent staff appropriately, and to create placing a noticeable strain on the availability the club creates. The yacht squadron, of an operating surplus of £487,000 prior to of bedroom accommodation and Dining Room which I am very proud to have been elected exceptional items and modernisation costs, space, and we continue to monitor that. Admiral (“hear, hear” – laughter) – I am still so a good performance and thanks to the There were yet again many great events campaigning for a big hat (laughter) – played management team. in the year – Burns Night, gourmet dinner, a unique role in the Waterloo weekend by The club has continued to live up to its rugby lunches, jazz barbecue, Lord Mayor escorting the despatch across the channel reputation as the most friendly in London Alan Yarrow at the annual lunch, Jim Neilly and ensuring the safe passage of The and has been ever more popular. Membership at the house dinner and a spectacular Royal Navy. I am sure they would not have had increased to 5,412 by the end of the Christmas season of events, to mention made it without our yacht squadron. We year. The increase in membership has been only a few. The St George’s Day dinner had have also enjoyed a first-class programme in the number of full town members and a traditional theme this year and thanks to of library lectures, including an excellent country members, as well as J7 members, John Barclay in particular for his inspiring and evening celebrating the 600th anniversary who continue to account for over 37% of enthusiastic contribution. of Agincourt, which I did not want to omit, the total, bringing the youth and vitality to The social and sporting events of the past another turning point in our history. The the club, which we value highly and of which year were even better supported by members ability to arrange such events, and the we are justly proud. Subscription income has and their guests. The highlight of the year continued high usage of the club facilities, therefore been strong and the club has been was undoubtedly the commemorative events are indicative of the continued health and able to continue the policy of keeping the of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of wellbeing of your club. increase in subscription rates to a minimum Waterloo (it seems a long time ago now) and Occupancy rates have continued to grow, despite the increase in staff costs. However, the delivery of the Waterloo despatch to 16 rising from 76.7% to 77%, refecting the value

The chairman addresses members at the AGM, held in the Smoking Room

6 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 the club’s accommodation offers to members The committee continues to aim for a level and their guests. Our club breakfast continues of surplus that enables the club to maintain to be unsurpassed and I know is a much and improve its infrastructure to the highest sought-after treat. I, of course, never miss one standard for the benefit of both current and if I can avoid it, as you can see. Gross margins future members. This year we have carried on food are up 1.3 percentage points, and out major projects of refurbishment to the 5th GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL drink, little changed from the previous year, foor middle block bedrooms, the main Dining demonstrate good housekeeping despite the Room and the Smoking Room, which has inexorable rise in costs. The skill and good brought all the main public rooms up to their management of our staff have enabled us to best standard, and the redecoration of the maintain the excellent standards you have lower half of the club’s façade is presenting come to expect from the club. Top quality our best face to the outside world. I think you food under the leadership of our chef, Mark will agree the club is looking really good at Leach; great service, led by our new maître the moment, and we would like to keep it so. d’, Peter Vasilev, who has maintained the There is still a programme of work needed unique ambience in the Dining Room; exciting on bedrooms and to improve the all-day dinners, events, parties, receptions, and low service offer which we want to achieve in the prices for our leading beers, wines and spirits, East India Room. The committee believes it all continue to be enjoyed to the full, and we is appropriate for a transfer of £374,000 to do not propose making any changes to that. be made to the modernisation reserve for I want to make particular mention this refurbishment projects that will be initiated year of the steps the committee has taken over the next two years. This transfer will put to improve the standards of governance the reserve at £1.53 million. and financial management. Thanks to the A revaluation of the club’s premises has leadership of deputy chairman, Richard been carried out in accordance with the Robinson, who is the senior partner in his new Financial Reporting Standard, and as own accounting firm, the finance committee a consequence the auditor’s report is no is now fully effective and, working closely longer qualified in that regard, or at all. The with the management accounts team under valuation of the premises is as a gentlemen’s David Selfe and supported by our statutory club, not as a building site or a piece of asset auditor Buzzacott LLP, ensuring that we in the West End, and under the new rules meet the applicable regulatory standards we will not be required to undertake regular and requirements for good management revaluations solely for accounting purposes. It to be found in the Companies Acts of the is a one-off situation. UK Corporate Governance Code. That is a The club is continuing to pursue the necessary good achievement. complaint against the Royal Bank of Scotland One of our key areas of expenditure is, of in respect of the defalcations which were course, on the clubhouse itself, and this is refected and fully provided for in the handled through our property committee. accounts for 2013. At the time of writing this I paid tribute at the last AGM to the work matter has at last been escalated within the Roger Raishbrook has done over many years bank’s system for resolution of disputes, and of leading the property committee, and I am we are now dealing directly with the RBS pleased to announce that Ken Morgan, a legal department. This is necessarily a slow member of the committee and a professional process, but, while ensuring that we do not property man himself, has now taken on this throw good money after bad, the committee task and is leading the property committee. will not let the matter rest until the bank has During the year we completed the purchase accepted an appropriate level of responsibility of 46 Old Gloucester Street, the premises in the context of what occurred. We have immediately adjacent to our existing staff now got the bank’s attention, but I cannot house, for £2.55 million, supported by a loan say much more at this stage and I am anxious from HSBC. Not long after we completed the not to give away in a public statement purchase the club leased these premises to a anything that would give advantage to the third party tenant for a minimum of two years bank; they do not deserve any advantage. on a basis that will cover the majority of the Suffice it to say that the behaviour of the cost of servicing the loan. We also, of course, bank in this matter has fallen woefully short get some revenue from the staff house itself, of the standard I would expect from a major so the total of the two more than covers our institution of our country. costs. In the longer term we will be able to During the year the committee established decide either to continue to let the premises a sub-committee under the chairmanship of or, at an appropriate time, to use the two committee member Alasdair Shaikh to review properties together to provide additional staff our constitution – the articles of association, accommodation and/or accommodation for rules and bylaws – with a brief not to change members and reciprocal members, which will us in any fundamental way but to bring us New committee members, from top: Jocelyn Bassett, Sir Mike Griffiths, Carl Statham and alleviate the pressure on the accommodation up to date in both regulatory and operational Adrian Steger. Simon Collins and Patrick Storey in the clubhouse. terms. These documents were last reviewed were re-elected

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 7 fully in the 1970s at the time of the merger memories of his cheerful and loyal service and back at the next AGM, having modified or between the then East India & Sports Club and have cause to thank him, in some cases for continued, but it is an experimental situation the , which was in 1973, I preserving our lives. Also, Kath Posner died still and I hope it receives your support. think, and so a review was long overdue. The earlier this year and we shall miss her greatly. I wish, as always, to pay tribute to recommendations of this sub-committee are The work she did in four short years as our the whole management team for their ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL being put to this AGM today, and I commend librarian leaves a fitting memorial for her. Our skills in managing the club and its many these recommendations to you. library has never been better. activities. Our secretary, Alex Bray, and the I would like to express my sincere On to happier things. Nine members of management team of Tim Wilks, chef Mark appreciation to the deputy chairmen, Richard staff received ten or more years’ service Leach, maître d’ Peter Vasilev, Sandra, and Robinson, Duncan Steele-Bodger and awards in the last year: Ricky from the cellar, David, who joined us a year ago exactly, Matthew Ebsworth, and all the committee Betty, receptionist, Junior in maintenance, have together and individually continued to for their continuing support and their Pepito, kitchen porter, Magda in the Dining set ever higher standards of service to our contribution in many different ways both to Room and Ronald in the breakfast team; 20 members. I want again to pay tribute to those the success of the club and to the progress we years’ service, Lolita in housekeeping; and 30 who look after our accommodation, from have made in refining and improving the way years’ service, Tony Awan, our weekend duty front desk to in the house itself. We continue in which the club is run and provides services manager – fantastic (“hear, hear” – applause). to receive accolades from both members to the members. They give their time and Also, thanks to members of staff who and guests for the food, the wine, the bar, energy and offer their professional skills and have recently reached retirement: Fernando, the great breakfast, the atmosphere and the expertise freely for the benefit of the club and a cleaner, James, of course, who retired last overall welcome we give, and the praise for they have been invaluable. Particular thanks year, our maître d’, Arnulfo Castillar, our that is well deserved. Thanks to their efforts to Adam Walker, Colin Seabrook, Oliver Bolton breakfast waiter, and Andresito Trias, our the club is in the best of spirits. and Christian Schaffalitzky, who are retiring do-it-all maintenance man, who could tackle Turning now to the membership itself, from the committee at this AGM. anything with a matchstick. And, of course, we continue to attract members of all age I also thank David Cartwright and the wine a warm welcome to 19 new members of groups and categories. Town membership committee for their skill and expertise in staff, including Peter Vasilev in the Dining has increased above the average rate. Our creating a wine list of great quality and value, Room, Jean Paul Machado, his Dining Room membership continues to grow slightly and is which they have been researching fully. Plans assistant, and Jane Trodd, who has taken currently just under 100 above last year’s level. are advancing to move our longer term and over in the library, to mention a few. I would I extend my thanks to all members. I am more valuable stock to controlled storage like to thank our staff for all their hard work grateful for the enthusiasm with which elsewhere, giving us peace of mind that it is over the past year. members express their views about the club, safe and enabling us to use space in the cellar Some of you have asked some questions whether of praise, criticism, concern, support, more efficiently. about the changes we have made to the or suggestions for the future. Thank you also to the active sub- staff fund. It exists to provide discretionary It is with sadness that I record the deaths committees within the club running our social rewards for our excellent staff over and above of 23 members in the last twelve months, and sporting events and looking after aspects their regular salaries. First, of course, I thank including Mrs Stewart-Murray, who was well of the life of the club, particularly, of course, to members for their contributions over the past known to many of you, Gerald Honey and the young members’ committee. I also extend year; they have been greatly appreciated, but, Casimir Ehrnroot, who was once the Finnish again my thanks to all our members for their as you also know, the committee has been Ambassador to London. commitment to the club and its unrivalled seeking ways to broaden and enhance the I am pleased to report that we have 12 friendly atmosphere. staff fund in order to make it grow. It has not members who have achieved 50 years’ I would now like to turn to our staff. At this been growing over the last five years and the continuous membership and who are, from point I need and would like to make a special benefit to our staff of a growing fund does not 1 January, therefore, honorary members. mention of two people – I am emotional about bear too much repeating. Congratulations to all of them. this – that we have lost this year. Mhemed Accordingly, we have introduced this year a The overall occupancy of our rooms is Cherrabi died in December after a long battle discretionary staff fund contribution to dining impressive, both by club members and with cancer. Many of us in the club have long room bills of 5% and to room bills of £5 per reciprocals, and we continue to control that person per night. Our intention is to provide balance. This is of fundamental importance to a vehicle for the members and reciprocal our financial stability and those of us who stay members to contribute in a way that perhaps regularly appreciate the comfort and value of would not have happened previously. We our rooms. Let us not forget our housekeeping expect that many members may prefer to staff, and I am grateful for their often unsung contribute through direct contributions as efforts to make us comfortable. they have in the past, and there is no reason The club’s social programme continues for them to change that; in no way do we want to be most popular. All major functions are to change that, so I want to emphasise that generally full to capacity and greatly enjoyed these discretionary additions to bills, which is by all who attend. the practice at many clubs in London and clubs It is most heartening to see so many around the world, are just that: discretionary, activities available to members, from rugby and members can have them removed at will and cricket to rowing, fy-fishing, shooting, and without any embarrassment. Our staff are golf, snooker, chess and backgammon. instructed to make it clear that this is the case I would like to take this opportunity to on all occasions when a bill is presented and thank those who are responsible for running thus avoid any question of ‘stealth’. We will all these things so effectively. Without their fully evaluate the resulting state of the fund tireless work these most enjoyable activities The chairman makes his speech and of opinions during this year and report could not take place.

8 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 AGM Q&As

John Booth: Just a quick analysis: our proposals at current figures would raise about £216,000 for the staff fund, which GENERAL MEETING ANNUAL is approximately 10% or 11% per head. In essence, service is blind in the club, is it not? So why do we not just add 10% to the bills and be done with it? The chairman: Thank you for the suggestion. We may have some views around here. We debated this subject at great length over a long period of time in the committee, and we were unwilling to go too far down the track we have set out down, on the basis that we wanted to be careful that we were fair, particularly bearing in mind the age structure of our membership. We wanted to keep that element of it to a low level and allow the really very voluntary level that has supported us in the past to continue. In practice, if we did achieve that revenue, and I would not disagree with the figure – of course, that is a speculative calculation but we came up with similar numbers – on the old basis we would Christian Schaffalitzky, who stood down from the committee, reads the AGM papers. Other retirees areAdam have fallen some 25-30% short of that, and Walker, Colin Seabrook and Oliver Bolton. that is the sort of growth we were seeking to achieve. May I just say that we would like category have increased by £43,633 or 8.9%. person involved. That is ours. As yet we have to keep the suggestion on the table. We do Is the committee satisfied with the success in not got it, and there is still a wrangle going on. not know what is going to happen this year this area of credit card fees, or is there more but we might move or we might retreat; I do work to be done? If there is more to be done, John Booth: Obviously, we are in the not know, as long as we create growth. The what are the committee’s plans? internet era now and it is nice to see that main objective is to create growth so that The chairman: There is more to be done. invoices are online and the East & West is we can continue to increase and improve the One of the steps we have taken is to start to online. What is the committee’s view on rewards to our excellent staff. If you give cash make the move and encourage members to putting other things online, for instance, it is totally efficient, but there is still a tax use direct debit. That is a progression. the financial statement? Would there be a implication for the club. David Selfe: We have moved around 400 commitment to put one major document to 450 over to our direct debit system, saving online each year and built up your portfolio Oliver Ranson: I would like to ask the liver the credit card charge. We are also looking that is online? and bacon question, please. to review the way our merchant services are The chairman: We have taken a view The secretary: The regulations completed, and that is to say we are looking on that. There is nothing fundamentally recommend the cooking of liver to 60 at the providers and whether or not we can against doing that progressively. There are degrees core temperature for two minutes. improve on the offer they give us. That should still, of course, members in our far-reaching Many chefs disagree with that being the make a difference, and hopefully we will be membership who do not have access, and best way to present liver and many diners able to report some further savings next year. we therefore would not be able to get away do not choose to eat their liver that way. It with hard copy documents going to some is a recommendation, but for us to carry on Oliver Ranson: In the ‘Other Operating places. There is a continuing commitment to serving liver to the regulations and not invite Charges’ category, as well as the credit cards use the internet more. It saves us money. Our the criticism of the regulatory authorities and there is a quote for professional charges postal costs every year are relatively high, our own food safety third party, we choose which has increased by 93.7%, or £28,169, and, of course, the production of hard copy not to have the chef lying about how we which is quite a substantial increase. Can you documents is costly as well. There are some cook our liver, and as a result we have taken please outline what has caused this large hard copy documents, which we cannot get the more cautious approach, which is not to change? out of. You have to have hard copy documents serve liver. David Selfe: A large part of that is the for some things, but there you go. The chairman: No change, I am afraid, and constitutional work that was done, and, there is still campaigning going on to change obviously, advising on other matters within Graham Holland: Chairman, we have heard the recommendations. Some people are the club. your report and the reason I stand is to thank fouting the regulations. We will not. The chairman: A total of about £4,000 or you and your committee for the way you £5,000 is definitely related to the RBS matter. have worked for the last 12 months in making Oliver Ranson: Following my question I am afraid there will be further costs on the this club certainly the most enjoyable club in about the credit card fees at the AGM last RBS matter, which we still think is worth clubland (“hear, hear” – applause). year, the cost of this item has reduced by pursuing. I should also say on the RBS thing The chairman: Thank you. On that happy £4,977, 12.7%, which is good, while total that we were awarded by the court a recovery note let us declare this annual general costs in the ‘Other Operating Charges’ of the Pension Fund contributions from the meeting closed.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 9 CLUB EVENTS CLUB Gatherings at the clubhouse rarely take place without a drink New members in hand, and in the summer the tradition spills out into the

magnificently tended gardens. A full programme of events oining a club is a bit like going to a new kept members and guests equally well watered school. There are the moving staircases J to cope with, the strange talking portraits and of course that ghastly man SUMMER PARTY who is Head of Potions. Harry Potter experiences notwithstanding, the club extends one welcome by way of a new he three clubs around St James’s members’ reception. New members and Square came together for a joint their guests meet for a glass of wine, T party to celebrate the 90th birthday meet other new members, their guests of HM The Queen. Each club chairman and members of the committee, before spoke, each reaching further back into being shown around the clubhouse. It is history, for a claim to a royal connection. often the first step in a familiarity with the The East India Club won with our chairman’s building that will last decades. reference to the foundation of the in the 16th century. After joint

revelries, amusing hostilities and a rousing Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo? No – Wolsey, rendition of the National Anthem (surely Paterson and McAnally audible in the Palace?) had ceased, members and guests retired to the Smoking Room for an excellent buffet.

Members and guests gather in the East India Room at the new members’ reception in March

Alasdair Shaikh with guest Reanna Leitaker and sister Eleanor Shaikh

New members the Grimwood brothers, wearing the Tonbridge tie The gardens bedecked Staff helping at the buffet

Hine Chateau in France and entertained over a snooker section chairman Alan Kurtz, Patrick A life in snooker weekend, a trip that the East India Club team Storey and the secretary Alex Bray attended enjoyed on more than one occasion. When the event and we were later joined by club by Bernard Stirzaker Hine’s sponsorship ceased, the club stepped in chairman Iain Wolsey. pproximately 50 years ago, I and has organised matters since 1999, latterly It was a wonderful evening in spite of commenced my career as a trainee with the sponsorship of Fuller’s brewery. our loss and, as usual, the club looked after A valuer and surveyor. Simultaneously, This year in May, the club played the RAC us and provided a wonderful meal. As I and by chance, I discovered the games in the final of this competition, having won looked around the splendid Canadian Room of snooker and billiards. I quickly became our matches against Savage, Oriental and with guests from the clubs of London, I proficient in both games – to the detriment Roehampton clubs in some closely fought remembered Walter Sutcliffe’s words about of my career. My firm’s senior partner, Walter games. Our team comprised Hassan Zamir, snooker not being a game for gentlemen. Sutcliffe, recognised the problem, called me Bradley Stanton, David Cremer and me. In the I wonder if he might change his mind if he into his office and made it quite clear, as only singles, Bradley had a notable victory against were to see this scene. he could, that it was one or the other, and his the RAC’s Simon Wilson, while the rest of us The following week we met the RAC final words on the topic were: “Snooker is not a lost some close matches. We had to win both again, this time in the twice annual St game for gentlemen”. of our doubles matches to force a nominated James’s Cup match, which we lost as well. Moving forward about 20 years, I joined the player six red singles to decide the match. But another wonderful evening, and on the East India Club and was asked to play for the Sadly, we were not successful, winning one eve of my 70th birthday, I enjoyed having snooker team in the London clubs’ snooker but losing the other. ‘happy birthday’ sung to me in the gallery of competition, which was then in its infancy. The Dinner that evening included team captains the magnificent RAC Dining Room. Not many competition was sponsored by Hine Cognac from the Garrick, Oriental, Savage, Chelsea people can say that, and I feel certain that and the winners were fown by private jet to Arts Club and . Former Walter was watching.

10 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 One thing the British do with impunity is get wet. Often, the

Flyfishing SPORTS WATER English summer provides that service for you. With bravura,

lub members enjoyed all kinds of on rare fine days between May and September, club members fyfishing this summer, from British take to the waters to enjoy rowing, sailing and fyfishing C reservoirs, to mayfy on the River Loddon, to more exotic sport abroad. Flyfishing section chairman Peter Matthison especially enjoyed a trip to SAILING SECTION SUPREMO Eyebrook Reservoir in Hertfordshire, fishing from boats. He made a two-day trip he club’s top yottie is Jim Miller. From colours - skippered by George Barrett, Henry of it, staying overnight at the Marquess of engendering support for our sailing Seebohm and Darrell Howard - set off for a Exeter hotel in nearby Lydington. T section, now officially launched gentle cruise. Saturday evening was spent at Meanwhile, Iain Wolsey and Charlie as the East India Club Yacht Squadron, and the Ramsholt Arms on the River Deben. Jacoby had a superb day on the Loddon bringing together sailing interests from Another triumph is the design of the East on the first day of mayfy, with nine dinghy lovers to trawlermen, he has presided India Club burgee, based on the red and landed and several wild brownies and over what is now one of the most thriving white stripes of the East India Company fag. chub returned. sporting sections in the club. For evidence, The sailing section has an active racing On the exotic front, overseas member look at how many turned out for the sailing and cruising programme and is keen for Neo Douvartzidis enjoys kingfish fishing section AGM and fitting out supper. younger members to get involved. For more in South Australia, with a close eye on With the help of able lieutenants (surely details please contact the secretary. achieving a new world record. seamen?) and good mates, he organises events from accompanying the Royal Navy as it accompanied the Waterloo dispatch last year, to gentle cruises. In May, the section enjoyed a weekend on the East Coast Cruise, organised by A friend of our ‘rear commodore cruising’ Neo, with a George Barrett. Everybody 104lb yellowtail has grand titles in the sailing kingfish caught section. They met at the Royal in shallow water at Fowlers Bay, Harwich Yacht Club for dinner South Australia, early on Friday evening. The 18lb shy of the following morning three world record yachts fying squadron Boat Race

uriol Kensington once again kindly invited the East India A Club to join it for the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Races. Cambridge won by two-and-a-half lengths in the men’s race. Excitement of the day came in the women’s race, where Cambridge nearly sank but just made it across the line.

Eastindiamen at Auriol (left to right): Rory Hunt, guest Charles Underwood, Joss Bassett and Seb James

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 11 DINNER Often biffed by the cultural handbag we call Englishness, it was nice to get back to the jolly red and white of the St George’s Day dinner, with cricketing talk, Shakespeare quotes, and roof-raising, rabble-rousing songs by Blake and Elgar ST GEORGE’S DAY DINNER

aybe it was Brexit. Maybe it was the impending cricket season. M Perhaps the choice of Jonny Barclay as a speaker. Whatever it was, St George himself must have grumbled in Turkish as members disturbed his sleep with their renditions of Land of Hope and Glory on this, his saint’s day. The St George’s Day dinner has become a fabulous, reaffirming Song and dance men: Iain Wolsey and The superb Jonny Barclay Alasdair Shaikh date in the club calendar whether you are English or not. Enterntainment included comedy from the chairman and Alasdair Shaikh, and former MCC president and former captain of Sussex Jonny Barclay gave a long and hilarious talk about a single over he played in county cricket in the 1980s against Somerset. The The beef gains approval talk lasted some five times longer than the over itself, but was worth every minute. Alasdair Shaikh gave his memorable ‘charge’, from Henry V, and then there was the music. Club members raised the roof with anthems that ranged from Jerusalem, via I Vow To Thee My Country with more than one stop at Land of Hope and Glory. Stout singing Shaun Lavery’s hearty laughter

- without couchettes - through France A message from the Pigeon Loft to Switzerland (where, in Lugano, the pigeon-lofter was employed as a courier in by Alan Taylor the summer of 1956) produced tired and ummer is upon us and we all have things on its mind apart from summer holidays disgruntled travellers. It was hard for those plans to enjoy it. Inevitably we and the delight the pigeon lofter experienced who had never been abroad before to get Scompare this year’s holiday with on moving to live on the North Norfolk coast used to the food. On one occasion one client those in the past. To get a real feel for was very brief indeed: for between 1940 and found and thereafter frequented a fish and the annual two weeks by the sea, say, in 1944 all beaches were closed. chip shop. the early thirties nothing could be more But after this bleak and sometimes Now summer holidays must be spent entertaining, instructive and moving than dangerous period the beach was the place in the hot sun at resorts reached by air. To reading RC Sherriff’s The Fortnight in to be in the summer. At last he learned to make sure of this sun and that tan we stand September (1931). Here we share in the city swim, but the first plunge into the cool in a queue at the airport and then empty dwellers’ longing for those precious few north sea water accompanied by the even pockets and remove our belts with buckles days and the excitement (and at times even cooler north wind coming off it needed (hoping that the trousers will cooperate) and disappointment) that the short break by the encouragement. This was given from sometimes walk around in socks. British seaside brought with it. afar with the words: “It’s all right once It will not surprise members that pigeon- This pigeon-lofter happily recalls his you’re in!” Soon he was swimming with lofters are planning a re-creation of our old own summer holidays as a young lad at the others. On one occasion his pleasure holidays at home. We will have to persuade Bournemouth in the second half of the was greatly enhanced by an inquisitive our gardeners to build a sandpit in the corner ‘thirties’. It is difficult to convey the sheer porpoise swimming among them. A little of the garden with running water to hand. joy he experienced on making his way down later - teeth chattering - he was rubbing Then at a given signal some members will to the beach with a bucket and spade (the himself down on the beach and it was time roll up their trousers and remove their shoes sunhat pulled firmly over his head). Paddling for refreshment. Never have hot tea from a and socks. Each participant will make a heap and digging castles were the preliminaries fask and jam sandwiches tasted so good! of sand. The taps being turned on, he will to the ice-cream cornet (which in those days In the fifties the package holiday arrived stand on his own pile surrounded by water certainly did not disintegrate at the first lick!). - at first only to European resorts reached and to the pleasure and envy of passers-by By September 1939 this country had other by boat and train. The all-night journey will shout: “I am the king of the castle!”

12 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 Author David Lough came to the club to give a talk on Bob and weave SPEAKERS Sir Winston Churchill’s often shaky relationship with money. No More Champagne tells the tales of his financial close calls Boxing NO MORE CHAMPAGNE by Captain R Wilmont MBE s a fairly new recruit to the club avid Lough offers one shard of a Lough explained how this was the with less than two years complete, mirror on Churchill’s life in his new back ground to Churchill’s appointment as A I was encouraged to see the level D book No More Champagne. The chancellor in 1924, during which he returned of sporting activities which members are wartime prime minster loved taking financial Britain to the gold standard, so beginning a involved in, especially in some of the more risks and speculated wildly on shares. What long period of defation. Out of government energetic pursuits such as rugby, cricket or David Lough reveals is how hard he laboured four years later, he lost the equivalent of rowing. With this in mind and having been and schemed to fund his pleasures. £750,000 in the 1929 Wall Street Crash. involved in the sport of boxing for a number Previous biographers have noted the of years, I thought it would be worthwhile to poor finances of Churchill’s household. explore the possibility of setting up a boxing Probably none, though, has examined every team for some of the younger members. available bank account and merchant’s The young members’ committee invoice with the singular, forensic purpose chairman, Matthew Ebsworth, the chairman of Lough. His dispassionate analysis tots and secretary gave their support to my up spending versus income, and he even proposal. The next stage in the process was helpfully provides currency exchange rates to get the word out, which was achieved and infation adjustments to provide a with the help of Daniel Odutola who took a modern context. keen interest in getting things moving. After his father Randolph Churchill’s death Soon afterwards a notice was put on the in 1895, and despite only a modest income, board and names started to appear on the Churchill spent freely on everything from list, which provided us with the incentive to polo ponies to champagne. In the six years proceed. After the talk, David Lough signed copies of his to 1914, by his own calculation, he was book for members After meeting some of those who were spending £1,160 annually with the family interested in joining, in order to answer any wine merchants, the equivalent today of questions they had, we arranged to conduct £100,000. He regularly left his suppliers’ our first training session which took place bills in arrears, sometimes for years. at the London Military Boxing Club gym on Churchill realised early on that he could a Monday evening in June. As one of the gain a good income from writing. Yet as founder members of this boxing club I have quickly as the money came in, out it went. secured agreement to permit East India A history of the first world war, published Club members to train there and undergo in 1923, eventually earned him £25,000. instruction from our team of qualified By 1921, Churchill’s overdraft had swollen boxing coaches. to £28,000 — a deficit of £1 million today — With training now underway, the plan for requiring one of many crisis talks with his the immediate future is to work on fitness bank manager. The talk took place in the Smoking Room levels then progress into boxing skills instruction before taking part in full contact sparring sessions. Cobra at dinner Members will be able to train at a level where they feel comfortable (with some oung members held their J7 dinner gentle persuasion from our military coaches) in March. Highlight of the event, and will not be forced to compete against Y thanks to Simon Collins, was a talk their will. We are also more than happy for by Indian entrepreneur, immigrant to Britain members to use boxing training as a vehicle and life peer Lord Bilimoria, who founded to improve their fitness without actually and now chairs Cobra Beer. taking part in full contact sparring. Training sessions will now continue every Monday and Thursday evening at the Army Reserve Centre, Grove Park SE12 0BH, 7–9pm. Our long term plan is to have members competing in the sport wearing East India Club boxing strips at various venues across London in the next year. We would like to encourage more members to join us. For more information, please contact the secretary or sign up on the board. Lord Bilimoria speaks to members after dinner...... and takes questions from the tables

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 13 Recently elected to the committee, Adrian Steger is a Lewisham hospital in general surgery. Again that strange secretiveness: his surgery is MEMBER PROFILE London surgeon with a keen interest in the playing fields mainly abdominal, he says. “What kind of of the Great Game – the Himalayas abdominal?” you may ask, wondering why South-East London gets so many problems in the torso area. MEMBER PROFILE “Stab wounds,” he says. “And diseases of the pancreas, caused by alcohol.” “Ah – that kind.” Adrian Steger He has been closely involved in surgical training, serving on relevant national committee of the royal colleges of surgeons and exam boards. Outside work, his passion here is a strangely secretive air is trekking in the Himalayas, especially about Adrian. He says something Ladakh/Kashmir. He collects books on Asia. Tdemure and then follows it up with “I grew up knowing about Asia,” he says. “My something surprising. His father was a civil father worked in several countries either engineer, he says. A little more questioning side of the Gulf, and my mother’s family had and his mother, he admits, worked at Indian Army connections and they had many Bletchley Park during the Second World War. friends in the middle east and sub continent His father was also in security he adds. whom one met whilst growing up.” The family story is that some years His kind of trekking includes mules and later his mother was about to sleeping under canvas. “I like mountains,” become his father’s boss, so to he says. “I have relations in Austria and have save arguments they married spent summers in the Alps. There is the and he changed careers. magnitude of scale. There is the surviving “I don’t know which in proper wilderness, and there is the service they were,” he realisation that there is you – and that is it.” says. “Both took the view He brings his passion for Asia home to that they had signed the the UK, too. For the Royal Society for Asian Official Secrets Act and Affairs and in conjunction with SOAS, Adrian that was that.” organises an annual day of talks about Asia for sixth-formers. He married Jenny when they were in their mid-20s. They divide their time between Dulwich and Brecon where Jenny keeps an eye on her mother . They have four children aged between 25 Both took the and 32 (“off the payroll,” he says happily), view that they had three of whom have got engaged this summer (“contributions welcome,” he adds signed the Official morosely). “ Secrets Act and They are a banker, a newspaper editor, a that was that children’s book publisher and one works in wealth management. “Having seen the life I have had and the amount of time I have put into hospitals over the years, none of them wanted to go into medicine,” he says. “But ” they all now work longer hours than junior Adrian was born in a London hospital doctors.” and brought up in London. He went to For years on the club’s library committee, Kings College Wimbledon, leaving in Adrian has just been elected to the club’s 1972. Kings had just one boarding house main committee. “A friend of my father’s in those days. Adrian recalls none of the put me up for membership 30 years ago,” horrors that characterised some public he says. “I liked the idea of a club. It seems schools in those days. “I don’t know an eminently sensible institution. It is a that it was progressive – but it wasn’t convivial central London base – and it is regressive,” he says. also an extension of a way of life. It is the He studied medicine at St Thomas’s bonhomie, the meeting of new faces, of old Hospital. He did his surgical training at faces. It’s another home. the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, “London clubs dipped in the early 1980s then went to UCH researching into and are now picking up. What’s fantastic some possible uses of lasers in about this place is seeing the mix of people, surgery, and on to King’s. Now young – the J7s,” and then dropping the aged 62, he is a consultant at demure again, “the old farts like me.”

14 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 SPIRITS The history of gin, as told by ginmaker Sipsmith, took members on a journey from 18th century London, via malarial India to James Bond, Jamaica, and the ‘Vesper’ Martini cocktail... THE STORY OF GIN

ondon gin maker Sipsmith came to the club with the simple message that The gins on offer at the tasting L the history of London’s gin industry is peppered with tales of small-scale producers boiling up heady spirits in tiny sheds. So it was natural that the first copper still to be built in the capital for 189 years would be in a tin-roofed suburban garage in Hammersmith. Club member Alexander Darley from Sipsmith told the history of gin. We learned how in 1689, King William of Orange dropped the tax on spirit production for the health of the nation and to utilize a surplus of grain. Gin was born in a city gone mad for punch. Punch houses proliferated after British sailors returned from India, introducing this magical potion that takes its name from the Hindi word for ‘five’ and named for its five Alexander Darley talks gin Matthew Blagg enjoys a glass components. The formula changed, of course, to make use of local ingredients. But the Napoleonic Wars owed for ‘huile de Venus’, The year 1888 saw the birth of the service, in large bowls for groups or in glasses ‘perfait amour’ and ‘cock-tail (vulgarly called Martini cocktail. This simple gin drink was for individuals, remained the same. ginger)’. This last drink was not French, but among the first created and consumed By the mid 18th century, wherever gin presumably took its name from a pair of purely for pleasure and the anaesthetic was sold to the public it was sold with remedies given to horses of mixed breed, effect that clearly marked the end of the gingerbread. When the River Thames froze whose tails were cut short or ‘cocked’ to mark workday and the beginning of the evening’s over, you could be sure to find a few tents them as such. revelries. It began as a surprisingly different selling hot gin and gingerbread. At any fair or In 1823, the gin twist took London by drink, combining equal parts gin and Italian public execution, vendors erected dozens of storm. One man was so moved by this simple vermouth. It was also called a ‘gin and it’—a gin and gingerbread stalls. drink he penned a 149-line poetic tribute. drink that is delicious but unrecognisable as a Hogarth’s famous illustration of gin lane in Another wrote a shorter poem, saluting Martini today. 1751 was one of a pair funded by the brewing both the drink and the previous poem. In 1953, Ian Fleming introduced his own industry to illustrate that beer consumption Both appeared in London newspapers. The creations: the Vesper cocktail. He and his was far healthier for individuals and for drink itself was gin toddy with lemon juice, friend Ivor Bryce created this variation society as a whole than drinking gin. garnished with a twist to show that the on the Martini cocktail in Jamaica. But it is At this time a few sweet styles of gin lemon juice was fresh—a luxury not taken for purely British and finds its spiritual home began to emerge as well as infusions. Mixed granted in the early 19th century. in London’s hotel bars. Fleming’s books drinks were primarily medicinal. However, The gin and tonic was born in the middle of and this cocktail defined sophistication for doctors of the day discovered it was easier the 19th century. Created as an anti-malarial generations to come. (and far more lucrative) to offer pleasant for British troops serving in India, it proved In the 1990s, the cocktail became tasting remedies. such as success that no one takes a chance cool again. Dick Bradsell began training Jean Jacob Schweppe brought carbonated today, even in areas where there has never a generation of young bartenders after water to market in 1770. This ingredient went been a case of malaria. Better to have a gin reading David Embury’s The Fine Art of on to revolutionize long drinks. Ironically, and tonic, just to be safe. At this time in Mixing Drinks and becoming inspired to he saw his invention purely as a medicinal London, a French chef also changed the world master the art of mixing himself. This revived aid and developed five different levels of of mixed drinks. Alexis Benoit Soyer created the nightclub cocktail, transforming it from carbonation to be prescribed by doctors for the first jelly shots, blue drinks, sparkling spirit drowned in tonic or fruit juice to various digestive ailments. cream cocktails, and more at his Universal elegant and simple creations. The earliest-known use of the word Symposium of All Nations, a sprawling On 14 May 2009, after a long battle with ‘cocktail’ in print appeared on 20 March 1798. restaurant on the site where the Albert Hall the licensing authorities, Sipsmith became A tavern owner at the corner of Downing stands today. the first new copper distillery to open its Street and Whitehall won a lottery and in a Nautical gin drinks, the gimlet and pink gin, doors in London since 1820, bringing a fit of generosity erased his regulars’ debts. were dominating the seas by 1860. Rose’s great tradition of small batch gin production London’s Morning Post & Gazetteer printed a Lime Cordial emerged in 1867, and Angostura back to the capital. If the cocktail ever had a satirical list of who owed for what in the heart bitters found its way into gin around the steampunk era, this is it. Rotavapor vacuum of British politics. same time. Sailors would receive ‘Navy proof’ stills are employed by bartenders who wear Pitt the younger, whose premiership was rum on voyages from the Caribbean and Navy Victorian sleeve garters. It is all about the marked by the French Revolution and the proof or Plymouth gin on the return journey. ingredients, says Alexander.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 15 STAFF

The welcome you often get as you come through the doors temperatures of 46 degrees centigrade. comes from hall porter Karim Kerrechi, a Berber from northern His father worked in a factory. He studied up to ‘A’ level standard and then had an office Algeria, who has sheathed his koummya for good job with a British company in Algeria, Baxter Fell International, a construction company which had contracts with the Algerian STAFF PROFILE ministry of defence. He came to the UK originally on holiday to help him learn English. He liked it so Karim Kerrechi much that he didn’t go back, and found a job working as a waiter. All his brothers and sisters, apart from one brother, remain in Algeria. He spent his next ten years in the catering industry before moving to the East India Club as doorman. In 2005, he married Djamila. They have three children: Sonia aged nine, a boy called Yacine aged seven and another girl, Ania, aged five. They live in Stockwell. “When I started at the club, it wasn’t as busy as it is now,” he says. “Now it is mostly full. “I like it that the staff of the club are so helpful with members and guests, and reciprocal members,” he adds. “We have a very good reputation. People who come here often tell me they have recommended the club to their friends. People love the atmosphere.” Karim starts work at 8am. He has a break at 11.30am and finishes at 4.30pm. “We greet guests,” he says. “We help them with our knowledge of the local area, such as theatres and restaurants. ”There was an American gentleman the other day. I was helping him. he said: ‘Guess how old I am?’. I said 70. He said ‘93’. His tip: think young – you can do everything.” Like many staff members who arrive at the club for the first time, the idea of a gentleman’s club is perplexing. There is no equivalent in Berber culture. “When I first came here, I thought it was a nightclub,” ur Berber hall porter of 13 years’ He has worked at the club since 2003. he says. “When I saw it was a big house, I service is one of the first faces that Karim comes from a big family, one of realised it wasn’t, that it was more like a hotel. O most people see as they enter the four sisters and four brothers. The town But it is different from that. The guests are clubhouse. Originally from Tizi Ouzou in where he grew up is surrounded by the the same over time. We build up relationships Algeria, he has been in the UK for 24 years. Atlas mountains and has reached summer with them. It is more like a family.”

Departure

runo Corazza (second right) profiled in East & West in 2005, was received by Bthe committee on his leaving the club after 15 years’ service. As senior manager, Bruno’s main role has been as a regular duty manager and with his experience, he has provided the operational support for personnel matters. He has become well- known to members and colleagues alike.

16 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 SECRETARY the club as ever takes an active role in A WORD FROM THE SECRETARY the Trust’s responsibilities and has been by Alex Bray instrumental in delivering the Trust’s bright new website. wards a group of members took the trip to the Recently achieving 10 years’ long service ceremonies and battlefield sites in South Africa and were has been Agron Karaxha, chef de partie in the A Chelsea Flower escorted by Rob. It was duly reported that Kitchen and celebrating marriages have been Show, Royal Ascot and Rob was a superb guide and companion, cellarman Ricky Gwee and Hall porter Yasin Henley, the Queen’s that the visit exceeded expectations, and Kamel. At the end of April, executive chef Birthday celebrations was very vivid and moving. The unexpected Mark Leach, with apprentice Zoe Falkingham, and Wimbledon are bonus for one member was the walking and once more went to Great Ormond Street some of the wonderful driving game excursions. Such a visit is highly Hospital and prepared cakes with the young occasions that see members and their guests recommended. patients as part of chef’s membership of the making use of the clubhouse dressed in top I am pleased to report that we now have Royal Society of Culinary Arts. hat and tails, blazer and boater. reciprocal arrangements with a second club in With some members sporting a club Paris being the on the Avenue hatband, a fine collection of Panamas des Champs-Elysées. head for the latest test match in NW8 and, The Library has a new set of steps with whether for sport or leisure, club polo shirts locking wheels to make it safer to access the and jumpers with our crests ‘lion rampant’ higher shelves and shelf labels have been are proving popular. A further addition to enhanced to make it easier to see category the shop is a napkin hook which smartly locations. Additional lockers for rent were holds a napkin from the collar, thus reducing installed adjacent to ‘Cecil’ and new salt and laundry bills. pepper grinders have made a smart upgrade I was put on to a pocket square showing in the Dining Room. a map of St James’s with the location of the For those that have been enjoying the traditional clubs only to find that it was a improvements to the garden in the Square limited edition and not being revived, even for you will be pleased to note that having last a special run. year won 1st prize in the London Garden After the very interesting talk by Rob Squares Competition the gardens are being Chef Mark Leach and apprentice Zoe Falkingham, Caskie about the battle of Rorkes Drift, judged once more. As one of 20 freeholders bake cakes at Great Ormond Street East India Club Wine Order Form

ORDER THESE WINES FROM OUR WINE ORDER THESE WINES MERCHANT FOR HOME DELIVERY FROM THE ACCOUNTS OFFICE FOR PAYMENT Wine per case of 12 bottles Totals I enclose a cheque payable to Davy’s AND COLLECTION Club Champagne / £139 for 6 for £ FROM THE CLUB Club white / £131.75 OR Club white Burgundy / £153.75 I authorise you to debit my Wines and spirits per case of 12 bottles Mastercard/Visa/Maestro by Club claret £119.75 Club red (de Ciffre) / £141 Club white £119.75 Club claret / £131.75 £ Club red (de Ciffre) £129 Card no Club white Burgundy £141.75 Club Champagne (per case of 6) £133 GRAND TOTAL Club Cognac VSOP per 70cl bottle £43.50 Name Issue no Membership no Expiry date Address Wine gift box Three East India Club wines in Postcode presenta- tion Daytime telephone Please send your order with credit box – club claret, card details or cheque to: Special delivery instructions club white Davy’s and 161-165 Greenwich High Road, club white Greenwich, London, SE10 8JA Burgundy. Tel: 020 8858 6011 £41.25 Fax: 020 8853 3331

Email: [email protected] Not chargeable to account. Card with handling All prices include VAT Website: www.davy.co.uk fee, cash or cheque.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 17 A new club graces our list of reciprocals: the Travellers Club in Paris, a paragon of luxury in the heart of the city. Our intrepid RECIPROCAL CLUBS RECIPROCAL correspondents have already been there... A COURTESAN’S PALACE

The Travellers Club, Paris

L’Hôtel de la Païva by Andrew Simpkin Rachid the barman and inventor of the he Travellers in Paris, is not just a club. Travellers’ cocktail prepared our drinks It is a private palace. It is in l’Hôtel de and set up the snooker table for us. Lotfi T la Païva, a townhouse on the Champs- (‘kindness’ in Arabic) served us a fine Macon Elysées to which we are now, thanks to our and a remarkable Saint-Estèphe while secretary and chairman and the secrétaire Novak poured us an exceptional first growth général of the Parisian club Olivier du Plessis, Savigny. Tradition oblige: I caressed a Carrara all welcome. marble portrayal of the naked Païva, as we Born in Moscow of Polish origin, Esther walked up the staircase to dinner overlooking Lachmann, better known as the courtesan La the Champs-Elysées. When the waiters saw Païva, acquired titles and wealth through a how much we enjoyed the main course and series of marriages. In 1855, her last husband, pudding, they served us seconds. the Prussian tycoon and aristocrat Guido Note that dinner is on Wednesday evenings Henckel von Donnersmarck, commissioned only and you must book ahead. Every other the architect Pierre Manguin and the most night the salons are set aside for private famous artists and craftsmen of the Second functions. Lunch is possible every day, Empire, for example Paul Baudry of Paris The onyx stair case at l’Hôtel de la Païva and the food is excellent. There are nine Opéra fame and the sculptor Carrier-Belleuse, bedrooms apparently but I imagine they are to build her ‘the most beautiful house in feel at home. Gilles at reception welcomed booked up months in advance. Beyond the Paris’. The result is magnificence, splendour, us warmly and showed us round the vast, richly decorated salons, the private members’ opulence and tranquillity in every room: lapis sumptuously decorated salons, and smaller, rooms retain a more traditional gentlemen’s lazuli encrusted wainscoting, monumental more intimate, but equally beautiful sitting club feel, where we watched backgammon fireplaces, Renaissance sculptures, allegorical rooms. Here were held the most important games through thick cigar smoke and caught golden paintings and a staircase made of literary salons of the 19th century visited the end of the France-Albania match on a fat solid yellow onyx. Imagine an erotic and by the likes of Théophile Gauthier, Léon screen TV brought in for the occasion. luxurious Leighton House transplanted from Gambetta, Adolphe Thiers and Napoleon III. You should know that there is a waiting Holland Park to central Paris. The calm that General manager Olivier du Plessis greeted list of over a year just to visit l’Hôtel de la reigns throughout is astonishing given that us in person, making a dramatic entrance as Païva, and yet thanks to our new reciprocal the Champs-Elysées is one of the busiest he emerged through the French windows arrangement and a letter of introduction, we avenues in the world. from the courtyard and its Manneken Pis can just walk in. We are big fans of Le Cercle I was the first Eastindiaman to enjoy the fountain, a glass of champagne in hand, de l’Union Interalliée, but The Travellers is remarkable hospitality of the Travellers. calling out to us: “Soyez les bienvenus au a truly extraordinary place and more than Catherine and I were immediately made to Travellers!” And what wonderful service. deserves a visit.

visitors. I was then given the membership The Bombay Yacht Club number EI138, perhaps making me the 138th member of the East India Club to visit. by Alex Langley On the ground foor there is the drawing room, library and billiards room as well as a he Bombay Yacht Club was founded expired, the club moved completely to its gym and facilities for sailing. I am told the in 1846 and re-named the Royal current building, which was remodelled. The club has an active sailing programme. On the TBombay Yacht Club in 1876 by bedrooms were fully booked when my wife first foor there are various other function order of . It is located in the and I visited Bombay earlier this year, but we rooms as well as the main club bar, Dolphin, Colaba area of the city behind the Gate did visit the club on two occasions for drinks and the Dining Room. The menu was limited of India and next to the Taj Mahal Palace and dinner. As might be expected, the club – a couple of Indian dishes and a couple of hotel. The current clubhouse, which was has an old-colonial feel and has obviously Western dishes – but the food was good and built in 1897, was originally designed as an seen grander days but we had a good time reasonably priced. The dress code is much accommodation annex. In 1948 when the visiting. more relaxed than we are used to. As at our lease with the Bombay Port Trust on the On arrival I was asked to put my details in own club, however, the staff were excellent site of the original clubhouse over the road a large old book with records of all reciprocal and made my wife and me welcome.

18 EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 P Cameron Esq CA Graham Esq JD Price Esq  NEW MEMBERS New members JMG Cary Esq FS J Hardy Esq The Lord Price CVO The club welcomes the following: DA Clements Esq RA Hill Esq JA Prince Esq SMR Cooper Esq NJ Jacob Esq TF Aho Esq AK Biswas Esq N Dapero Esq G Karseras Esq SC Rac Esq CK Allen Esq IN Boage Esq Dr GJK Darby SJ Keen Esq JW Reed Esq W Allman Esq B Bowley Esq GR Davies Esq SP Makepeace-Taylor Esq DJ Ryder Esq F Alvarez De Soto Esq CJS Box Esq AR Finlayson-Green Esq FCILT Dr JEW Meredith CBE S Ashoka Esq MJ Brennan Esq BJ Francis Esq FE Nelson Esq R Schrijen Esq MG Bailey Esq A Buchan Esq JD Gardiner Esq Dr H Nichols New J7 members The club welcomes the following: King’s College School, Repton School HAB Norris Esq Wimbledon R Cheng Esq Ampleforth College Culford School M Ali Esq The Royal Hospital School AES Plowden Esq FN Statham Esq P Hunt Esq Royal Grammar School, JC Dean Esq S Grandon-White Esq F Vaux Esq J Peachey Esq Guildford Denstone College DJ Connors Esq CJ Nash Esq Tonbridge School Bancroft’s School King’s School, Canterbury Rugby School MAH Hutchings Esq J Lockley Esq ACW Farrow Esq Dulwich College HA Riley Esq 2nd Lt Z Faja Trent College Bedford School Leicester Grammar School GJ Whichello Esq Seaford College GT Livesey Esq JP Geldmacher Esq A Tutt Esq R Hampshire Esq CPO Costello Esq Eton College Trinity School JIJ Lewsley Esq Malvern College The Hon K Bilimoria Shiplake College JT Benson Esq TMatthews Esq M Guy Esq CE Galligan Esq Felsted School Westminster School Berkhamsted School ARL Gibb Esq Merchant Taylors’ School Shrewsbury School P Chua Esq TJ Miller Esq AWA Reeve Esq OD Warren Esq HWB Morgan Esq Yarm School Bradfield College Haileybury Mill Hill School St Bedes’s College D Viswanath Esq MPN Covers Esq WJH Massey Esq FT Brennan Esq DJ Drewek Esq Cheltenham College M Pittatore Esq Oakham School S Reed Esq St Columba’s College, St Deceased TH Bond Esq A Patenge Esq Albans It is with regret we announce E Robbins Esq Hampton School DV Patel Esq Oratory School the deaths of the following H Hasted Esq Churcher’s College HJ Criss Esq members JA MccGwire Esq St Edmunds College, HF Champion Esq J Maitland-Walker Esq Hertford The Rt Revd P Barry OSB WCL Kaye Esq Kimbolton School TJR Nicholls Esq MJ Daniel Esq Dr J Blatchly JN Hanson Esq KCK Tsang Esq School Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital NE Dudley Esq FRCS KT Chong-James Esq King Edward’s School, C Harper Esq Stonyhurst College AJ Granville Esq CBECLH C Dew Esq Bath M Dawson Esq MD Heeley Esq V Sothinathan Esq WJ Daulby Esq Radley College DPU Richardson Esq M Henderson-Begg Esq MBE MJR Benson Esq P McNamara Esq Colfe’s School King’s College, Madrid EW Day Esq Stowe School Dr CC Rosenbroijer MW Robson Esq GJ Ladi Esq AW Rae Esq The Hon JAD Hardinge J Scott-Adie Esq

oyster card) when I was in a rush to get to the one would expect from a partly academic- Clubs Down Under other end of town. focused club, the library is large and The recently refurbished accommodation intelligently stocked. I spent a happy hour by Richard Batley on the top foor is superb and the provision of before dinner one evening starting to read he combination of a wedding and a shared ‘pantry’ where residents can make Robert Hughes’ history of early, convict work recently took the author and the odd sandwich or light breakfast is handy. Australia, The Fatal Shore, which I then T his wife to Australia for a few weeks, Breakfast is served in the Gallery Room, which bought for the fight home. providing a perfect opportunity to sample displays some of the more contemporary A special climate and light-controlled some of our antipodean reciprocal clubs. First pieces from the club’s extensive collection, display box in the reading room on the stop was Melbourne where we lodged at the including aboriginal artists. ground foor contains one of the holy grails Australian Club. Built in 1878 the clubhouse An hour’s fight took us to Sydney and of Australian nationhood, the Deptford is of the imposing Gothic variety, Victorian the Union, University & Schools Club. As the shipwright’s original drawings for the in spirit as well as location. However, the name suggests, the club, like our own dear Admiralty refitting of the Whitby whaler,The friendly staff were anything other than East India, is the result of the amalgamation Earl of Pembroke, to serve as HMS Endeavour. severe. The gentleman in charge of the front of a number of clubs that now reside at the If you do ever stay here I strongly desk even lent me his Myki card (Melbourne’s University Club’s clubhouse that was put up recommend the avocado (‘avo’, to use in 1962; although its oldest progenitor, the the local idiom) and tomato on toast for Union Club, was founded more than a century breakfast, which is unexplainably good. I before in 1857. have since tried to recreate this deceivingly Although not on quite the grand scale of simple dish at home, only to be disappointed. the Australian Club, the rooms are excellent I think Waitrose really need to up their and, much like the Australian Club, the staff avocado game. could not be more helpful – including running Noel Coward’s judgement of Australia down the street after a temporarily alarmed after his first trip there (‘It will be nice when Mrs Batley to give her a freshly printed-out it is finished’) certainly applies neither to the map to help her walk to her destination one Australian Club nor the Union, University & morning. Schools Club, both of which are already quite The clubhouse location, a few minutes’ the finished article. I would wholeheartedly walk from the iconic Opera House and recommend either of them to any members The imposing entrance of the Australian Club Harbour Bridge, couldn’t be more perfect. As making a similar trip.

EAST & WEST – SUMMER 2016 19 Reciprocal clubs

The East India welcomes members of BERMUDA PAKISTAN other clubs from all over the world, Tucker’s Town Mid-Ocean Club Karachi Sind Club who may use the club’s facilities as if Islamabad Islamabad Club CANADA they were their own. A reciprocal SRI LANKA arrangement has been made for Montreal ] James’s Club Colombo Colombo Club members to visit these clubs when a University Club Nuwara Eliya Hill Club card of introduction, obtainable from Toronto National Club SINGAPORE the club secretary, is required. These University Club of Toronto Singapore Tanglin Club clubs have all been chosen for their Albany Club SOUTH KOREA suitability for our members but have Vancouver Terminal City Club Seoul ] Seoul Club different facilities. Vancouver Club UK If you are going to visit any of them, Victoria, BC Union Club of Belfast ] Ulster we suggest you telephone first and British Columbia Edinburgh New Club Royal Scots Club find out about them. Let us have your ] Union Club, St John Glasgow Western Club views on your visits and tell us if you EUROPE 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 ] ]] Hurlingham Club your opinion, is no longer suitable. Brussels ] Cercle Royal Gaulois (membership card and photo ID is essential ) Dublin Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club Newcastle Northern Counties Club Frankfurt Union International Club upon Tyne AFRICA Gothenburg ] Royal Bachelors’ Club Perth Royal Perth Golfing SOUTH AFRICA Society & County and City Club Guernsey ] United Club Cape Town Cape Town Club USA The Hague ] Nieuwe of Literaire Societeit Albany, NY Fort Orange Club Durban Durban Club de Witte Berkeley, CA Berkeley City Club Johannesburg Country Club of Hamburg ] Anglo-German Club Boston, MA Algonquin Club Johannesburg Harvard Club Helsinki ] Svenska Klubben Union Club Rand Club Luxembourg ] Cercle Munster Bethesda, MD Kenwood Golf & Pietermaritzburg Victoria Country Club Country Club Madrid ] Financiero Génova Cincinnati, OH Queen City Club Polokwane Pietersburg Club ] Real Sociedad Española Chicago, IL Chicago Athletic Association Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth St George’s Club Club de Campo Standard Club Union League Club Oporto Oporto Cricket & Lawn KENYA University Club of Chicago Club Detroit, IL Athletic Club Nairobi Muthaiga Country Club Paris ] Cercle de l’Union Interalliée Los Angeles, CA Riviera Country Club ZIMBABWE Travellers Club Mountain Lake, FL Mountain Lake Osterville, MA Wianno Club Bulawayo Bulawayo Club Stockholm ] Sällskapet (open May-Nov) Harare ] County Club HONG KONG Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Club Harare Club New York, NY Princeton Club Hong Kong ] Hong Kong Club Lotos Club AUSTRALIA ] Hong Kong Cricket Club Metropolitan Club Union League Club Adelaide Adelaide Club INDIA Norfolk, VA Norfolk Yacht Naval, Military and Air Force Calcutta Tollygunge Club & Country Club Club of Adelaide Philadelphia, PA Union League Club Mumbai Royal Bombay Yacht Club Public Schools’ Club Phoenix, AZ ] University Club Golden Swan Brisbane Queensland Club San Francisco, CA Marines’ Memorial Association University Club Tattersall’s Club JAPAN St Louis, MO Racquet Club Tokyo Tokyo American Club Canberra Commonwealth Club Seattle, WA Rainier Club Hobart Tasmanian Club MIDDLE EAST Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Club Richmond, VA Bull & Bear Club Launceston Launceston Club Bahrain ] British Club Washington DC Army & Navy Club Melbourne Athenaeum Club Dubai Capital Club Cosmos Club University Club Australian Club NEW ZEALAND Melbourne Club ] Accommodation not available Auckland Northern Club ]] Sports facilities not available Christchurch Canterbury Club 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 Sydney Union, University & Napier Hawke’s Bay Club usually require an introductory card which may be Schools’ Club Wellington Wellington Club obtained from the secretary’s office.