Compliments to the Chef

Dear Editor

Recently, when I had dear friends staying with me, I booked a table as a special celebration with them to try out the new chef, Chris Wheeler’s, signature dishes being showcased over the last few weeks. We were heartily welcomed to the Rose Court Tent which had been transformed with linen-topped tables, beautifully laid out.

We were treated to a berry and banana vodka cocktail, and an amuse-bouche of smoked salmon blini and arancini. The meal was really delicious, and I could not recommend it more highly. To finish off the evening there was another treat of an Orangelo liqueur. A truly happy evening. I am looking forward to the opening of Brasserie 1869!

DEE REED

Health and Safety 1

Dear Editor

I think we are all aware that there are a number of ladies in the Club who are recovering from broken limbs.

In the ladies’ loo near Main Reception the seats are particularly low and therefore difficult to stand up from. Could we have a grabber/handrail in each cubicle?

As far as I know there isn’t a disabled loo anywhere in the Main building. I am told this is a legal requirement. 

PRUE WHITCOMBE

Thank you for highlighting the need for improved accessibility.

Over the past month, we’ve added accessible features to the ladies’ and gents’ toilets near Main Reception, including outward-opening doors, grab rails, and raised ‘comfort-height’ toilet seats. While some areas cannot be amended without a full refurbishment, we’ve done what we can to enhance accessibility within the constraints of our listed building and existing layouts, and to keep costs manageable within the current budget.

A fully accessible toilet will also be available in the newly refurbished East Wing lobby.

Toilets with grab rails and higher toilet cisterns can be found in the Racquet Centre,
East Wing, Palm Court Lobby, Fitness Centre and Outdoor Pool.

Kenneth Karbgo-Reffell, our Head of ESE and Estates, has been focusing on these enhancements to ensure members’ needs are met. 

LOUISE COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF ESTATES

Health and Safety 2

Dear Editor

This feels all too familiar. Around this time last year, I wrote to express my concern about the lack of a handrail for the seating steps in the Mulgrave Theatre – a clear Health and Safety issue – not only for older members but also those who can feel a bit unsteady on their feet.

I was encouraged at the time by the response from the Director of Estates, Louise Collins, who acknowledged the problem and confirmed it was something that could and should be addressed.

It is therefore deeply disappointing to now hear that the budget only stretches to “critically urgent” projects – as though preventing potential injuries in a theatre regularly used by an ageing membership is somehow not urgent enough.

I, and many others who have long looked forward to returning to our theatre without the constant risk of navigating treacherous stairs unaided, would argue that this is a critically urgent project. Must we really wait for a serious accident to happen before action is taken?

SUE RILEY

Thank you for continuing to advocate on behalf of members who value safe and accessible facilities at the Club. 

We’ve looked at some viable options for a handrail in the Mulgrave Theatre, and we will be including this in our proposals for the 2026 CAPEX plan, which is currently being developed with the relevant working groups for later in the year.  While we had hoped to progress this sooner, the timing of the original request meant it fell outside the current budget cycle, and regrettably, we were not able to reallocate funds retrospectively this financial year. Additionally, as the theatre space has been closed off as part of the wider East Wing project, we’ve not been able to carry out detailed assessments or begin any preliminary work during this period.

This is still on our radar, and we’ve identified a supplier so that we’re ready to move forward once funding is secured. Please rest assured that we are committed to addressing this in the upcoming planning cycle.

LOUISE COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF ESTATES

Thank you, Barbara

Now aged a youthful 100 years, Hurlingham member Barbara Bindley celebrated VE Day at the Club and related some of her memories of volunteering in World War 2. She joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) at 17 ½ and was recruited to an aircraft training station down in Somerset. She travelled down by train, having to stand all the way!

There she worked with Spitfire pilots, sending them vital messages by radio and sometimes even helping with their training. She also recalls that she went to some wonderful parties at that time and had tremendous fun!

FRANCES GORDON