Happy Memories next to Empty Tables

Dear Editor,

Travel with me, if you will, down memory lane. A young 18-year-old is having her first romantic date; dinner in the beautiful and elegant Hurlingham Dining Room. A young man was definitely out to impress, and so impressed was I that, yes reader, I married him.

Fast forward 39 years, and knowing that this beautiful room is about to be closed as the Dining Room (a decision which we are finding very difficult to fathom), we wished to take the opportunity to have dinner there. We were not alone in this thought, and despite it being booked up, the maître d’ emailed us to say he could squeeze in a table for two last Friday. He also mentioned he had to turn down another request for a group of five. The food was delicious, the setting just as beautiful as it has always been, having been carefully restored over the years.

A table of 12 was expected and some earlier diners kindly moved into the Drawing Room for coffee, to accommodate this large group…… who never turned up. Surely not only is this the height of bad manners, but completely thoughtless towards the staff, who had made special arrangements for this large booking in our small Dining Room. I can only hope that it is a very small number of people who would do such a thing, but I urge my fellow members not to behave in such a fashion. Our Dining Room is one of the jewels of the Club.

We have celebrated many birthdays and wedding anniversaries in this iconic room over the past 39 years. It is a great sadness that our young will not be able to have their first, second or any dates in this elegant, picturesque but cosy setting.

VICTORIA WHEATLEY

Healthier and Safer

Dear Editor,

I very much agree with the letter from Lizzie Wombwell in the last issue, headed ‘Health and Safety’, about the seating in the Mulgrave Theatre. How are we expected to negotiate the stairs to reach seats on the upper levels, with nothing to hang on to? Coming down is treacherous, as I witnessed the other day, when someone in front me nearly had a serious fall – and I fear that my friends and I could well be next! Is there any possibility of providing some kind of rail? Is it now the time to look into this?    

SUE RILEY

We’re pleased to let you know that we’ve been actively discussing solutions with the seating suppliers who carry out annual maintenance. They’ll be visiting the theatre soon to assess different handrail designs, focusing on options that can be removed and installed as needed. Our goal is to find a solution that improves accessibility without compromising the theatre’s aesthetics. We’re confident that by combining our ideas with their expertise, we’ll find a suitable option.

We’ll keep you updated on the progress in the next issue of the magazine.

LOUISE COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF ESTATES

In a Pickle

Dear Editor,

In the recent (winter) issue of the Hurlingham magazine, I noticed an article on Pickleball which makes an inaccurate statement. Hurlingham is by no means the first club in London to have its own Pickleball court; nor in fact, does Hurlingham have a dedicated Pickleball court at all. Players merely have access to a room in the MUGA which is shared with cricket training, badminton, yoga, pilates, table tennis, mini aces, half-term classes and the Sharky and George school holiday activities for children, to name a few. And with respect to the outdoor court, that is also shared with tennis players who wish to practise against the wall.

Perhaps the correction might be published in the next edition of the magazine.

ENID ROBINSON

Pickleball shares the MUGA with a number of other activities. Pickleball does have a dedicated court painted onto the Tennis Practice wall area, and its own dedicated time-slots each week. It is, however, also used as a tennis practice wall as well. As to which was the first Club to play this sport, it depends on definitions. Members of the Roehampton Club, for example, have been playing Pickleball for longer, but on temporary marked courts.

DANNY SITTON, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS
Click here for Pickleball news

Words of praise

Dear Editor,

Thank you and your team for all your hard work putting together another magazine full of interest. I particularly enjoyed ‘Baby Love’ on page 24. Congratulations to Kate Fazakerley for highlighting a problem in such an entertaining way. I hope everyone reads it and finds it as I do – we all need a good laugh these days!

JANET WHEELER

Thank you for your kind words! Ed

Armani Classic

Dear Editor,

I wonder if there could be a more satisfactory and equitable way of purchasing tickets for this very popular event?

On 8 May, our tennis coach kindly halted our coaching session so we could book tickets. While some of us managed to find tickets, others were left in a 20-minute queue.  After 20 minutes, all the seats were sold out for both Wednesday and Thursday.

The system seems a little unfair on those who might be working/in a meeting or busy during what is essentially a half-hour booking slot.

FLORA LYON

I do take the point that having one particular slot for the release of tickets will be inconvenient for some. The alternative is to have multiple slots with a smaller number of tickets being released which will sell out just as fast. Another factor we take into account is to ensure we have sufficient support in case of a technical issue (which is easier during office hours). Thankfully, the ticketing process went smoothly even though Wednesday, Thursday and Friday sold out within 10-15 minutes. We will certainly review for next year, but there is not an easy solution for an event that sells out so quickly.

DANNY SITTON, DIRECTOR OF SPORTS

Happy Birthday to our Time Capsule

Dear Editor,

Its 20th Birthday was on 5 May and it still has another 80 years to survive before it can fulfil its life’s purpose – namely it’s opening! However, the stone which marks the spot, is already showing its age. It is badly cracked, and one digit has already eroded. (How much did we pay the stone mason?). I won’t be there for the opening, but I hope the stone can be better cared for over the next 80 years, as there is a risk it won’t be readable in 2104. Estates Committee – please note!

TOM WILLS-SANDFORD

A blight on the landscape

Dear Editor,

Am I alone in finding the large, unsightly lifesaving rings on either side of the Lake not only unsightly, but also unnecessary? If Kew Gardens’ lake, which attracts many more visitors, doesn’t need them why do we?  I’ve never heard of children falling in (Hurlingham parents are vigilant after all), and though it may be that the occasional reveller meets the mud, I don’t feel that these monstrosities are justifiable. They should be removed!

JUDY GRAHAM

Here at the Club, the safety of our members and visitors is our top priority. The Lake, whilst seemingly not deep in all places, is unmanned, and unfortunately, accidents can happen even in unexpected situations. Life rings are a vital piece of safety equipment mandated by Health & Safety regulations. Having them readily available helps ensure a prompt response in case of an emergency. Whilst not to everyone’s aesthetic taste we hope you understand the importance of these rings in ensuring everyone’s safety.

LOUISE COLLINS, DIRECTOR OF ESTATES

(can be sung to the tune of the Hippopotamus Song)

Could you write something funny for the magazine
Doesn’t have to be long or that witty
We don’t have much space, as it goes anyway
Just to lighten the mood and look pretty
We’ve got lots of copy on murderous geese
And swan-hunting foxes that maim
There’s a sand eel with similar unpleasant tastes
It makes Game of Thrones look quite tame

Eels, eels, glorious eels, nothing
quite like them for triggering squeals
So follow me follow down to the hollow and there let us wallow in glorious eels

Just jot something down, it won’t take you a mo
It’ll take readers’ minds off the weather
Which everyone’s mentioned and grumbled about
You don’t really need to be clever
We already have stories of guest fee avoiders
And non-members taking a chance
We’ve got lots of drama but not so much fun
Unless you count swimming to France

Swim, swim, glorious swim, nothing quite like it for keeping you trim
So sponsor the swimmers, swimming the Channel,
and let us all hope that the weather’s not grim

KATE FAZAKERLEY