Andrei Spence • Club News
Club News Club refurbishment update Great news! Phase 2 of the Project CREST Refurbishment of the Club premises in Whitehall Court completed on time and on budget in June, and as this issue of the Journal goes to press Phase 3 (the final phase) is well and truly underway, on-schedule, and will be handed back to us by the end of July, just as we planned.
(until the beginning of August), while the original Bar and Lounge was refurbished.
Reception is already back where it always used to be, so checking-in and checking-out is no longer on the Ground Floor – it is on the Upper Ground Floor.
The new Business Suite is now open, on the Ground Floor, opposite the General Office and adjacent to the new Committee Room. This is the place to use laptops and other electronic devices please.
The Luggage Room is back where it used to be – and the key will be held at Reception, or with the Porters downstairs after hours, as before. The Lounge and Bar have spent a period next to Reception, in what was the Cumber Room and the offices. This was a temporary arrangement
Laptops should no longer be used in the Lounge or Bar, and Business meetings should not be held here either. The Shaw Room is available for both of these.
Further details of the tremendous enhancements made to the Club during Project CREST are detailed on pages 12+13 of this Journal. We expect all rooms to be fully available from the end of July. An official opening is planned for November.
Newbury races Members enjoyed a fine evening of racing at Newbury as part of the Club’s Summer Tour (see pages 8+9), including a talk from world-famous trainer Richard Hannon of Herridge Racing Stables, Marlborough – four
04 • The Farmers Club Harvest Journal 2016
times British flat racing Champion Trainer, with over 100 wins/season 20 times, over 200 wins twice, and 32 Royal Ascot winners. A wonderful experience – with some Club members even succeeding with the betting!
Andrei Spence After a whirlwind two weeks which encompassed my handover, the General and House Committees, the Annual General Meeting, the Club Summer Tour around two estates and Newbury races, I can honestly say I am delighted to be joining the Club, writes Andrei Spence, who officially took over as the Club’s Secretary and Chief Executive on July 1st. These are momentous times at the Club, with the completion of Project CREST at the end of July, creating a truly fabulous Club environment, increasing the flexibility of available space, but without compromising on the very self-evident ambience and homely environment that makes this such a stand out and special place. Running parallel with our own developments, the farming industry is facing significant challenges, in an environment which is currently shrouded in uncertainty following the Brexit decision. At such pivotal times, the Club’s founding aim of being a forum for debate and discussion is unlikely to be diminished, and we are increasingly equipped to facilitate such activities. May I thank all those members who I have already met for your generosity of spirit and unreserved welcome, and I look forward greatly, to meeting as many as possible over the coming months, as we as a Club move forward, and as part of the broader UK community, navigate a safe route through some turbulent waters.