Chairman’s Letter
Winter 2023
Dear Member,
I am pleased to report that the positive start to the year mentioned in my June letter has continued and looks set to remain the case into the year-end. It has been very pleasing to see our Club vibrant and busy over the course of summer and autumn.
Pleasingly, this also means that we are likely to record our best operating profit (surplus) since 2019, although we are still expecting to make a small loss when taking into account depreciation.
It would, however, be remiss of me, to pass over the highlight of the last few months, namely my speech at the Annual Club Dinner in October. Sadly, for those Members who weren’t there, this privilege will fall to the next Chairman in 2024 and thus I expect attendance to be significantly higher next year!
On a more serious note, there is always a lot to cover in these Member updates and that is even more so in this, the final Chairman’s Letter of 2023. There is more detail on the new expanded dining options for next year in the Future Food and Beverage Strategy section as well as further information on the plans for our Bicentenary in 2024.
However, before turning to the detailed update, I should like to encourage all Members to consider making a donation to the Staff Fund as per the Troncmaster’s Letter. There is an incredible amount of hard work that goes into the smooth running of the Club and all donations are very much appreciated by the Staff Team.
Club Operations
and, looking at advance bookings, it looks set to continue until Christmas.
People and Development
“…it was particularly pleasing to see so many Overseas Members return…”
There is more detail on the new expanded dining options for next year in the Future Food and Beverage Strategy section.
I would like to welcome Ruben Cardenosa as the Club’s Financial Controller, who started in July. Ruben brings with him notable experience of the hospitality sector and has begun to introduce much-needed stability and a positive energy to the Finance Department. Ruben is assisted by fellow Spaniard – Monica Lence Mateo, who joined the Club Accounts Team primarily to support the department whilst Ruben worked his notice with his previous employer and took some time off after the birth of his second child. Monica then applied for the position of Assistant Financial Controller and was ultimately successful. Monika Seseikaite – Senior Accounts Assistant, is currently on Maternity Leave.
The Club enjoyed another strong post-pandemic summer, and it was particularly pleasing to see so many Overseas Members return to Stratford House, sometimes for several weeks at a time. The vibrancy, enthusiasm and commitment of the Club’s diverse membership was evident during the warmer months. The fear of a shrinking back of business due to the passing of the post-pandemic ‘bubble’ which was clearly the cause of the surge in usage in summer 2022, did not impact as much as was predicted. Therefore, the utilisation of the Club’s facilities by Members was very stable from early June until early August. September started with a ‘bang’, and this was sustained up until the time of writing
Following the completion of maternity cover for Kate Hazlerigg – Executive Assistant to the Club Secretary, Hannah Bicket was successful in her appointment to the role of Membership Development Co-ordinator. Hannah is responsible for outreach to the Club’s strategic membership partners which includes schools, external societies and other organisations, having already expanded this network with new relationships with two independent schools in South Africa. Hannah is also responsible for coordinating the Bicentenary Celebrations and legacy, and is working very closely with the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary and Sophie Lang – Head of Marketing and Communications. Hannah has also found time to successfully compete in the Mongol Derby and has just completed her first ride in competitive horse racing, raising money for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.
This year’s Ceremony of the Pins gave me the enormous honour and pleasure of presenting numerous long-service awards including Grey Pins for five years’ service to Maria Teresa Casali – Events Manager, Kate Hazlerigg – Executive Assistant to the Secretary, and Andrea Carlotta Montaguti –Commercial Manager, and a Gold Pin each to Jamie Breslin – Acting Sous Chef, Matthew Rivett – Club Secretary, and Sophie Lang – Head of Marketing & Communications, for over ten years’ each (Sophie is approaching her eleventh year now and the Secretary is in his twelfth at the time of writing). Also at the ceremony Violeta Silkaitene –Housekeeping Supervisor, was awarded the Employee of the Quarter.
It is very rewarding to see an incredibly low turnover of Staff Team members in the last twelve months, taking the Club much closer to the era when it was judged thirteenth in the country in the Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2021 Finally, Isabelle Wilcox has succeeded Amy Whitaker as Membership & Human Resources Administrator – we wish Amy well in her new role at Condé Nast in Hanover Square where she is pursuing her ambitions in Human Resources and Publishing.
Member Feedback
Following various conversations, the Vice-Chairman – Laurence Singlehurst, fellow Committee Members and I have had with a variety of Members over the past few years, I thought it would be of interest for all Members to learn more about the type and volume of feedback received by the Club, and how this is shared and actioned.
Feedback is received in two ways – offered verbally to Staff Team members at the time (please note that admonishing Staff must never occur) or direct to the Secretary.
Email is the most common method of receiving feedback (please use sec@orientalclub.org.uk) but the Secretary also receives the occasional ‘proper’ letter and a number of telephone calls or requests for calls. Whatever the initial format of approach, the Secretariat is notified and all feedback is logged, and, in the first instance recorded as negative, constructive or positive. For this reason, complaints should always be communicated to the Secretary, preferably in writing and once sufficient time has passed for reflection to ensure all the details are captured.
The Secretary immediately shares one hundred percent of the feedback with me, the Vice-Chairman and the Convenor of the relevant Sub-Committee (s).
beverage offer further by providing an additional dining option to Members. This will take the form of a traditional dining experience, featuring a carefully curated menu of much-loved Club Classics to be enjoyed in the timeless, intimate setting of the
With the advent of these diverse dining opportunities, the Calcutta Light Horse Bar will take on the role of an informal, drinks-led Bar serving signature cocktails, wines, beer, soft drinks, light dishes and curries. In the summer, the Hill Station menu will extend to include dishes from the Dining Room,
These are important and, in my view, exciting times for our Club. I hope that the greater variety of options will encourage Members to use the Club more frequently for their breakfast, lunch, and
Feedback received from Members since the Future Food and Beverage Strategy was published in my last Chairman’s Letter has been universally positive. The Secretary has had numerous conversations with Members who have remarked that they appreciate the Committee’s bold vision and consider it an appropriate response to the changing landscape in which the Club exists. Needless to say, I encourage Members to make plans and reservations to experience all of the Club’s enhancements when the reservations go
Other Stratford Place Updates
A reminder that the Elizabeth Line is now fully open and functioning with trains to and from Heathrow Airport and Bond Street (and beyond in both directions). A tunnel now links the Elizabeth Line platforms to the Bond Street Underground Railway line meaning that Heathrow Airport is connected directly with Stratford Place and Marylebone Lane, just a few steps from the Clubhouse. The Botree Hotel has now opened on the former site of the Welbeck Street Carpark on Marylebone Lane and may be seen from the Marylebone Lane bedrooms instead of the 1960s brutalist structure and, latterly, a major construction site during the build. Throughout the consultation and construction periods, the Secretary took multiple steps to ensure the best interests of the Club and Stratford
Finance
The Club’s trading position is continuing its upwards trajectory, and an operating surplus is
forecast for the end of the year with a target of reaching bottom-line surpluses (after depreciation and non-operating items) by the end of 2025. The Finance Sub-Committee, working closely with the Secretary and Financial Controller, has continued a prudent approach to controllable costs – including the payroll throughout 2023. The key way in which Members may contribute towards this positive trend is by nominating new Members, thus growing the Subscription base, and by increased usage –either by more frequent visits or by trading up on wines and bedroom categories, for example, during visits, or ideally all of the above!
Inflationary pressures continue to be high, particularly with payroll-related costs – despite this, the Club’s cost inflation is in no way comparable with the Consumer Price Index or other consumer-based matrixes, other than to say the Club usually rises and falls with the same tide. Prices have had to increase during the year but only when necessary, to retain established margins and then only by the minimum required to do so.
Member Payment Cards
Member Payment Cards were introduced in 2021 as a strategic treasury instrument and to put Members in greater control of their expenditure at the Club. The first objective has been embraced enthusiastically by Members and, as a result, has given the Club an approximate treasury advantage of c£1M when compared with the rolling debit of c£250K that the Club funded in the decade leading up to 2021.
The second objective has not been as successful as was envisioned and has led to inconvenience and dissatisfaction amongst Members. It is the single largest source of negative or constructive feedback from Members. The issues derive from the software used to generate the Statements viewable by Members on the App or the Website and the way in which it displays data to the end user. It is certainly not representative of the way the Club wishes to deliver on projects and to communicate important information with Members. The highest levels of management of the software provider have now been given an ultimatum to resolve the issues otherwise the Club will go elsewhere. The Club is committing to providing a userfriendly and intuitive method for Members to view their card usage, balances and bonuses. On behalf of the Secretary and successive Committees I would like to record our apologies for this deficiency.
Progress is currently being made and a decision will be determined on the future of the software, depending upon further improvements, by the end of this year. I will keep you informed of developments.
In the interim, please follow this link to a user-guide to access the information that most Members require. Members may also send specific queries or request a call back by emailing membershipcard@orientaclub.org.uk
Membership and Marketing
The Club recently hosted a successful New Members Reception on 9th November – this proved to be another convivial opportunity for new Members to meet one another, Committee Members and the Honorary Secretaries of the Club’s vibrant range of Societies.
Throughout the Club’s history, Members have played an essential role in sourcing new Members who resonate with the Club’s ethos and values. You are invited to continue this tradition and by doing so help to ensure the Club’s future prosperity for many generations to come, by participating in a new, innovative membership initiative. We have received a very positive response to our Club Membership Ambassadors campaign – current Members* who are motivated to actively recruit multiple new Members from their extensive social and business networks. For each new Member you personally introduce and are successfully elected, a deposit of £100 will be added to your Membership Payment Card. To qualify as a Club Membership Ambassador, you would be expected to recruit a minimum number of Members. The recruited Members must be full annual Subscription paying Members.
We have received a very positive response to our Club Membership Ambassadors campaign.
If you would like to learn more, please contact our Membership Development Co-ordinator – Hannah Bicket at hbicket@orientalclub.org.uk, to express your interest. This initiative is part of a wider Bicentenary recruitment drive - we hope that you will support this.
Our OC7 and OC7+ Schemes continue to be very effective and positive ways of introducing younger Members to the Club. We have been strengthening and growing these relationships and will continue to do so over the Bicentenary year – new schools participating in the scheme include Harrow International School Hong Kong, Wetherby Senior School and Bryanston School, along with Bishops Diocesan College and
Michaelhouse in South Africa. I encourage every Member to consider giving the gift of Membership to their Children, Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews and Godchildren through these schemes (further information may be found in the Subscriptions section on page 16). The recent re-launch of our Under 35 Society provides a varied programme of events for our younger Members, facilitating multiple opportunities to meet one another.
One of the many benefits of Membership is the Club’s relationship with a carefully curated list of Reciprocal Clubs providing privileged access to exclusive Clubs around the world. All Club Members intending to visit a Reciprocal Club must obtain a letter of introduction from the Oriental Club – your visit will be followed by an invitation to provide feedback on your experience. For further information please contact reservations@orientalclub.org.uk
Members have enjoyed reciprocity between the Oriental Club and The Hong Kong Club since the 1960’s and, with many Members travelling frequently to Hong Kong for business and pleasure, The Hong Kong Club has provided both a convivial meeting place and a welcome refuge. In light of this, additional arrangements have been made to enhance the experience of Oriental Club Members visiting Hong Kong, and for The Hong Kong Club Members visiting London. These arrangements demonstrate a mutual commitment to the special relationship between the two Clubs and Oriental Club Members visiting The Hong Kong Club will now benefit from the removal of the 10% surcharge, Letters of Introduction valid until the end of the calendar year once issued, the ability to reserve Private Dining Rooms for functions and events and make reservations for The Hong Kong Club events. Oriental Club Members will also receive a welcome note and complimentary drink on their first visit. The Club will be embarking on an International Roadshow to Singapore and Hong Kong – the first since 2019, in late February and early March next year. I will be making my own arrangements to travel to the region to support the Roadshow, joining Matthew Rivett – Club Secretary, and Sophie Lang – Head of Marketing & Communications. We are looking forward to meeting with our Members resident there, reinforcing our strong relationships with our Reciprocal Clubs and connecting with individuals and organisations who may wish to form an association with the Club. In addition, a number of schools engaged in the Club’s OC7 Programme have strong alumni networks in this region and we will invite their international alumni to events
“Throughout the Club’s history, Members have played an essential role in sourcing new Members who resonate with the Club’s ethos and values”
that we will be hosting. Further details of these events will be circulated soon.
The Club was delighted to welcome back Hari Budha Magar on Monday 30th October for a talk where he shared his experience of summiting Mount Everest. On May 19th this year, Hari Budha Magar became the world’s first double aboveknee amputee to summit Mount Everest, an extraordinary feat that captivated the world’s attention. The Club believed in, and partnered with Hari, supporting his expedition and fundraising efforts, hosting a send-off event in March as well as a homecoming event in June to celebrate his amazing achievement.
Hari’s life story is one of resilience and determination. Having grown up in the Nepalese mountains before serving fifteen years as a Corporal with the Ghurkha Regiment of the British Army, scaling Everest was a boyhood dream for Hari. However, in 2010 an IED in Afghanistan took both his legs and shattered his dreams. Thirteen years later, having overturned a law banning disabled climbers from the mountain, Hari has proved disability is no barrier to reaching the 8,849 metre peak.
Through his expedition and subsequent fundraising, Hari hopes to inspire veterans and others with a disability to realise that, with the right mindset, anyone can achieve their dreams. Now Hari is safely down at sea level, he is urging his global supporters to dig deep as he aims to raise £884,900 (the height of Everest plus two zeros) for five incredible charities; Team Forces, Gurkha Welfare Trust, Pilgrim Bandits, Blesma and On Course Foundation. To support Hari’s Everest appeal, please follow this link The Club is delighted to have made both Hari and his Climb Leader – Krishna Thapa – Honorary Members of the Club to mark this remarkable achievement.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit the Club this year, why not treat yourself to a weekend in London or attend one of the many events that the Club has planned. Why not use your complimentary night of accommodation that is a Benefit of Membership*? For full details of your Benefits of Membership please see pages 18 and 19. Please remember that you may order from the Oriental Club Dine at Home service to send to friends and family from wherever you are in the world – they make the perfect gift. The service also makes an elegant dinner party catering solution and has been very popular for gifting through the presentation of gift cards available to purchase on the website or in person. Please contact clubsales@orientalclub.org.uk to arrange
your bespoke deliveries for corporate gifting. For Members who are less confident about the on-line ordering process, our Staff Team members would be delighted to assist you in placing your orders. A reminder that the Club Boutique is available for Members to browse and purchase the full range of merchandise via the website – the full collection may be found here. We have added several new items recently including a print of Stratford House and Elizabeth Line Tea Towels. The Boutique offers worldwide shipping – guaranteed delivery before Christmas for all UK orders placed by Friday 15th December. Standard delivery is estimated at five – seven business days for UK orders. Please allow additional time for orders with delivery outside of the UK.
Club Events
The Summer Social Calendar events were well-attended, enjoyable occasions. These included the Battle of Waterloo Dinner in June, where the Guest speaker was Major General (Retd) Mungo Melvin CB OBE, who entertained Members and guests with a speech entitled Blücher: Wellington’s Saviour? How the Prussians sealed the Allied victory at Waterloo. The Kai Hoffman Sextet returned for the lively Club Jazz Barbecue in June and the Club hosted the annual Summer Party and Dinner in July. This year’s Shakespeare performance was once again thoroughly enjoyed by Members – The Festival Players performed Twelfth Night. In October, Club Member – Dan Kaszeta, gave a talk on his new book The Forest Brotherhood, which was very well attended, as was the Talk by Serena Merton on her book A Thousand Battles. The Annual Club Dinner in October was an enjoyable Club occasion and Members were treated to a feast prepared by Arkadiusz Forystek – Head Chef, and Andy Blackburn –Executive Chef, paired with fine wines and digestives.
The Bicentenary section in this Letter details the three key events that are planned – all Members are encouraged to participate in this significant chapter of the Club’s history.
Societies
In September, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Vesey-Holt MBE, Andrew Stanley – Battlefield Tour Society Honorary Secretary, and Maria Teresa Casali – Events Manager, led Members to York for a Battlefield Tour on the subject of the English Civil Wars and the Society is planning for next year’s Bicentenary tour to Spain.
The Bridge Society regularly plays its Tuesday afternoon matches and is looking forward to hosting the Bridge Society Christmas Lunch on Tuesday 19th December.
The Chess Society met for its annual Open Chess & Curry Evening in the Summer and many Members participated to the Hamilton Russell Cup Matches as well as friendly games over the past few months.
The Cricket Society was victorious in many matches over the summer and also enjoyed a Cricket Tour to Somerset.
After a well-attended Sunday Lunch in the Courtyard in the Summer, the Curry Society hosted an enjoyable Annual Drinks Party in early December.
The Game Shooting Society hosted two Pheasant shoots at Burwarton in November.
The Golf Society met numerous times this year and Member – Habib Amir, organised a Tour to Portugal in October which received very positive reviews. The Golf Society Annual Dinner, held in November, was also a great success. Partners were most welcome at these events.
There are still several events to look forward to before the end of the year.
The Curry Lunch in November was so popular that the Curry Dinner format was re-introduced as an additional event – the Club was delighted to welcome back Honorary Member and the Sovereign’s Piper – Pipe Major Paul Burns, for the occasion. There are still several events to look forward to before the end of the year including a plethora of festive events such as the Family Christmas Lunch, the Taste of Christmas and the Members’ Complimentary Turkey Curry Lunch. Please see the Forthcoming Events section for further information.
The Music Society organised and hosted several successful recitals over the past few months featuring musicians such as Sir Stephen Hough, piano; Joanna MacGregor, piano; Ben Goldscheider, horn; Callum Smart, violin and Richard Uttley, piano. Steven and Vivien Caley – the new Joint Honorary Secretaries of the Racing Society, have organised a series of well attended racing events over this year, from lunches at the Club, to a day at Sandown Racecourse in May, to hosting a hospitality private box at Lingfield in November.
The Snooker & Billiards Society now hosts regular Social Evenings on the second Thursday of each month. These informal evenings commence at 5.30pm and there are no formal arrangements for
catering. The Society plays two annual tournaments during the winter months as well as approximately four social matches with other London Clubs. The Society is already looking forward to many more informal games as well as its Bicentenary event –the Steve Davies v Dennis Taylor 1985 World Snooker Championship Rematch next June.
The Wine Society, under Mark Spragg – Wine Society Honorary Secretary – hosted a variety of popular tastings during the year, including a Greek Wine Tasting, a Tour of the Gusbourne Estate in July, the Wine Society Annual Dinner and a Port Tasting with Elena Barattini in November.
The Under 35 Society relaunched earlier this year and has organised well-attended events including a Coronation Cocktail Party and a Rum Masterclass. From Thursday 30th November, the Society will run a ‘Last Thursday of the Month’ informal drinks – a detailed calendar of forthcoming events will be circulated soon.
Bicentenary
As 2024 approaches, the Club is making preparations to celebrate the passing of its two-hundredth year. The Bicentenary has three primary objectives, to Celebrate the Oriental Club’s past, present and future, to Sustain the Club’s ethos, reputation and prosperity and to Grow the Club membership to enhance the diverse, rich and thriving community that already exists. These objectives derive from deep-rooted Club traditions conceived of by the Founding Members of the Club in 1824 and it is important that they are embraced, not only in the Bicentenary year, but for many generations to come.
The celebrations will commence with the Bicentenary Launch Party on Friday, 16th February where Members are encouraged to invite guests to an ‘open house’ style afternoon showcasing all that the Club has to offer. The Bicentenary Extravaganza, taking place on Friday 28th June, will be a momentous occasion and Members from around the world are strongly encouraged to attend. The evening will be followed by a Bicentenary Weekend ensuring that Overseas Members can really maximise their visit to the Club. To conclude this momentous year, the Grand Finale will take place on Thursday 5th December, providing a festive occasion for reflection and commemoration. Alongside these events, each of the Club’s Societies will be hosting a special Bicentenary event, there will be a lecture series dedicated to learning more about the Club and Stratford House, along with additional special events, guaranteeing that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
The Club is privileged to have access to archives curated over the past two hundred years and feels strongly that the collection of mementos, artefacts and documents should be continued in the Bicentenary year. The Club invites Members to share photographs and other notable documents from their, and their families’ time at the Club to update the archives and convey memories of Membership throughout the years.
2024 marks a significant milestone for the Oriental Club and it is thanks to Members past and present that the Club continues to prosper. 2024 will provide a wonderful opportunity for Members to utilise their Club, and welcome guests to enjoy Stratford House at its very best.
Donations from Members
The Club wishes to thank the following Members for their donations to the Club this year: Marcus Shadbolt and Rod Ringrow who both donated prints.
Subscriptions
To broadly keep track with the Club’s inflation, there will be a 15% increase in general Subscriptions, with a 5% rebate* credit to Members’ Club Cards upon full payment on 2nd January 2024, therefore an effective increase over last year of 10%.
And Finally
I should like to end by sending all Members my best wishes for the Christmas and New Year holidays and I look forward to celebrating the Club’s Bicentenary with you all in 2024!
David Mayes, Club Chairman
