Chairman’s Introduction
As is normal at this time of year, the Club is incredibly busy and it is wonderful to see so many members and their guests, as well as former members who are attending Regimental dinners, enjoying all that the Club has to offer.
This Autumn has beaten expectations in terms of revenue, which I expect will result in a year end operating surplus of £265,000. This will be ahead of budget and the first time we have achieved a healthy surplus since 2019. This is an impressive result given the disruption caused by the building works in the summer months, whereby the third-floor bedrooms were out of use for several weeks.
My thanks go to the Secretary and his whole team for careful budget management but also for how they have delivered such a good service to members at such a busy time. I cannot remember standards being so high – a sentiment that is reflected in the numerous messages I receive from members.
Our sporting and interest groups go from strength to strength. Last week, I attended the annual dinner for the Motor Club where Richard Hammond, of Top Gear fame, was the guest speaker. What a splendid evening! Thanks go to Charles Whitaker for organising this group so deftly. The same day Seasmoke, the horse owned by the Club’s first racing syndicate won at Market Rasen having been third a couple of weeks earlier on her first run of the season.
The latest group to be established, by a young serving officer, is the chess club. Please contact the Membership Secretary for details of this or any other group or if you have an idea to establish a group that may also be of interest to other members. I draw your attention to the article later in this newsletter on Connect 127, the business forum and network run by the Club that will be of particular interest to those of our members looking to transition into civilian life. Thanks go to Simon Hill who puts in so much effort into running this.
A quick update on the Governance Review that has been underway since 2024. The Committee has concluded that transitioning the Club into a charity is the way forward. An application was submitted in October to the Charity Commission for the creation of a new charity, The Cavalry and Guards Club Charity. We expect to receive feedback
early next year and, if positive, we will then put forward the detailed proposal to the membership and seek your approval.
My time as your Chairman comes to an end next June, and I am delighted to announce that the Committee has elected Brigadier Andrew Hughes to be my successor. I know he will be a popular choice and am confident that he will serve you all well.
It just remains for me to wish all a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2026.
Christian Yates Chairman
Staff Fund
As you know, it is not customary to tip staff at 127, and this fund offers us the opportunity to show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication they demonstrate throughout the year.
Last year, 789 members contributed to the fund –137 more than the previous year – which was very encouraging. However, with nearly 3,000 members, I believe we can do even better.
In 2024, our largest individual donation was £2,000, and five members contributed £1,000. The smallest donation was £10, and 212 members gave £50 or less. As ever, every contribution matters, so, when combined, even the smallest gifts make a difference to the staff who support us so well throughout the year.
How to contribute:
QR Code – please scan the code below Online – https://cavgdsclub.co.uk/login
By email – jay.jogia@cavgdsclub.co.ukk
Over the telephone – 020 7659 0904
In person – you can speak to the porters at Front Desk or you can visit Accounts or Membership.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support.
Thank you so much for your patience and generosity with regards to the lantern. While the project has been disruptive, it has been worth the effort.
We anticipate that works next year will be much reduced. We will refurbish and redecorate the last nine rooms and three bathrooms on the fourth floor as well as install air conditioning. This, we feel, will be transformative for you in the hazy hot days of summer. In January, we will do some work on the Porters’ Desk to make it a little bit larger and more ergonomic for Peter and his team, as well as making it more presentable.
As Rachel from accounts does her worst, we shall continue to work hard to keep our prices as keen as possible and our service as warm as it should be into 2026. I am so lucky to have a team of people genuinely driven to cater to you. We are all acutely aware that you have much choice in this part of town when it comes to dining and private events. We work hard to ensure that you think of your club first when contemplating your diaries.
The use of the Club from September to December has set new records and we are so pleased that so many members find the place relevant and that it provides for their needs and wants.
We strive daily to improve and evolve and all we do is a team effort.
As we move into to 2026, I am happy to ensure that the team has a full two weeks off. Therefore, the Club will be closed from 5pm on Friday, 19 December to Monday, 5 January 2026.
Wishing you the happiest Christmas!
Rupert Elliott Secretary
Employee of the Month
September
Devis Sima – (Chef Tournant – Kitchen) I am Albanian and a keen Arsenal fan.
Haben Weidemichael – (Food and Beverage Assistant –Dining Room) I have a phobia of spiders; love going to see live standup comedy shows; and hate the winter weather!
October
Ellie Ross – (Commis Chef – Kitchen) I can play piano man on the harmonica. I am the first student to get employee of the month at the Calvary and Guards Club. I was the top female student at Westminster Kingsway College for an international competition.
Paula Munevar – (Breakfast Supervisor – Dining Room) I have visited 15 countries; saw Ocras in the wild; and am scared to ride a bike in London.
November
Haruna Salabaya – (Kitchen Porter – Kitchen) I am from Uganda. My hobby is to play football, and I support Manchester United.
Zuzanna Brodowska – (Food and Beverage Assistant –Dining Room) I am only 17. I love exploring new countries and going on spontaneous trips. I won first place in a singing competition.
Devis Sima Haben Weidemichael
Ellie Ross
Haruna Salabaya
Paula Munevar
Zuzanna Brodowska
Polaris
by Major John Boyes
The atom bombs dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War opened the door to the nuclear age. Seeing the potential for developing nuclear energy for the US Navy, Captain Hyman Rickover initiated a research programme that culminated in the launch of USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine.
Meanwhile, ballistic missile technology was developing fast but was still reliant on complex liquid fuels. The US Navy partnered with the army to develop a ballistic missile for both services but withdrew when solid fuels became a practical proposition. Under the leadership of Rear Admiral William Raborn, the US Navy set up its own project: the Polaris weapon system. In 1960, the first missile-armed nuclear-powered submarine left on patrol, with forty more to follow in subsequent years. Two years later, when Britain’s Blue Streak and Skybolt plans were cancelled, Harold Macmillan and John F Kennedy agreed for Polaris to be supplied to the Royal Navy.
At a time of intensive re-examination of the NATO alliance, the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and USA, and Britain’s role as a nuclear power, this is the first comprehensive history of Polaris. It brings together technical aspects, the key characters, and the full stories of the American and British programmes.
Duck!
We are always delighted to see our Club Shop items adorning our members’ homes. Please see below one of our ducks. Please turn to page 9 for more of our items.
Club Telephone Numbers
Dining Room 020 7659 0919
Events 020 7659 0906
Please can we ask once more that, wherever possible, you call the department you need rather than using the main number. As such, may we take this opportunity to remind you of the numbers and ask you to save them:
Financial Controller 020 7659 0904
Front Desk 020 7499 1261
Membership Secretary 020 7659 0902
Secretary 020 7659 0900
In Memoriam
Deaths
Major Nicholas Sibley in September 2025. 8th King’s Royal Hussars. A member since 29 April 1958.
Lieutenant James Gibson Fleming on 11 October 2025. Royal Hussars. A member since 22 August 1990.
Major Christopher Harrison on 21 October 2025. Queen’s Own Yeomanry. A member since 14 March 2018.
Adrian Longley Esq OBE on 16 November 2025. Rifle Brigade. A member since 29 June 1971.
My Calendar
Our website continues to develop and we are delighted by the new My Calendar feature.
As seen in the picture (below) this shows, in calendar form, any bookings you have whether they be in the Dining Room, a Club Event, a Private Event or a Bedroom.
In the bottom right corner is a button saying ‘View Upcoming Events’, this will show all the events for Club members. As seen in the picture (right), if they are in grey they are not yet bookable but you can, of course, add them to your diary. If in gold, you can book them. And, if you are already booked in, they will be in gold but with a number on them for how many tickets you have booked.
You will find My Calendar as a button on your home page but also in the drop down menu of Members’ Area.
https://cavgdsclub.co.uk/login/
Truffle Month
Truffles offer health benefits, they are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is for this reason we are planning, in November 2026, a truffle month.
Members will be delighted to know that a limited choice, truffle centric menu will run alongside our á la carte menu.
Our chef, Paul Farmer will conjure up a tantalising choice of dishes which Stefano will pair with wine by the glass.
From the Archivist
The Kadir Cup
“For those who love horses there can be few opportunities more likely to stir the adrenalin than that of riding in the Kadir Cup”.
So begins an article written by David Chappell for Country Life in March 1979 – and which formed the core content for the excellent talk given in the Club recently by Johnny Gorman, who was himself the main protagonist of David’s article and the winner of the Kadir Cup on that recorded outing.
However, what was of most interest to the Club about the talk, was that the story written about the Kadir Cup in the excellent history of the Club produced in 2009, obviously had a continuum, of which the author of the book – and I –had been unaware. Namely that the Kadir Cup competition had a ‘life’ that continued post the Second World War –and that the Cup last presented in 1939 – and in the Club’s possession – was only one of several copies (a number of whose incarnations can be found online when Googling the Kadir Cup). Of relevance to the Club, one is owned by a member and another by the King’s Troop RHA.
So let us recall what was written back in 2009 – and add what we know today (the augmented knowledge I have added in italics).
The famous pig-sticking contest was first held in India in 1869 (this date is derived from a list of winners in the Club’s possession – giving the first winner as a Lieutenant Bibby, 4th Hussars, riding a horse called The Doctor). In 1873, Mr W A Forbes of the Indian Civil Service presented a cup to the winners of the competition, which was run after pig, first spears to count. (David’s article notes ‘it was first run for in 1874 and was won by Lieutenant White, 15th Husssars’ – and having done further research I have found an article that states that ‘previous to that date (1874) it had been merely a point to point race over a pig-sticking country and called the Forbes Cup in honour of the founder and President of the Meerut Tent Club. In 1870, the name of the cup was changed to the ‘Forbes Kadir Cup’ and the competitors had to ride with spears in their hands... in 1874 the conditions of the cup competition were changed, it became the ‘Kadir Cup, and was run after pig, with the long spear.)
The contestants were divided by lot into parties of not more than four and rode to spear in heats, continuing until the winner emerged from the final run. Each competitor could enter two horses, and the cup was won by the horse, not the rider. (From the 1979 article – “for the competition, all the spears (about 60 including visitors) were divided into heats of about seven each. There were also between 20 and 30 umpires, spectators and soldiers who acted as horsecatchers or ‘pickers-up’. They were mounted, some on horses, some on an elephant and a few more in jeeps…… When a pig gets up, the heat which sees it first, hunts it, and the man who gets first spear wins the heat. The first spear on the largest pig is the overall winner, and a boar always takes precedence over a sow.)
The event was traditionally held at Sujhmana, near Meerut, where the Indian Mutiny started, in the Ganges Kadir (riverine) country. (The Kadir cup was organised each year in the month of March and started on Sunday to conclude on a Wednesday. More than 100 elephants, even more horses would take part in a competition where almost every important Army Officer would compete to win. Several Indian Princes also took part, but the only Indians
to win the cup were Maharaja Rana Dholpur (1885), General Gurdut Singh (1895) and Colonel Seeva Singh (1902)).
In 1922, a new and larger silver cup was presented by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club as a challenge trophy and this is the one on display in the (Cavalry and Guards) Club. In addition, the winning owner received the sweepstake money for the purchase of a sealed-pattern cup, which he kept. (In 1922, the Kadir Cup was held on 13th,14th and 15th March where the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII/Duke of Windsor) was himself present. The camp was set between Gajraula and Meerut. The cup was won by Captain Baldwin with his horse ‘Blue Baron/Barrow (?).
They were mounted, some on horses, some on an elephant and a few more in jeeps...
The Kadir Cup competition was not held after 1939*. Its winner that year was Major (later Brigadier) P H J Tuck RA, who would originally have kept it for a period of one year. However, after the outbreak of war and a transfer to Egypt, he placed it in the RA Mess at Meerut and reclaimed it after the war, when the Calcutta Turf Club decided that its final winner should hold it until his death. Several years later Brigadier Tuck was persuaded to lend it to the Indian Army Museum at Sandhurst for display in the Indian Army Memorial Room, and there it stayed until it was removed from display in the mid-1980’s when, with the agreement of the National Army Museum, and the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, the Kadir Cup was accepted on permanent loan by the Committee of the Cavalry and Guards Club.
*From David Chappell’s article we now know that in 1979 “The Kadir is currently kept alive by the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) commanded by Colonel Sam Ahlawat, and it comes at the end of an eight-month equitation course, run annually by the Corps … and at the conclusion of his article he writes ‘ with only one pig killed. It was obvious that this competition was not really comparable to those in days gone by ……. However, when the pig was afoot it still demanded nerve and horsemanship to get first spear , and that is what Johnny (Gorman) had done and almost unbelievably won the Kadir Cup.
And so, hopefully, I trust that is a slightly more augmented story of the Kadir Cup. Interestingly, a point missed in the original piece for the book, was that one of the more notable recipients of the cup in 1883 was a Lieutenant BadenPowell, 13th Hussars riding’ Patience’. That ‘soon-to-be’ very remarkable and noteworthy Cavalry Club Member – would really necessitate a full article by the Club Archivist if his portrait (once hanging in the old Club Library) had not been sold at the time of the acquisition of the freehold in the 1980’s. Nevertheless, one should always ‘Be Prepared’!
Bouquets and Brickbats
Bouquets
The beef was cooked perfectly and everything served at the correct temperature, no mean achievement! TG
An absolute triumph and a magnificent gathering. SR
I have received many compliments about the food, especially the duck. Thank you, Paul. GY
From the porters to the housekeepers - it was seamless end to end. SE
Thank you so much for such an excellent evening for our officers. I think it was the best dinner ever. AH
I want to pass on our sincere thanks to you all for a delicious curry lunch after the Remembrance Service. I know the Club discontinued the lunches some years ago due to falling numbers and so we hope that 48 this year will sustain the occasion going forward. An idea, something small and sweet after the curry would complete the lunch perfectly. TH
Secretary: we will do a simple pudding next year.
I have written separately to Ervin to thank her for her brilliant assistance. She was always courteous, and efficient in taking last minute instructions, and I would recommend you look after her as she is a keeper in my opinion. EDJ
I think credit goes to David and Musa in the Bar who are always so cheerful, friendly and polite. LR
Just a quick thank you for Thursday evening. Apart from a little mix up with the silver which did provide a laugh when Jones (the big silver horse) was carried into the room to the calls of ‘loose horse!’, it was executed seamlessly. LW
The food surpassed all expectations; I was very happy with my choice of menu, which was truly delicious. PR
Thank you very much for organising last night’s Kadir Cup talk, it was both informative and enjoyable! It is always a pleasure to visit the Club, and I have always been made to feel welcome as a guest. CCM
I know this is a particularly busy time of year for the events team, and that you are all new in post, so I am especially grateful for your efforts in creating such a memorable occasion. It was hugely appreciated by everyone who attended. GR
Just a quick note to thank you and Musa for all you did to make today so special for my mother and her twin sister. CC
My guests were effervescent with praise. SR
Had my first solo lunch at the Club today. It was truly a gorgeous experience. Fabulous food. Really well looked after and a great wine list. JA
We thought lunch was excellent. Good fare and smiley attentive staff. Swift service, too. I know that there has been quite a bit of change of late, which is fine and no more than progress, but, of course, being a members’ club you are never going to please all the punters. I keep my eyes wide open, and all I see is a Club functioning well. We ask no more. JC
Thank you so much for arranging the wonderful, delicious lunch and Cartier exhibition. It was such a joy to be in the Club where the environ is so very special. Looking forward to attending another of your events in the future. NA
Brickbats
I had to write to share my thoughts on Remembrance Sunday’s Curry Lunch. It was, to put it mildly, very disappointing. The food was the worst I can ever remember eating at the Club. There were two bowls of insipid and rather cold curry served onto a plate with the only accompaniments being a few tired poppadoms and rather stale naans. There seemed to be no curry, heat, or any spice in any part of the lunch. DM
Secretary: A couple of comments did allude to the fact t hat it would have been nicer to have an extra meat dish. Next year, we will do a spicy one, a mild one and a veggie, but it has been said by other attendees, that for a first attempt in some time by the Club, it was perfectly good for the £30 charge.
Unfortunately, we were woken at approximately 1am and again at 3am by loud shouting and laughter coming from the conservatory area. On Saturday, I was surprised to find that the Club had effectively been taken over by a wedding party. I had hoped to invite a friend for a drink but felt unable to do so as members were confined to Geoffrey’s Bar and the adjoining room. I fully understand the need for the club to host external events, but on this occasion it felt that members’ enjoyment and comfort were significantly compromised. TH
Secretary: I really feel for you regarding the singing soldiers although at this time of year it is fairly common. That notwithstanding, we shall make a note to ensure you are on the other side when next there is a risk during your stay. The wedding should perhaps not have impacted, though they did take almost every room and were members.
Interest Groups
Art Exhibition Lunches 2026
Our art exhibition lunches continue to grow in popularity, with 32 in attendance at the last one of 2025. Olivia Cox, who brilliantly runs this group, has planned four exhibitions for 2026, please see the list below. More information will be distributed by email and on the website.
Wednesday 28 January
Wright of Derby: From the Shadows at the National Gallery
Wright of Derby: From the Shadows is the first exhibition dedicated to Joseph Wright ‘of Derby’ (1734–1797) and the first exhibition to focus on his candlelight series. The artist’s dramatic depictions of natural and artificial light link his work back to the artistic traditions of the Renaissance and artists such as Caravaggio, whose strong light and deep shadows were rarely employed in British art before the mid-18th century.
Tuesday, 12 May
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at the King’s Gallery
To mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace will play host to the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion ever mounted.
Through approximately 200 items, around half on display for the first time, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will chart the remarkable story of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch through clothing worn in all ten decades of her life: from birth to adulthood, from princess to queen, and from off-duty style to diplomatic dressing for the global stage.
Thursday, 15 October
Painting the French Riviera at the Royal Academy
the rise of modern art – and later, a travel destination and film location that helped define mid-century glamour. The story will come alive through more than 120 works, including paintings, sculpture, travel posters, and film, from the 1870s to the 1960s.
Wednesday, 2 December
Renoir and Love at the National Gallery
With over 50 works Renoir and Love will be the most significant exhibition of the French impressionist’s work in the UK for 20 years. It will include his most experimental, ambitious and admired canvases including the iconic Bal au Moulin de la Galette, which will be exhibited in the UK for the first time. The exhibition will focus on the crucial years of the artist’s career, from the mid-1860s to the mid-1880s. The exhibition traces the evolution of the imagery of affection, seduction, conversation, male camaraderie and the sociability of the café and theatre, as well as merry-making, flirtation, courtship and child-rearing in Renoir’s art.
The Alpine Group Ski Trip to Austria
After the success of this year’s trip, you are once more invited to attend the Cavalry and Guards Alpine Group ski trip.
The week will be based at the family run Hotel Madrisa in Gargellen, Austria: www.madrisahotel.com/en and we are looking at dates in March. The Club will have already sent an email about the dates. If you have not seen it, please contact Tim Bradshaw on tim@sandstonecommunications.co.uk
The story of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and Modernists in the French Riviera. Matisse and Klein in Nice. Cezanne in L’Estaque. Signac in SaintTropez. Monet and Picasso in Antibes. Bonnard in Le Cannet. Renoir in Cagnessur-Mer. This exhibition looks at how the French Riviera became a catalyst for creativity – supporting
The week will include skiing and socialising. On the agenda will be welcome drinks on the first night, an AGM and a gala dinner. We will arrange guided skiing and instruction for those who would like it. The area also plays host to a number of excellent ski touring routes. Partners and children of skiing age are welcome!
To give you an idea, 2025’s costs were 1675-1822 Euros, including the lift pass and depending on the room. All accommodation is 1/2 board and the food is exquisite.
Tim Bradshaw Chair of the Alpine Group
Connect 127
The Business Network of the Cavalry and Guards Club
Connect 127 has now completed its second year, though some members may still be unfamiliar with who we are and what we do. Our purposes are simple: to bring together Club members engaged in business, helping them advance their interests and careers by creating new connections in a congenial and appropriate setting. We also warmly welcome members transitioning into the business world from the Regular Army who seek guidance and insights from those already established or leading in their fields. Our activities typically include gatherings over breakfast or lunch to hear from distinguished business leaders, as well as informal drinks receptions that encourage free-flowing conversation and networking.
Over the past year, our formal sessions have featured exceptional speakers from the technology sector. We began with Dr Nicola Hodson, Chair of IBM UK & Ireland, who shared a “Big Tech” perspective, particularly on the major areas of research and development attracting significant investment – a true race for innovation. Next, Dame Anne Glover, CEO of Amadeus Capital and one of the UK’s foremost tech venture capitalists, highlighted the dramatic returns possible from early-stage companies, especially for institutional investors. Her remarks echoed themes raised by last year’s speaker Sir Nicolas Lyons, originator of the Mansion House Compact. Dame Anne also emphasised the creativity of UK designers and the amount of solutions to everyday problems that could be unlocked if investors deployed more capital into higher-risk ventures. Most recently, Rupert Lee-Browne, Chair of fintech Caxton, addressed the challenges faced by early-stage tech firms, from leadership and talent acquisition to the perennial question: how to persuade UK asset managers to invest more adventurously? All our speakers have been thought-provoking, and the lively Q&A sessions have been as enjoyable for them as for us.
This year, we held three formal sessions instead of four, but the Connect 127 Committee plans to maintain this series next year while introducing additional events we hope members will welcome:
• Career Focused Dinners – informal, monthly gatherings of practitioners from a specific industry to discuss sector trends and issues without distraction. We aim to rotate these across as many sectors as possible and invite members to help convene them. Should you wish to host one of these, please contact Catherine Brumwell on membership@cavgdsclub.co.uk
• Sector Selector Suppers – Starting in May, these larger events will support members leaving Regular Service who may know little about the business world or which sectors to pursue. After a short introduction on planning and implementation, “Pathfinders” from various industries will give brief presentations to spark interest and encourage meaningful conversations afterwards— perhaps over a glass of Club claret! We hope these sessions will help members in transition find their footing and become regular participants in sector events.
Looking ahead, next year’s formal sessions will open with a focus on defence technology. Our first speaker will be Neil Johnson, Chair of QinetiQ and a distinguished member of our own Club. Neil’s extensive experience includes chairing Synthomer plc, Centaur plc, and Electra plc, as well as serving as Senior Independent Director of the Business Growth Fund. His two last mentioned roles align with our continuing theme: investment really matters. We’ll confirm the date soon and look forward to seeing you there!
Simon Hill Chair of Connect 127
Forthcoming events
Wednesday, 21 January
Club Talk: In Search of the British
Wednesday, 28 January
Art Exhibition Lunch to Wright of Derby at the National Gallery
Tuesday, 3 February
Holland Park Opera at 127
Friday, 6 February
Grand Military Gold Cup
Wednesday, 25 February
Club Talk: Strick – Tank Hero of Arras
Friday, 6 March
Fine Champagne Dinner – Bollinger
Wednesday, 25 March
Club Talk: Retracing the steps of Laurence of Arabia
Wednesday, 22 April
Annual Ladies Lunch
Friday, 24 April
Spring Reels
Thursday, 23 April
Club Talk: The Stragglers of the Asia Cricket Club
6-10 May Tent at the Badminton Horse Trials
Wednesday, 6 May Lunch for 60+ Year Members
Thursday, 7 May Cigar and Port Dinner
Tuesday, 12 May
Art Exhibition Lunch to Queen Elizabeth II – Her Life in Style at the King’s Gallery
Tuesday, 12 May Sector Selector Dinner
Wednesday, 13 May
Club Talk: The Spy and the Devil
Wednesday, 10 June Annual General Meeting
16-20 June
Royal Ascot
Wednesday, 24 June
Club Talk: The Rise and Fall of the British Army
Please note
While we hope there will be no changes, some might occur. Please contact the Membership Secretary for more details membership@cavgdsclub.co.uk
Badminton Horse Trials
Holland Park Opera at 127