From the Secretary

Throughout our history, the Club has adapted to changing circumstances and ridden through crises and, once again, we are rising to meet new challenges.

In considering these challenges, the Board was briefed recently by Kate Nicholls, the Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, on the key issues facing the Government and the hospitality sector in dealing with the pandemic. She highlighted that the most successful organisations were those which had ‘pivoted swiftly’ to adapt facilities and services to embrace the ‘hybrid requirements of more seamless work and leisure activity’.

We have done this: we have been creative in adapting quickly to the COVID-19 restrictions and your requirements. As I write this, almost all of the facilities at both clubhouses have been open for several months, providing the excellent dining and sporting facilities, the high standards of service and the warm welcome that you expect. As you will see from the pages of this edition of Pell-Mell & Woodcote, your Club has an enormous amount to offer and I firmly believe that there is nowhere else which can provide such a safe environment in which to enjoy our breadth of services.

I would like to thank you for the tremendous support we have received from you, our members, throughout recent months. There is much to look forward to in 2021 and I am sure that your Club will continue to offer you a familiar and relaxing sanctuary where you can enjoy the company of your colleagues, friends and family.

I very much hope to see you at Pall Mall or Woodcote Park soon and that you have an enjoyable, if somewhat different, Christmas.

Miles Wade CBE Club Secretary

WELCOME

Annabel Harrison | Pell-Mell & Woodcote Magazine Editor

“We are living in a time of great disruption in our industry; the most disruptive time since the invention of the car, I believe. Electrification, autonomous technology, car sharing – it’s all happening, but our strategy and our new factory give us the means to meet it head on.”

These are the words of Club member Joerg Hofmann, interviewed in this issue about steering the London Electric Vehicle Company towards a green future (p. 70) – upon which he is fascinating, and passionate – but in truth, as you all know well, disruption is to be found everywhere. COO Daniel Pereira details the Club’s response to COVID with innovative new services and the Heads of Housekeeping Maria Constantin and Jennifer Kennedy provide both information and reassurance about the work that goes into keeping the Club spotless (p. 64).

In this issue we look forward to the Veteran Car Run and the Motoring Book of the Year Awards, and to the opening of the family facilities in the Walled Garden in March 2021; I visited with Board Member Pippa Cronk to find out what members can expect from this remarkable new space (p. 38). In the meantime, the clubhouses are open as near to normally as they can be and some of our Board and Committee Members share their favourite Club activities with us (p. 32).

Christmas is fast approaching and six of our chefs showcase the recipe that, in their home country, they most enjoy cooking and eating at this time of year (p. 46). Find out more about the festive season at the Club and in particular dining, drinking and gifts (pp. 24-31); Christmas may be rather different this year but the Club is dedicated to creating as enjoyable a festive experience as possible.

Annabel Harrison Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

The Club members, journalists, enthusiasts and experts who have contributed to this issue.

CLUB DIRECTORY

For more contact information visit www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Club Secretary, Miles Wade CBE 020 7747 3253 secretary@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Pereira 020 7747 3237

MEMBERSHIP 01372 229600 ACCOUNTS 01372 229608/9

PALL MALL

89 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS 020 7930 2345 recpm@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Banqueting 020 7747 3386 Barber 020 7747 3365 Bedroom Reservations 020 7930 2345 Brooklands Room 020 7747 3380 Events 020 7747 3441 Great Gallery 020 7747 3375 Hall Porter 020 7747 3267 Hanging Room 020 7747 3482 Library 020 7747 3398 Post Office 020 7747 3266 Simms Centre 020 7747 3349 Sports Reception 020 7747 3365

WOODCOTE PARK

Epsom, Surrey KT18 7EW 01372 276311 wpreservations@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Banqueting 020 7747 3386 Bedroom Reservations 01372 229254 Cedars Sports 01372 229266 Events 01372 229230 Fountain Brasserie 01372 229225 Golf Reception 01372 229245 19th Hole 01372 276311 Motoring 01372 229627 Shop 01372 229248 Stirling’s 01372 229204

PELL-MELL & WOODCOTE MAGAZINE

Editorial Office 020 7536 8405 pellmell@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Advertising 020 7531 7147 advertising@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Published on behalf of the Royal Automobile Club by Luxury London Media Ltd.

ANNABEL HARRISON

Managing Editor of Pell-Mell & Woodcote magazine since January 2018, Annabel is a freelance writer and editor with 12 years of multi-channel experience. In this time, she has worked with a wide range of brands and publications across the luxury lifestyle, retail and publishing sectors.

SAM BARKER

Sam’s cinematic photography has led to multiple awards and commissions ranging from tribal chefs in Columbian rainforests to Lewis Hamilton in the pits of Monza. He shoots travel stories worldwide and has 14 portraits in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

JESSE CROSSE

Founding Editor of Performance Car magazine in the 1980s, Jesse has freelanced for the past 30 years, writing for Autocar, Top Gear, Classic Cars, The Telegraph, The Times, Octane and many others. He is the Motoring Editor of Pell-Mell & Woodcote magazine.

GILES CHAPMAN

Giles is an award-winning journalist and author, with 55 car and motoring-related books to his name. He created the Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Book Of The Year Awards, and is an expert in collectable cars and artefacts.

JOHN EVANS

John trained to be a concert pianist before becoming a car salesman. He went on to edit car, caravan and classical music magazines before becoming a freelance journalist specialising in motoring and music. He enjoys playing the piano, driving his Mazda MX-5 and riding his Suzuki motorcycle.

JENNY LINFORD

Jenny is an established food writer, member of the Guild of Food Writers, and author of more than 15 books including Garlic, The Chef’s Library and Great British Cheeses. Her work has appeared in The Financial Times and in Time Out’s Eating Out guides.

TIMOTHY BARBER

Timothy is a freelance writer and editor, contributing to the likes of The Daily Telegraph, Wired, Spears and The Economist’s 1843 magazine. He also edits Boisdale Life, the magazine of the Boisdale restaurant group.

CHRIS ANDERSON

Chris has written on automotive, luxury and business topics for most of his freelance career. His work has appeared in Esquire, Condé Nast Traveller and The Telegraph.

JAMIE LAU

Jamie is a specialist food photographer whose work appears regularly in Waitrose Magazine, Time Out, Eurostar Magazine and publications for John Lewis, ASOS, Bloom & Wild, Marks & Spencer and many more.

SIMON TAYLOR

The official biographer of Sir Stirling Moss, Simon has covered motorsport for more than 50 years. He was the editor of Autosport and then BBC Radio’s F1 commentator for 20 years, and has made numerous TV appearances.

ON THE COVER: Club member and CEO of the London Electric Vehicle Company Joerg Hofmann, photographed outside the Pall Mall clubhouse by Martin Burton.

CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2020 | ISSUE 172

03

08

10

12

13

18

22

32

38

44 From the Secretary

Miles Wade CBE welcomes Pell-Mell & Woodcote readers

Your Letters

Members’ views and comments

In the Rotunda

A Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 with a star-studded history

Picture Perfect

The Chairman shares a favourite photograph from the motoring world

Club News

Activity Group News

Club Promotions

A Few of Our Favourite Things

Six Club committee members share what they love most about the clubhouses

A Club For All Ages

What to expect from the new dedicated family facilities opening in Woodcote Park

Taking Time For Tea

Introducing the Club’s new afternoon tea menu

46

54

58

60

64

66 Christmas Food Around the World

Six of the Club’s chefs share their favourite festive food from their home nations

On Our Game

Executive Chef Matthew Marshall reveals his tips for cooking game this Christmas

Fine Food: Our Forte

Sardinian resort Forte Village brings a taste of the Mediterranean to the Club

Special Operations

Club COO Daniel Pereira details the Club’s new services

Going the Extra Mile

The new housekeeping safety measures in place at both clubhouses

We Will Remember Them

Discover the story of the Unknown Warrior, 100 years since he was laid to rest at Westminster Abbey

70

76

82

86

90

93

94 96 98 Driving Change

Meet the man steering the London Electric Vehicle Company to a greener future

Motoring Book of the Year Awards 2020

Discover the books shortlisted for this year’s award ahead of the prize-giving in October

A Lot to be Desired

RM Sotheby’s Executive Vice President Maarten ten Holder on the most memorable auctions of his career

Against All Odds

The challenges behind this year’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

Woodcote Junior Classes

Club Events

Club Events: November Club Events: December Club Events: 2021

100 Activity Group Events

102 Classifieds

Property and services for sale and for rent

104 Club Curiosity

A treasure from the

Club archive

106 RAC Foundation

How do we keep traffic moving, even in cold weather?