From the Chief Executive

Welcome to the summer edition of Pell-Mell & Woodcote, my first opportunity to provide the foreword in my new role as Chief Executive & Club Secretary. It is an honour to hold this position and I would like to thank all of you who have been in touch with messages of congratulations.

The Club continues to go from strength to strength: members are making good use of the facilities, events and activities across all areas. As I write this, we have just enjoyed an extremely successful Derby weekend at Woodcote Park, with some 1,700 members and guests enjoying the Club’s hospitality over four days.

“Enjoying the Club’s hospitality”: a phrase which is at the heart of why we are all here. Much has changed over recent years – in the Club, in society and in the world of work – but the Club’s values of embracing members’ interests and needs, and of providing a warm and friendly welcome and exceptional value, are enduring.

As an organisation, we have weathered the storm of the pandemic in good shape and I am confident that, with careful planning and management, we can continue to move forward despite the dark economic clouds in the horizon. Moving forward through continual, gentle evolution is essential to ensure that you, the members, have a Club which you can enjoy and be proud of and we will be guided by the Club’s purpose and values as well as our strategy.

Whilst we have a very effective system of committees and working groups to enable members to prompt, oversee and steer change, direct feedback from you is invaluable. If you see me around the clubhouses, please don’t hesitate to stop me for a chat about any issue you would like to raise or suggestions you may have. I also intend to operate an ‘open door’ policy so please feel free to pop in to see me.

I hope that you have a wonderful summer, whether at the Club or while making the most of the renewed opportunities to travel further afield. 2022 still has much to bring to the clubhouses: the refurbished Club Room, James Bond month at Pall Mall, London Motor Week, fireworks at Woodcote Park and carols in the rotunda… I can’t wait!

Daniel Pereira Chief Executive & Club Secretary

WELCOME

Annabel Harrison | Pell-Mell & Woodcote Magazine Editor

A spirit of adventure unites many of those featured within the pages of this issue, starting with James Bond and the actors who have played him on the big screen – on the cover of this issue is Sean Connery with the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. This year marks six decades since the release of the first Bond film so we speak to Michael G Wilson, Club member and producer of 15 Bond films to date, about the remarkable legacy and staying power of the franchise (p. 32) and to the Cocktail Bar team about how they will ensure members can celebrate the anniversary in true Bond style (p. 40).

A ‘Spirit of Adventure’ is also one of the defining characteristics of winners of the Segrave Trophy and this year’s worthy recipient is Robin Shute, the two-time winner of the gruelling Pikes Peak challenge; he explains that he is aiming for a hat-trick in the 2022 race, the results of which will be available by the time you receive this issue (p. 48). Members eager to hear more in this vein should sign up for Colonel John Blashford-Snell’s talk at Pall Mall in September: 50 years ago, he successfully led an epic British expedition through the Darién Gap, 250 miles of swamp and jungle. He tells us more (p. 44).

Meanwhile, developments are well underway to continue improvements at both clubhouses. Newly appointed Chief Executive & Club Secretary Daniel Pereira explains what his priorities are (p. 58) and, with Pippa Cronk, the detail of the Sustainability Strategy that has been approved by the Board (p. 72). The teams in charge of the refurbishment of the Club Room this summer and all bedrooms in the coming years also explain what members can expect (p. 62).

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

Chairman, Ben Cussons 01372 229628 chairman@royalautomobileclub.co.uk Chief Executive & Club Secretary, Daniel Pereira 020 7747 3237 daniel.pereira@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

CENTRAL RESERVATIONS

For accommodation and dining. Open Monday to Friday 8.00am-8.00pm and 9.00am-5.00pm at weekends. 020 7747 3474 reserve@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

MEMBERSHIP

01372 229600 members@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

ACCOUNTS

01372 229608/9 accounts@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

MOTORING

01372 229288 motoring@royalautomobileclub.co.uk

PALL MALL

89 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS 020 7930 2345 Hall Porter 020 7747 3267 Sports Reception 020 7747 3365 Simms Centre 020 7747 3349 Banqueting 020 7747 3386 Events 020 7747 3441 Library 020 7747 3398 Post Office 020 7747 3266

WOODCOTE PARK

Epsom, Surrey KT18 7EW 01372 276311 Cedars Sports 01372 229266 Golf Reception 01372 229245 Walled Garden 01372 229257/8 Shop 01372 229248 Banqueting 020 7747 3386 Events 01372 229230

PELL-MELL & WOODCOTE MAGAZINE

Editorial and Advertising 020 7537 6565 pellmell@royalautomobileclub.co.uk 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 since 2018, Annabel is a freelance writer and editor with 15 years of multichannel experience. In this time, she has worked with a wide range of brands and publications across the luxury lifestyle, retail, education and publishing sectors.

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 is Pell-Mell & Woodcote magazine’s Motoring Editor.

JOANNA FRASER

Joanna is a freelance writer and editor based in the NorthEast of Scotland. A former journalist, she now runs a communications consultancy called Hoolet (the Scots word for owl). She writes about food and drink, travel and the arts.

ANNA SOLOMON

Anna is Deputy Editor of Pell-Mell & Woodcote magazine, and Assistant Editor at Luxury London magazine and luxurylondon.co.uk. She has written for various other publications in the fields of fashion, hospitality and travel.

DAMIEN SMITH

Damien is a freelance journalist who has worked in the motorsport arena for more than 25 years. He joined Autosport in 1996, eventually serving as Editor-inChief, and also spent ten years editing Motor Sport. He also writes a weekly motorsport column for Autocar.

BEN OLIVER

Ben is a motoring journalist, consultant and speechwriter. He has won a series of awards for his work, including Journalist of the Year, and writes about cars and the car industry for major newspapers and magazines around the world.

TIM BARBER

Tim is a freelance features writer and magazine editor, specialising in fine watches, luxury, culture and design. He contributes to the likes of The Daily Telegraph, Wired, Spear’s and The Economist’s 1843 magazine. He also edits Boisdale Life, the magazine of the Boisdale restaurant group.

MARK BAILEY

Mark writes about sport, health, fitness, travel and adventure for the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, Men’s Health, Cyclist, Runner’s World and other national titles. Prior to this he was the Features Editor for Sport magazine.

JAMIE LAU

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

JOSH SIMS

Josh is a freelance writer and editor who contributes to The Times, Esquire and Robb Report, among other publications. He is also the author of several books on style and lives between London and Margate.

ON THE COVER: Sean Connery with an Aston Martin DB5 in the Swiss Alps during the filming of 1964’s Goldfinger. Turn to page 32 for our Bond feature. PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo.

CONTENTS

JULY 2022 | ISSUE 179

03 From the Chief Executive

Daniel Pereira welcomes

Pell-Mell & Woodcote readers

08 Your Letters

Members’ views and comments

11 Picture Perfect

The Chairman shares a favourite photograph

12 In The Rotunda

The GN Wasp, Spider and

Gnat recall an era of grassroots motorsports

15 Dress Code and Behaviour

A message from the Club

Chairman

16 Club News

27 Club Promotions

32 Dr. No To No Time To Die:

Michael G Wilson interview

A Club member and franchise producer on 60 years of Bond

40 Stirred, Not Shaken

We preview four of the

Cocktail Bar team’s Bondthemed martinis

44 Conquering The Green Hell

Colonel Blashford-Snell recalls his Panama expedition

48 Peak Hero

On the Segrave Trophy, the award that recognises a true ‘spirit of adventure’

52 Beaulieu At 50

We tell the story of the

National Motor Museum

58 Meet The Chief Executive

In his new role, Daniel Pereira reflects on challenges and changes at the Club

62 Design Intervention

Inside the refurbishment of the Club’s bedrooms and

Pall Mall’s Club Room

66 From Pot To Plate

Executive Chef Matthew

Marshall visits Scotland and the Club’s lobster supplier

72 Our Club, Our Planet

The Club’s sustainability achievements thus far and objectives for the future

76 Stepping Into The Blue

A look at the recent activities of the Sub Aqua group

80 Squash Cup Centenary

The Club marks 100 years of the Bath Club Cup with a remarkable triumph

83 Authenticity Above All

Members of the Club’s

Elections Committee explain their processes

86 Woodcote Juniors

The autumn activities for our youngest members

90 Club Events: September,

October, November and

December

117 Activity Group Events

119 Classifieds

Services on offer from other members

121 RAC Foundation

Understanding smart motorways

122 Club Curiosity

The Club Librarian reveals a curiosity hidden beneath your feet at Woodcote Park