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Your Letters
Letters can cover any aspect of Club life which you think would be of interest to other members. As a thank you, a bottle of champagne will be awarded to the writer of each letter published. Please send your letters to pellmell@royalautomobileclub.co.uk The deadline for the next edition is Thursday 1 December.
Pell-Mell & Woodcote
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My copy of the magazine just arrived and the usual high-quality and weighty tome it is.
However, I do wonder whether, like me, other members might like to have access to this virtually rather than the physical copy, saving significant cost to the Club and to the environment?
Michael Llewelyn-Jones
Thank you for your kind comments about the quality of Pell-Mell & Woodcote.
Most members prefer to receive a printed copy of the magazine which they can browse at their leisure, but it is also available online. You will find this one and all the recent editions on the Club website in the ‘About the Club’ section (once you have logged in).
If anyone no longer wishes to receive a printed copy, please amend your mailing preferences in the ‘My Account’ area of the website – or email the Communications Team (communications@ royalautomobileclub.co.uk) and we will make the change for you.
Martin Brown Head of Communications
Trees at Woodcote Park
Just picking up on Cathy Adams’ complimentary letter in July’s PellMell, with which I heartily concur, can I ask what is being done to protect established trees on the Woodcote estate?
Walking round the golf courses, I have noticed how many trees are the victims of creeper. It is well known that creeper is bad for trees and will hasten their demise especially when the leaves of the tree become smothered.
I am sure that labour resources might not stretch to dealing immediately with this issue, but if we plant new trees, which are so important for the environment, who is going to look after them?
Michael Gibson Our Estates and Greenkeeping Teams at Woodcote Park periodically inspect our trees within the estate. This inspection takes note of any disease, limbs that could be in danger of falling and the growth of vines such as ivy in order to protect the tree.
All tree management on the estate is conducted with specialist advice and in accordance with Tree Protection Orders where appropriate.
May I also take this opportunity to remind members that we are planning the next stage of the Members’ Arboretum, to be planted this winter? Any member who is interested in sponsoring a tree should email communications@ royalautomobileclub.co.uk for more information.
Jonathan Brown Director of Operations
Dress Code at Pall Mall
I strongly disagree with Colin Ferguson’s demands that a jacket and tie be a requirement for all the main rooms in the Club. There has been increasing recognition in recent years that jackets and ties are not worn regularly by many professionals, particularly the younger generation that the Royal Automobile Club is dependent on for its future membership.
If the Club is primarily a leisure facility for relaxation, is it really sensible to expect people to dress up if they want to spend their evening reading a book in the Club Room or having a light supper in Brooklands? The future is surely smart casual by default with exceptions for formal environments such as the Great Gallery. Anything stricter acts as a deterrent to many members like me from spending more time in the clubhouse.
Incidentally, the two other illustrious institutions Mr Ferguson cites – The Savoy and Claridge’s – do not have dress codes, with The Savoy’s website even stating, ‘You are more than welcome to wear jeans provided they are in good repair’. Having had lunch at The Savoy recently I can assure him the widespread presence of denim did not dampen anyone’s spirits.
Michael Peet
The dress code at Pall Mall always elicits strongly held views from our members. The revised dress code which came into effect on 1 September aims to strike a better balance whilst ensuring that members, guests and other visitors dress in a manner appropriate to the Club and our beautiful clubhouse.
A tie is not required anywhere in the clubhouse and a jacket is only required in the Cocktail Bar, Drawing Room and Great Gallery – although many members choose to wear a jacket and tie by preference. You are welcome, therefore, to read a book in the Club Room or enjoy a meal in the Brooklands Room in a pair of chinos and a polo shirt, for example. Denim, however, is not permitted.
Daniel Pereira Chief Executive & Club Secretary
Reciprocal Clubs
As a member who spends a fair amount of my time in Amsterdam, I was delighted to see that the Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club (Royal Industrial Club) has been added to the list of reciprocal clubs we can visit. Having often passed the building which is situated right in the middle of the Dam Square, I shall make it my business to request a letter of introduction for my next trip to the Netherlands.
Perhaps it might be helpful to have on the Club website somewhere we can let other members know about our experiences of visits to the various reciprocal clubs?
Nicolas Fenton
I hope you enjoy your next visit to Amsterdam and I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Although we don’t feel that a Tripadvisor-style forum would be appropriate, we are always very keen to receive feedback from members after any visits to a reciprocal club: please email members@ royalautomobileclub.co.uk. We will also be looking, next year, at whether we can provide more information on reciprocal clubs on the website based on the feedback we receive. Padel Tennis
I was wondering if the Club has reached any conclusions regarding the potential for Padel tennis at Woodcote Park?
As a semi-regular Padel player, I think it would be an excellent addition – the game is accessible to all ages and abilities, with an emphasis on doubles play. Padel popularity is growing rapidly, and nearby Epsom LTC have capitalised on this well.
I recognise the competition for space with other facilities – I also play tennis and golf, so wasn’t calling for anything drastic!
Any update on the latest thinking would be great.
Peter Bolton
Thank you for your letter. I know this is an issue of interest to a number of members.
The Board decided in 2019 that there should be no decisions on further major development at Woodcote Park for at least two years after the Walled Garden had opened – which will be Easter next year. It was felt to be important to have this time to assess the impact of the Walled Garden on the use of Woodcote Park as a whole.
It has also been decided not to proceed with building Padel courts in isolation, only as part of an overall plan for Cedars Sports. Building the courts would involve considerable expense and also require the reconfiguration of other facilities to create the space necessary.
I will update members next year on the further development of the facilities at both Woodcote Park and Pall Mall.
