The First 60 Years of The London Club
The first meeting of the London Club was reported in the March 1948 issue of The Cryptian as follows:
Fourteen Old Cryptians were present at the inaugural meeting of the London Branch which was held on 13th December 1947. The venue was the Red Lion, Old Street, London EC1 and it was reported that there was little doubt of its success.
It was decided that a London Branch was likely to prove of interest to the fifty or more Old Cryptians round about and that in general the functions should be limited for the moment to a dinner just before Christmas and an outdoor meeting in the summer.
This decision has set the pattern of events for the subsequent 60 years.
The Annual Meeting and Dinner during the first 20 years was usually held in London at The Feathers, Tudor Street, off Bouverie Street EC4. The first summer meeting of the branch took place on Saturday 10th July 1948 with a visit to Hampton Court which included tea. The following year was a trip to Whipsnade Zoo.
The summer 1950 meeting was a visit to Oxford University at which they joined Old Cryptian members of the University for lunch at The Forum in the High Street. Peter C Bayley of University College gave the group a guided tour of the colleges. In 1951 a party of 35 took a steamer trip from Tower Bridge down the Thames and around the London docks.
During May 1952 the Chairman, Alderman Kenneth Bidmead, was elected Mayor of the Borough of Surbiton in south west London. Later, he and his wife invited the branch to tea at Staines to celebrate this honour. The 1953 Dinner continued the relationship with this part of London when the venue was The Langham Restaurant, Kingston-upon-Thames. The summer meeting in 1954 was the Gloucestershire versus Middlesex match at Lord’s. Unfortunately rain meant only half an hour of cricket was seen.
After the 1956 AGM a fund was set up to provide an “All Rounder Trophy” to be awarded at the school’s speech day. The first prize was awarded to L.R. Hunt in 1957. During 1957 and 1958 two theatre trips were organised. The first saw Double Image at the St James Theatre and the second was to see the revue For Adults Only at the Strand Theatre. In the 1950s there were also monthly, informal gatherings on the first Thursday of the month at The Albert Tavern, Victoria for a “natter and a noggin”.
The highlight of the 1960s for the branch was the 1966 Annual Dinner which was held at the House of Lords. This was arranged by Lord Collison (1923-26) and took place on Friday 14th October. Lord Collison in the address told the 65 Old Cryptians present that he joined the National Union of Agricultural Workers whilst working on a farm in Gloucestershire during the 1920s. Over the years he progressed up both the NAUW and TUC hierarchies culminating in his presidency of the TUC in 1965.
The start of the 1970s brought a new venue for the Annual Dinner, The Albion, New Bridge Street, EC4. This proved to be the perfect location and so continued as the venue for the next 20 years. On 1st December 1973 Eddie Norris (1928-33) was elected Chairman to succeed I.H. Storrie who was leaving the London district on his retirement. Ian Storrie had served as Chairman of the branch for 20 years and a tribute was paid to him at the Dinner for “his keen and enthusiastic interest ever since its formation and particularly for his leadership”. Ian was presented with a silver goblet and his health and prosperity was toasted. Eddie Norris continued as Chairman for most of the 1980s.
At the 1987 Dinner a further fund, “The Tony Coates Memorial Fund” was established. It was decided that the fund would award an annual cup to the boy with “the best contribution to team effort in the game of Rugby Football’ as well as a further annual prize for “the best effort at school”. The highlight of the 1980s was the Dinner at the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, SW1. This opportunity was made possible through the sponsorship of Clive Taylor (1937-43) who was a member of the club. Forty one Old Cryptians attended the dinner which was held in the magnificent St James’ Room.
The 1990 Dinner was the final one held at The Albion. The end of this era was the consequence of the retirement of the landlady of the pub. A new venue, The Barley Mow, Horseferry Road was found for the 1991 Dinner and a new Chairman, Alan Humphries, was elected. John Crowe took over as Chairman in 1994 and The Barley Mow continued as the venue. At the 1996 Dinner Roger Phelps (1942-49) displayed drawings he made in Korea during his National Service and at the following year’s Dinner a special group photograph was taken to mark Eddie Norris’ twenty years involvement with the branch, including fifteen years as Chairman.
John Goodridge took over as Chairman in 1998. In 1999 a new venue for the Annual Dinner was found. Ian Williamson (1947-54) was working at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea at the time and was able to arrange for the Dinner to be held there. This arrangement continued for three years. The splendid surroundings attracted increased numbers which reached 41 in one year.
In 2000 it was decided that a cartoon by the Royal Academician and Old Cryptian George Belcher would be purchased and donated to the School as a millennium gift. Roger Phelps was charged with the task of finding a suitable cartoon which it was hoped would be humorous whilst carrying educational overtones. The cartoon was presented to the School in March 2001.
The Annual Dinner moved again in 2002. That year and since the Dinner has been held at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Wine Office Court, 145 Fleet Street, London EC4A, which is one of London’s few remaining 17th century chop houses. A tavern has been present on this site since well before the Great Fire of London and the building retains the atmosphere of the intervening centuries.
At the 2005 Dinner the issue of how the branch should celebrate its 60th Anniversary was uppermost in the minds of those present. It was agreed that a summer event should be organised for this special year. Initial suggestions for the event included a river trip down the Thames. In addition much discussion was held regarding the venue of the Anniversary Dinner and it was decided that the committee should identify a suitable location.
The success and longevity of the branch is due in no small part to the officers who have served over the past 60 years. There have been seven Chairmen over this period including, as mentioned before, Ian Storrie for 20 years and Eddie Norris for 15. Also the office of Secretary and Treasurer has been held by eight different people including Chris Goscomb (1972-79) for 15 years and Gordon Jones (1942-50) for 10.
With the support of Old Cryptians in the London area and from further afield we hope that the branch will continue as successfully over at least the next 60 years.
John Goodridge (1940-50). Reproduced from The Cryptian 2007
The First 60 Years
Friday, 4 May 2007
