NLC News - Issue 87 - September 2025

EDITORIAL
Harley Ludlow
Editor, NLC News
The decision to publish
NLC News annually
rather than biannually
has brought some
challenges, particularly
the risk of information
becoming outdated soon a after release. To
address this, I’ve steered the magazine toward
a more forward-looking focus than ever
before. Gone are the lengthy reports from
Committee Chairs, the Treasurer, and updates
from the nearly 50 Clubs, Circles and Groups.
Instead, we’re turning our focus to the future.
And when we do look back, it’s with reflection -
to recognise how far we’ve come as a Club,
and how much further we can still go.
In that spirit, we are looking ahead to 2026,
when the Club will mark a significant
milestone: 50 years since women were first
admitted as members. It was a turning point
that reshaped not only who could belong, but
what the Club could become.
To honour this anniversary, we are spotlighting
some of the leading women in the Club today
and marking another landmark: ten years
since the election of our first female Chair. In
an exclusive interview, Janet Berridge reflects
on that historic moment and its lasting legacy.
We also look back at the evolving story of
women at the Club from the early pioneers to
those who quietly and steadily shaped
change along the way.
Another focus in this issue, shaped by your
feedback in the recent Membership Matters
survey, is a closer look at the Clubs, Circles
and Groups (CCGs). These member-led
communities are the beating heart of the
NLC. Whether your interests lie in literature,
history, LGBTQ+, politics, chess or golf,
there’s a CCG for you. To make it easier to
get involved, we’ve included a special guide
to joining CCGs: how to take part, how to
propose new ones and - perhaps most
importantly - how these spaces can
deepen your experience of Club life. Many
CCGs host events open to all members, so
if you’ve been curious but hesitant, consider
this your invitation.
We’ve also introduced a new feature: Table
Talk. This series brings together three or four
members over dinner to talk candidly about
their experiences at the Club - why they
joined, what keeps them engaged, and how
the Club fits into their lives today. These
conversations offer a window into the
diversity of voices and stories that make up
our membership.
I would like to finish by extending my sincere
thanks to my Editorial Board – Lyndsey
Jones, Janet Berridge, Nahuel Marisi and
Gordon Lishman – for their invaluable help
in putting together this snapshot of Club life,
both present and future and to our
designer, Oliver Bowring, for bringing it so
beautifully to life.
Front cover and feature photography by Michael Redina and Sam Lane @samlanephotography
2

CONTENTS
4-25
26-33
34-39
40-45
46-51
52-61
62-71
72-76
Club News
Members’ Spotlight
Food & Drink
Liberal Heritage
Reciprocal Clubs
Music, Art & Culture
Club History
Clubs, Circles & Groups

CLUB CHAIR
Letter from the
Gordon Lishman
I write this as I’m starting my
second year as Chair of the
Club, and I’m delighted to
report significant progress
towards ensuring that our Club
is safe to survive for the
foreseeable future. There’s still
work to do, but we are on the
right track with a credible plan
to get our accounts into the
black over the next few years.
Most members have met Paul
Vesper, our new Chief
Executive and Club Secretary.
Paul leads a team who are
motivated, happy in their work,
listening to members and
delivering a top-class service.
In particular, the quality of food
and service at reasonable
prices is outstanding for
central London.
It’s not always easy to balance
members’ varied expectations
with the demands of running a
successful business. However,
the members’ survey, the
comments cards in the
restaurant, and everyday
conversations and emails help
us to keep in touch with what
members want and think.
6
We have also welcomed Sir
Stuart Etherington as the new
Chair of NLC Ltd. Stuart’s focus is
on financial and business
planning, and reaching out to
more members to help the Club
with their knowledge and
professional skills.
Please will you help our Club by
bringing in new members?
Both the Club and the company
are looking to open up
participation in Club
governance and management
to more members. However,
there is one important way in
which nearly all members can
help us to thrive: that is, by
bringing in new members. The
Club and our activities sell
themselves to anyone who
crosses the threshold, but
prospective members need to
be invited to come and asked to
think about joining us.
At our AGM on 4 September, I
am due to launch a campaign
to encourage and support
current members in recruiting
colleagues, friends and family to
the Club.
We have a whole suite of ways
to help you, including tours of
the Club; opportunities to bring
in friends, colleagues and family
and to see the life of the Club;
tailored letters and other
material to explain and promote
the Club; special events for
prospective members; and
more. Please tell us what you
think would make the difference.
There will also be some rewards
for members to share with their
a

new members. One option, if it
applies to you and you haven’t
already done it, is to bring in
your partner as a Joint Member
at advantageous rates, so she
or he can personally experience
everything we have to offer.
I am writing to members with
more details. Please help us if
you can. If you want more
information and support on
recruitment, drop a line to the
Membership Team at the Club:
membership@nlc.org.uk or to
Kate Birch, Chair of Membership,
at membershipchair@nlc.org.uk
Priorities
Since becoming Chair and
Vice-Chair a year ago, Tim
Herrington and I have worked to
deliver three priorities: firstly, for
the Members’ Council and the
wider Club to settle down and
build consensus after a
distressingly fractious period.
Secondly, to get the Club and
our company working together
to provide coherent leadership
of the whole NLC.
And thirdly, to concentrate on
the things that matter most: our
financial position, business
planning, and delivering highquality
services to members. We
are happy with progress on all
three priorities.
Our priorities for this year
include making Club structures
and operations more effective
and integrated, by getting
committees working together
more efficiently and effectively,
and working seamlessly with the
staff and company to deliver
the best member experience.
aaa
Relationships are good; it’s
mainly a matter of systems and
everyday practice.
We are also addressing the
overlapping mess of Rules,
Regulations, Standing Orders,
Procedures and Articles of
Association, which can cause
unnecessary delays and stand
in the way of just getting on with
what needs to be done. Tim is
leading on this challenge, which
includes opening up Club
committees to make much
better use of the skills and
experience of Club members.
The company is already
following that course with
committees of the Board.
Planning for the future
As above, NLC Ltd has agreed a
five-year Financial Plan to guide
our work and bring us into the
black in half that time. It is
ambitious but achievable. It
assumes keeping subscriptions
and prices more or less in line
with inflation, recruiting more
members, and keeping those
we already have.
Above all, it is about building on
members’ loyalty and
commitment to our Club – and
making sure we deserve that
loyalty with an ethos and
culture which reflects the best
of our tradition and stands up
for Liberal values. In our recent
members’ survey, 91% of
members supported that vision.
There are big political changes
taking place in the UK and the
wider world. The post-WWII
ideals included pluralist
democracy; the rule of law,
internationally as well as
aaaaaa
nationally; human rights;
peacekeeping and conflict
resolution; equality, diversity
and powerful citizens. All of
these are facing their greatest
threats in 80 years.
This is not about the narrow
interests of one party. It is
about the shared commitment
to the big idea of liberal
democracy and standing up
against the forces which
emphasise division, prejudice
and hate.
That is the reason why our
Club is more than just a Club.
With all my good wishes,
Gordon has been a member of
the Club since 1978 and has
served as Chair since 2024.
He can be contacted at
gordon@lishman.co.uk.
7

Council for Voluntary Organisations and a
knighthood for services to charity. Sir Stuart is
optimistic that the Club’s finances can be
turned round:
“I looked at the numbers and thought this is
not impossible if you have the right people in
the right places. You can see how it is doable.
We have appointed a very good chief
executive and club secretary in Paul Vesper
and he has a strong leadership team. I have
declared that I want to get to breakeven within
three years. I like to be ambitious. Paul thinks
we can do it.”
The new chair of NLC Ltd is keen to ensure that
the board has more of the skills he thinks are
needed. He’s working to attract people from
the wider Club membership with some of
those skills, for example, in HR and auditing.
They will help to staff the board’s revamped
committees and later could possibly join the
board itself.
“We have got a very smart membership and
we don’t use them,” he says.
‘It was nonsense... absolutely barmy’
There are encouraging signs that the finances
are beginning to improve, but Sir Stuart
predicts that one of the most controversial
challenges to achieving breakeven could be
achieving higher membership fees, still much
lower than that at many London clubs. He
aaaa
states bluntly: “I’d be surprised if our new fiveyear
strategy didn’t require the members to bite
the bullet over time on more increases above
inflation.” He is also scathing about the decision
to freeze those fees for several years when
inflation was low.
‘If you want that on the record, it was nonsense...
absolutely barmy to do that’.
‘Unpalatable choices’
So what happens if the 30 voting members of
the Members’ Council, who are the elected voice
of the Club’s 2,600 members, reject the board’s
proposals for balancing the books? Plainspeaking
Sir Stuart has a stark message:
“If the Council says ‘go and find savings
elsewhere’ we will come back with other
unpalatable choices. Life is about making
unpalatable choices.”
Sir Stuart says he can foresee a time when the
separate limited company may no longer be
needed… but not yet. His top priority is clear: “Of
course, the most important thing is to get our
house in order financially. That’s why I’m here.
That’s why I agreed to do it!”
Robert first joined the Club in 1984, resigned in
1988 when he became a BBC political
correspondent, and rejoined after retiring in 2013.
9

him delivering major events around Europe,
Asia, Australia and the Middle East. If the
ambitious pledge by the new chair of the
board, Sir Stuart Etherington, to get the Club to
breakeven point in three years is to have any
chance of success, it will fall to Paul and his
senior management team to deliver it… with the
members’ support, he stresses. Fortunately, the
CEO describes himself as ‘fiercely competitive’.
‘I like to win’
“I like to get the best out of everything... I enjoy
sports and I like to win. I also like to get the best
result for the business I am running and get
the best out of the people and the resources I
have available to me. I try to identify as many
opportunities as possible to succeed.”
The initial omens are good, with a five-year
business plan in place and the financial reports
to the board and Members’ Council beginning
to suggest that ambitious breakeven target
may be achievable.
Paul stresses the need to take a few risks along
the way:
"We have got to try things to understand if they
work... we tried opening for breakfast and it was
very hit and miss. We are going to try opening
on more weekends, perhaps offering members
access to limited areas of the Club at relatively
low cost to the NLC.”
Going cashless: ‘I was shocked’
The new CEO has been very visible around
the Club, which members seem to like, and
he’s managed to negotiate his first year or so
at the NLC without any major battles… though
there were a few murmurings when he
pushed through a move to a cashless Club:
“I was shocked at the reaction to going
cashless. Less than 1% of our revenue was
cash. The only negative was why wasn't this
done before?” he said.
Paul points to other encouraging signs of
recovery. Fostering closer links with the
resurgent Liberal Democrats has brought
more events and room bookings, and the
Club also now has more than 800 members
under 30: “Younger members may pay less in
subscriptions but many of them are
spending a lot more in the bar, the dining
room and on events.”
‘Be the best’
He also relishes the challenge of competing
for lucrative corporate business with the
major hotels that now virtually surround the
NLC, offering this arresting comparison:
“If you are going to open a restaurant in a
town, open it on the same street as all the
other restaurants… but be the best.”
Increasing members’ appetite for dining at the
Club is another area to be targeted. Around
half of all members rarely eat at the NLC so
there is now a special two-course express
lunch and early supper menu, competitively
priced and with the promise that it can be
served in just an hour.
Paul echoes the view that subscriptions will
need to increase enough to help get the Club
back to breakeven: “My opinion, though, is that
we should aim to penalise our loyal members
as little as possible, certainly less heavily than
those who may join the Club in the future.”
11

He was also pleased with the improvements made to the Club’s facilities. These
included the completion of the new kitchen, the upgrading of Liberal International’s
accommodation, and the addition of further meeting room facilities. A lot of work was
also done behind the scenes, including extensive re-wiring, new waste disposal
systems, and significant waterproofing. Although the departure of the Savage Club
resulted in a loss of revenue, it led to the creation of the Lounge, a much-needed,
multi-purpose addition that also incorporated a space for business use.
Derek was very pleased with the ever-improving food and drink offerings available to
members. The staffing situation was stabilised and the senior management team
consolidated.
Derek highlighted the complexities of
the Club’s organisational arrangements,
which make the Chair’s role more
demanding than in many companies of
a comparable size.
In terms of lessons learned, he came to
understand the importance of dealing
with issues promptly and decisively. As
much transparency as possible, and a
clear understanding and acceptance of
respective roles, are essential for the
Club to achieve the best outcomes and,
in turn, the best experience for
members.
The support of staff, Board colleagues,
and Club members was essential and
very much appreciated.
As I know myself, the responsibilities of
the role in relation to finance, HR, and
Health & Safety weigh heavily on the
post holder. When I undertook the role,
unlike Derek, I did not have a
demanding full-time job as well.
We owe Derek our sincere gratitude for
the work he has done.
Jamie has been a member of the Club since
2002 and served as Chair of NLC Ltd
from 2020 to 2022.
13

THE NLC SHOP
on Spotlight
It’s easy to pass through the Entrance Hall with your sights set on the Bar, but next time, take a
moment to pause at the NLC Shop, located beside Reception.
Don’t pass it by
You’ll find a thoughtfully curated selection of Club-branded items, from ties and cravats to pin
badges and cufflinks. Whether you’re choosing a gift for a fellow Member, treating yourself, or
welcoming someone new to the Club, there’s something for everyone. And with Christmas just
around the corner, now is the perfect time to select a distinctive gift and show your pride in the Club.
Club merchandise available:
NLC Badge: £5 | Enamel Cufflinks: £75 | Silver Cufflinks: £150 | Striped Silk Tie: £25
Navy Motif Silk Tie: £25 | Bow Tie: £20 | Cummerbund: £25 | Cravat: £25 | Hat Band: £10
15

18
Had anyone been to the
Garrick, I wondered, as we
ordered drinks? Of course not,
many of my guests replied.
Just one, Thomas Parfitt, had
visited - and, in fact, his father,
was also a Garrick member
and a co-signatory of the
letter.
Meanwhile, the NLC, which
became the first major
London club to admit women
in 1976, is on a mission to
attract new members from
varied and diverse walks of
life.
“There is clubland and there is
the NLC,” said Carol Graham, a
former US diplomat to Europe
and the Middle East as she
perused the menu. “I was very
aware that women are not
welcome everywhere. Even if a
club has belatedly decided to
admit women, they were
decisions taken quite late and
reluctantly. I have been a
guest at clubs that don’t
accept women and you do
feel the difference.”
Amber Inman, a data analyst,
agreed while ordering the
seabass ceviche to start. “I
had the perception that
clubland was extremely male
dominated but it is not the
case at the NLC. My proposer
was the second female club
chair [Karin Rehacek], which in
my view was huge, and I was
definitely encouraged by that,”
she added.
She is now the co-chair of the
Younger Members Group,
which comprises about a third
of the membership and
organises events for people
under 35. At 24, Amber is one
of the youngest people to be
elected to the NLC’s Members
aaaaa
Council where it is “very
important” to have a voice at
the decision-making table.
We paused while the starters
were served. I was the only
vegetarian at the table and
thoroughly enjoyed the
Moroccan spiced tender stem
broccoli washed down with a
glass of Les Laurier’s Viognier
Grenache.
Delighted with one of her
favourite starters, a very fluffy
cheese soufflé, Christina
Nowell, a politics student and
the membership development
officer for Brent Liberal
Democrats, also found that
the NLC was “significantly
more accepting” than other
clubs. As a trans woman, she
saw the NLC as being liberal
“on many different things”.
“Going through the
membership application and
seeing the specific circle on
LGBT+ was amazing,
particularly for me,” she said.
Of course, there were still the
traditional ways into the club. “I
went to an all-male school,
where the teachers took me
round clubs. I have family
members who went to clubs,”
said Thomas Parfitt, a strategic
communications consultant
and co-chair of the Younger
Members Group. ”I won’t say it
was an expectation, but
certainly no surprise that when
you start work in London, you
join a club,” he added as he
was enjoying his starter of
delicious English Asparagus in
a wild garlic sauce.
“The people who are choosing
the NLC are choosing it
because it is more inclusive
and ideologically more liberal,”
he said.

has been a member of
Lyndsey
Club since 2022. She is
the
of iCalami, a digital
director
consultancy,
transformation
author of Going Digital,
and
by Pearson. She also
published
as Deputy Chair of the
serves
Board. NLC
two-course dinner for five
The
plus one bottle of red
guests
one bottle of white wine
and
paid for by the NLC.
were
About a quarter of the NLC
members are political and the
dining group reflected this, with
their experience ranging from
campaigning during UK
elections, or building and
maintaining Democrat networks
in the US to developing a
micronation as an experiment
to get people involved in politics
and even run a budget from
donations.
“I definitely wanted a club that
was trying to support liberal
values, which are always in
danger,” Carol, who founded the
NLC’s diversity and inclusion
advisory and consultation
group, said. “So we always need
to fight for tolerance and for
inclusiveness. Things move
forward. Inclusiveness today isn't
what inclusiveness was
yesterday, and it'll be different
tomorrow.”
By this time, the main dishes
had arrived. “My focus since
joining has always been on
bringing together younger
members,” said Thomas as he
tucked into his main dish of Lake
District pork loin. “But outside of
that I have a keen interest in all
things food, drink, music, opera,
and film.”
The breadth of the circles and
groups range from defence and
security, and the European
forum to the arts, culture and
chess. “I love that the club gives
me access to hearing such
varied voices with all their stories
and differing worldviews,” Amber
said.
Another key draw of the club is
its elegant dining room and
extensive wine list. The dish that
proved the most popular on our
table was the roasted lamb
rump with a minted pea puree,
English asparagus and pea
fricassee, confit potatoes and
aa
red wine jus. Just the dish after a
long day. “Just delicious,” said
Christina. “It looks fantastic and
tastes fantastic. Perfect
temperature,” added Amber.
Even Paul Vesper, NLC chief
executive, who makes everyone
feel welcome and takes the time
to get to know members, ordered
the irresistible lamb rump when
he joined us impromptu.
“The whole of clubland uses the
dining room as one of its main
attractions to join. And the
National Liberal Club dining room
is exceptional,” he said. “I make
sure that a lot of emphasis goes
on quality, consistency, service,
engagement, and obviously
[chef] John [Oates] really looks
after the food side. So the dining
room is a historic centrepiece of
Clubland, and I really try hard to
make sure that we maintain that
tradition.”
The chef and his team are able to
cater for different, diverse tastes
and produce authentic food for
events such as Diwali - and there
cannot be many clubs in London
that can really produce food of
that exceptional standard.
“For the Eid dinner, where there
was a wonderful talk about
Ramadan and Liberalism, the
compliments that we received for
the food just did not stop,” said
Carol, between mouthfuls of her
roasted duck breast with carrot
puree in a red wine jus.
She had been eyeing up the
whole grilled seabass as a main
but changed her mind at the last
minute. “I really fancied a glass of
red wine, but it doesn’t go with
fish,” she said. None of us seemed
to care, though, as we ordered
another bottle of Archeres
Carignan Vielles Vignes, carried
away by the amazing food and
company.
19

The Club was male-dominated when you joined. What challenges did that present,
and how did you navigate them?
After three years, I was approached by two women who were on the General
Committee. They said there weren't enough women on the committee, which was
dominated by older men. It struck me that it needed some rejuvenation and diversity. I
kept a low profile for about a year before I started making suggestions, but it was a
challenge – ‘we've always done things this way’ seemed to be the motto.
Leadership at the NLC
You became the first female Chair of the NLC in 2016. What did that mean to you?
In 2012, two senior members of the Club approached me and said, ‘we think it's time for
a woman chair’. I agreed, and then realised that they meant me. Becoming the first
female chair meant a huge amount; it was a historic milestone. But I knew there would
be challenges along the way. I was elected Vice Chair to Michael Pickersgill in 2013,
effectively waiting in the wings until 2016, but during my Vice Chairship, I did put a few
initiatives into action.
What kind of initiatives?
The German Circle, the Literary Circle,
reciprocal clubs in Germany. I co-founded
the Marketing & Communications
committee. The newsletter was rather
boring and the website was very basic. We
wanted a Club identity, a consistent profile.
There was resistance: a lot of the Club’s
administration in those days was still pen
and paper; very little was digital.
Could you talk about the process and
significance of revamping the Club
magazine?
Three of us, Rupert [Morris], Seth [Thévoz]
and I, suggested a colour magazine. The
initial reaction from some committee
members was ‘no need for change,’ and
‘too expensive’. However, Rupert and I both
had desktop publishing skills so we put it
together and sent it to a printer. It was
pretty cheap. It wasn't as professional as it
is now, but you have to start somewhere.
21

As Chair, one of your key concerns was the
lack of transparency between the Club
and the Board. How did you address this?
I learned on the General Committee that
there were two separate entities – the
company and the Club membership –
which didn't always communicate very well.
The huge majority of company shares was
owned by the Robson Charitable Trust (RCT)
and the Honourable Maurice Robson, the
son of Lawrence Robson who saved the
Club in the 1970s. There was an imbalance
and a sense that ‘you don't need to know
that, you're just the Members’.
I have to say that everything to do with my Chairship was about teamwork. I
encouraged people: ‘ask questions. And if you don't get the right answers, then ask
again.’ It was a gradual process of people coming together.
Tell us about your efforts to broaden Club activities and encourage diversity,
especially your role in launching the Women’s Network and International Women’s
Day events.
Being Chair was a challenge in itself, because I tried as far as possible to always host
events, and I sat on committees, so I had to rely on other people. Teamwork was very
important. It struck me in May 2016: ‘I'm the first woman chair and we've never
celebrated International Women's Day.’ So, for 2017, I said, ‘we must do this’. And that's
how the Women's Network started.
Why did you step down when you did?
There was a big change at the end of my second year. Maurice Robson had resigned
his chairmanship of the RCT through ill health, and we already had the idea that we
could buy the shares from the Trust in order to make the Club membership the
shareholders. I thought it made sense to step down then and to pass the baton to my
Vice Chair, Rupert. I had laid the groundwork for the future.
How do you reflect on your tenure and the goals you set in 2016?
I am proud of having taken a new approach to the role. Some of my predecessors saw
it as merely a representational role, hosting dinners and chairing committee meetings.
But I felt that wasn't enough, especially if we wanted to attract more women. I've been
told many times that the fact that I approached people and said, ‘Are you a new
Member? Welcome to the Club’ was important. I would always ‘work a room’, engage
with people.
22

Advice, Reflections, and the Future
What advice would you give to future Chairs, particularly women or those coming
from outside the traditional NLC mould?
The important thing is to leave your mark. It's not just a title or a ceremonial role.
Anyone taking on an office within the Club needs to realise that yes, we're all volunteers,
but if you make the commitment then you must show that you mean business.
Because if we don't have people who are willing to do things, it wouldn't be the club it is.
What changes at the Club have surprised or delighted you most since your time as
Chair?
The change in the dress code; the new kitchen, the upgrades, the new meeting rooms
seemingly conjured out of nowhere. The share transfer and the much better structure
achieved. The acquisition of the Steinway D grand piano and our relationship with the
Kettner Society. Far more women, diverse Members, and above all, younger Members.
More Liberal Democrat Members signed up at our conference stands, helped by
targeted marketing materials.
You once said ‘the future looks very exciting indeed.’ Do you still feel that way? What
are your hopes for the Club in the next 5-10 years?
In the last 12 months, the vision and team building that we've seen under Paul Vesper
and Sir Stuart [Etherington] backed up by Gordon [Lishman] and Tim [Herrington] show
that we all have the same goal. For the next five to ten years, financial stability is
absolutely the prime goal. But also to really put us on the map as a bastion of
liberalism.
What would encourage you to join the Club as a prospective Member now?
The opportunities, social, political, networking, the diversity, the range of activities, the
reciprocal clubs and all those things that are in abundance in our Club.
Kate has been a member of the Club since 2008 and has chaired the Membership
Committee since 2024.
23

The evening was notable for the number of non-NLC
attendees, not only guests of members but also reciprocal
club members, including from the Athenaeum Club in
Liverpool. We are very much looking forward to next year’s
celebration.
Diversity vs Democracy?
In June, DIACG hosted the first in a series of conversations
asking: how can we maintain democracy and diversity in a
time of polarisation? Dr Hahrie Han, Professor of Political
Science and Director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns
Hopkins University, was the guest speaker. She has been
conducting practical research into bridge-building and
democratic engagement since 2017.
Among her observations was the point that while people
have greatly increased their social interactions (notably
through social media), there has been a dramatic
decrease in meaningful social relationships, a shift that
undermines social cohesion. She also discussed the
growing inability of US political parties to meet citizens’
desire to participate in solving public problems, a failure
which unmoors the public from a political system they
perceive as run by and for professionals. Dr Han suggested
that this dynamic is mirrored in the NGO sector.
She described a contrasting approach in her book
Undivided, which chronicles the bumpy but ultimately
successful efforts of a majority-white megachurch in a
conservative US state to promote racial justice. The
discussion echoed her view that people are not born with
democracy in their DNA, and there is no vaccine for
prejudice. Progress depends on equipping people with
knowledge and inviting them into the difficult, pragmatic
work of bridge-building.
DIACG EVENTS IN THE 2025 NLC CALENDAR
16 OCT
4 NOV
The NLC Black History Month Reception
The NLC Diwali Dinner
25

MEMBERS’
SPOTLIGHT

Philip actively engages with the Club and enjoys the
events calendar through which he meets many
members and their guests.
“Usually I come down (from Birmingham) for a
couple of days every month. I plan ahead around
events. It might be a formal dinner, the monthly
LGBTQ+ drinks and dinner, Tuesday or Thursday
Table.” Philip recounted that in past years he
particularly enjoyed the Burns Night Supper, the
Summer Party and Christmas events - especially New
Years’ Eve. “It is a very friendly Club,” he said, and
explained at his New Member Dinner he sat next to a
member who had left another Club and “joined the
NLC as it is more friendly and more going on.” Philip is
particularly impressed with the new Chief Executive,
Paul Vesper. “The last time when I was in the Club the
Chief Executive came and said ‘hello.’”
Philip’s favourite spaces in the Club are the end of the
Smoking Room closest to the Terrace due to natural
light and the Terrace. Work, where telephone calls are
required, is undertaken in the Lounge. With a two
minute walk to the Civil Service Club where he stays
overnight and an office in Parliament Square, Philip
does not have far to ‘commute’ once in Whitehall.
“Professionally I work as a Chartered Management
Accountant and spent 20 years at GKN. I now work for
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS
Benevolent Fund ‘LionHeart’.” Philip laughed when I
asked whether he chose his employer for proximity to
the Club! “My first meeting with the LionHeart Chief
Executive was at the Club. We took tea on the
terrace.” Philip was most complimentary about how
the food has improved and appreciated the
helpfulness of the Dining Room team.
And Mason: he took his first flight to Glasgow; a pet
passport is on the agenda as the last overseas trip
Philip undertook was to Alsace. Mason has very much
enjoyed his first few visits to the Club and is looking
forward to meeting more members.
28
At home and not working, Mason is a ‘normal’ dog
with two baskets of toys that are spread around the
floor and free runs. It certainly sounded to me that
Mason is kept in check by Tosca and Norma, Philip’s
twelve year old cats!

50 YEARS ON
PROFILES OF WOMEN MEMBERS
Amber Inman
Chair, Young Members’ Group
I have had the privilege of serving as Chair of the Young Members’ Group since late
2024. In this role, I have been a vocal advocate not only for a strong sense of
belonging but also for the safety and visibility of young women in Clubland. I hope
my leadership demonstrates that young women can - and should - thrive here. I
am particularly excited to collaborate with the new female-led Circle for Curious
Minds and to bring a fresh perspective to International Women’s Week 2026.
Vice President
I joined the NLC in 2000 after 12 years on Richmond Council, and volunteered for the
General Committee and several sub-committees. As Chair of the General Purposes
Committee I initiated the Lunar New Year and Diwali celebrations; as Chair of the
Wednesday Luncheon Circle I strove for diversity in all the invited speakers. Initially I
was disappointed that the Club was not very political, but I am delighted that we
are now regularly welcoming MPs and Peers to the Club and encouraging more Lib
Dems to join.
Angela Style
Carol Graham
Chair, DIACG | Vice Chair, French Circle
As Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIACG), my priority has been to
introduce new events into the annual NLC calendar that reflect the NLC
membership and to conduct wider outreach. Looking forward, we are planning our
first joint event with the Legal Circle. Languages are often overlooked as part of
diversity. I love languages and value the French Circle because it provides an
avenue for improving French skills while sending the message that French speakers
are welcome at the NLC.
Vice-Chair, Events and Activities
Elizabeth Crowther-Hunt
I love helping run and launch lots of events. Right from the start I helped set up the
Business Forum. Through Events and Activities, I organise regular meetings of CCGs
to share information and support their development - we now have around 50
CCGs! One standout event for me was the Wind in the Willows show that we ran for
members’ children and grandchildren which was a great success and something
my granddaughters certainly enjoyed. I hope that we can do more events like this
in the future.
30

Farah Ur-Rub
Chair, Legal Circle
I am delighted to Chair the Legal Circle, which launched with an inaugural event on
Space Law, a reimagining of legal frontiers. We’ve since collaborated with the
Women’s Network, Archaeology Circle and Curious Minds. To support Club
membership, we’re introducing Legal Circle Walks with local law colleges and have
proposed a two-tier, inclusive ticketing policy. I’ve also submitted a new name to
expand international reciprocals and am exploring a potential Commonwealth
Forum delegation to Pakistan to strengthen the Club’s global connections.
Immediate Past Chair
On joining the National Liberal Club in autumn 2013 I became Chair of the German
Circle (Stammtisch). Acutely aware that the NLC lacked female members, in 2017
Val Stansfield and I launched the Women’s Network and then shortly thereafter
Tuesday and Thursday Table and International Women’s Week. As the second
female Chair I increased membership and forged closer relations with the Lib
Dems. I chair the Wednesday Luncheon Circle, the monthly Orpington Circle
Dinners and always host our stand at Lib Dem Conference.
Karin Rehacek
Kate Birch
Chair, Membership Committee
I joined the NLC in 2008, as a Joint Member, through my husband, Dom. A few years
later I attended a meeting of the newly formed Literary Circle, and my Club journey
began in earnest. In 2018, recognising the need for more women in key positions, I
ran for the then General Committee and was elected. In my working life, as an
online poetry magazine and print publisher, I’m committed to magnifying the
voices of diverse communities across all spaces; and, as the NLC’s Chair of
Membership, welcoming these into the Club.
Deputy Chair, NLC Board
I joined the Club in 2022 and became involved in the Board as a way to combine
my expertise in digital transformation and journalism along with a hankering to
meet new people. In 2025 I worked with Gareth Bell and his team to update and
relaunch the NLC website, which has seen quick and successful results of increases
in traffic, membership applications and enquiries to join. As much more can be
done, I am spearheading a digital task force to review what other services could
benefit members. I look forward to making new friends along the way.
Lyndsey Jones
Semra Eren-Nijhar
Chair, Sunday Lunch & Heritage Talk Circle
Five years ago, with nearly 30 years’ experience in migration, heritage and gender, I
founded this Circle, inspired by the NLC’s status as the most diverse club in London.
The Sunday Lunch & Heritage Talk Circle fosters meaningful connections among
members from a wide range of heritage and cultural backgrounds. I’ve always
believed that by deepening our appreciation of each other’s culture, country of
origin and history, we create a more cohesive, inclusive and enriched Club
community, especially by giving equal voice to women.
31

Immediate Past Chair, Orpington Circle
I joined the NLC in January 2017, though I had attended Liberal Democrat events
here before. Early enthusiasms included the Kettner Society, French Circle, Theatre
and Arts Group, Wednesday Luncheons and Authors’ Club. I served on the
Membership Committee for a year and now sit on the Members’ Council. I hope
that reviving the Orpington Circle in May 2024 and building up the regular MP
‘Liberal Democrat Conversation’ events it now hosts will be seen as a worthwhile
contribution to Club life.
Sheila McGuirk
Simran Bedi
Vice Chair, Commonwealth Forum
In the NLC Commonwealth Forum, I co-curated a major event in June: an evening
with Ambassador Lakshmi Puri (former UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy
Executive Director of UN Women) and Humphrey Hawksley (former BBC Foreign
Correspondent), attended by over 140 guests. I am now working on a celebration of
the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, as well as plans for Commonwealth
Week 2026. It is an honour to serve alongside Chair Trevor Peel and support
inclusive, intergenerational dialogue at the Club.
Former Chair, Authors’ Club
I joined the NLC in 2014 as a committee member of the Authors’ Club. From 2015 to
2020, I served as Chair of the Authors’ Club, focusing on strengthening ties between
the two clubs - especially through joint events including the NLC’s annual literary
dinner and various literary-themed events such as champagne and wine tastings.
I also helped organise the NLC’s very first Diwali and continue to support the Club’s
many initiatives. The Club is my home away from home, and I am particularly
committed to expanding the rich diversity of its membership.
Sunny Singh
Val Stansfield
Chair, Women’s Network
As Chair of the Women’s Network I lead the Tuesday and Thursday Tables, designed
to ensure all new and women members feel welcome and is a place where they
can meet others and find out what other events are happening in the Club. I also
arrange speakers for talks. Recently Baroness Brenda Hale explained the meaning
of the Supreme Court's judgement on women. Brenda has accepted my invitation
to speak at the dinner on 26 June 2026 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
women’s membership.
Chair, Asia Circle
As a British-Chinese economist who has worked in London’s financial sector since
the 1990s, I joined the NLC in 2017 and quickly embraced Club life. I’ve served two
terms on the Members Council and founded the Asia Circle, best known for its soldout
Lunar New Year celebrations. Through these events, we’ve nurtured young
performers from diverse backgrounds. I also personally contributed to the Club’s
piano fund and hosted benefit concerts to support it, raising our musical profile
with events attended by Sir Antonio Pappano, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and
others.
Yisha Xue
32

FOOD & DRINK

years. Jon’s formal title these
days is rather a mouthful itself:
executive chef and head of
food and beverages. His
enthusiasm is clear as he
reels off just some
memorable examples of
those events, including the
Club Claret Dinner to launch
the new Club Claret, a whisky
tasting, cheese and wine or
oyster and champagne
evenings, and new weekend
events like the highly
successful Mother’s Day
afternoon tea and Father’s
Day Sunday lunch — so
popular it required two
sittings.
The 2025 Membership Matters
Survey provided much to
discuss in the answers
provided by nearly 500 Club
members on the food Jon
and his kitchen team serve up
in the Dining Room and
Terrace, the Bar and the
Smoking Room. Only half of
those who responded said
they ate in the Dining Room at
least once a month so there is
some room for improvement
there, though dinner bookings
are improving considerably
and the Club chalked up its
first 100-cover dinner service
in June, using the Dining Room
and the Terrace.
Asked what would encourage
more members to eat at
lunchtime, nearly half of
thosea
those who responded said a
cheaper, special offer menu.
Jon cooked up his answer:
“We launched our new
Express Menu from April: two
courses at a special offer
price of under £30 which can
be served in just an hour. We
also offer this Express Menu in
the early evening from 5pm
onwards which could attract
a pre-theatre supper
audience or anyone looking
for an early meal before an
evening event… That offer is
going to be here to stay.”
The Catering Committee
launched an annual survey of
what tickles Club members’
tastebuds in 2024 and that
proved a positive and useful
initiative. More regular
feedback on the standard of
food and service seemed
important, though, so in 2025
we have lobbied successfully
for a Rapid Feedback Card to
be provided to diners after
each meal by your server,
something welcomed as
‘helpful’ by two thirds of
members in the latest survey.
Brief comments can be
written on the card or there’s
a QR code or email address to
send more detailed feedback.
Jon sees a bright future for
the Club in developoing more
special events, including at
aaa
weekends, though the variable
summer weather meant some
had to be moved indoors from
the Terrace. So is there a
chance that the Club may
eventually emulate Parliament
which covers much of its own
Thames-side terrace with an
all-weather marquee?
“I would love to get something
like that for the Dining Room
end of the Terrace but there
are lots of moving parts,
including English Heritage
since this is a listed building. I
would say it was on the
agenda, though, and I would
want to work towards that.”
“I really enjoy the Terrace
events because we get to talk
to the members. You get
massive job satisfaction... I
think I am pretty
approachable. They will tell
you good stuff and bad stuff.
And you can respond to it
there and then.”
So what can members look
forward to in the months
ahead? The Catering
Committee has been pressing
for a more varied Bar Food
Menu, perhaps with a more
traditional flavour… dishes like
fish pie or shepherd’s pie,
macaroni cheese or lasagne,
for example. How does the
head chef respond?
36

has been Chair of the
Robert
Committee since 2023.
Catering
“I am not opposed to looking
at some more of the ‘hearty’
dishes for the autumn and
winter. It has just got to be the
right time of year for it.”
Jon is also pleased with how
the Club is now presenting a
classic British institution…
afternoon tea.
“When I first arrived nearly
four years ago everything was
bought in and was horrible.
Now everything is homemade.”
2026 will also see some new
flagship events though these
were still under wraps when
we spoke in August. One wellestablished
flagship event
stands out, though:
“I am looking forward to New
Year’s Eve this year. That is
probably one of the events I
was most proud of the past 12
months. We delivered it well
and there was then a bit of a
buzz about it afterwards
through members who didn’t
a
go saying ‘I have heard how
good it was. I’m definitely
coming next year’. Ticket sales
are already very promising
and that is exciting.”
He is also delighted that Club
members have been
supportive to accommodate
lucrative commercial bookings
for exclusive use of prime
spaces like the Terrace or even,
occasionally, the Dining Room.
“When I arrived here that
wouldn’t have happened. It
would not even have been
entertained!”
Queues at the Bar have been a
major issue at busy times in
the past but with his
beverages hat on, Jon is
confident things are getting
better, with two tills now in
operation and a better working
environment for staff.
“We have got those long
queues down, and portable
tablets for taking orders are
being rolled out in the autumn
so staff will be able to take
aaaa
orders for drinks or food at
your table. I don’t want people
sitting there without a drink or
having to go to the bar
unnecessarily.”
Jon says he has seen major
changes in his time at the NLC,
not least our expensive new
kitchen, but it’s important not
to lose touch with what we
are.
“We have moved from being
a well-kept secret and are
now definitely more
progressive but it’s getting
that balance right. A sense of
hospitality, that is what sets
you apart, making members
feel special... making them feel
this is their home from home.
There is still work to be done
on that: staff remembering
someone’s dietary needs, for
example, or something as
simple as making sure they
smile!”
37

NLC EVENTS 2026
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
23rd - Burns Night
9th - Nick Clegg portrait unveiling & dinner
17th - Lunar New Year
5th - Commonwealth Day
9th - International Women's Day
17th - St Patrick's Day
23rd - Saint George's Day
8th - Europe Day
21st - Whitebait dinner & boat trip at the Trafalgar Tavern
5th - Gladstone and Ireland
26th - 50 years of Women Members in the NLC
4th TBC - London Pride
16th - Bastille Day French Gourmet Dinner
6th - Summer Party (Jamaica Day Theme)
27th - Summer BBQ
18th - Oktoberfest
Early October - Black History Month
21st - Trafalgar Day Dinner
4th - Diwali
14th - Annual Dinner
26th - 100-year Anniversary of C P Scott's Birthday Dinner
10th - Christmas Dinner
16th - Christmas Lunch
31st - New Year's Eve

LIBERAL HERITAGE

Ukraine. Josh Babarinde had just come from
a debate on the Victims and Courts Bill,
where, as Lib Dem spokesperson for Justice,
he urged support for the victims of domestic
abuse.
Most of the speakers have stayed for
dinner in the Dining Room and this has
proved very popular with members who
have enjoyed continuing the discussion.
Britain’s relations with Europe continue to be
a key topic, so it was appropriate that the
speaker in June was James MacCleary, MP
for Lewes and Lib Dem spokesperson on
Europe, accompanied by former Lib Dem MEP
for London, Irina von Wiese. In July Lisa Smart,
MP for Hazel Grove and Liberal Democrat
spokesperson for Home Affairs, was the
featured guest, with former Lib Dem MP for
Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake, as her
interlocutor.
The sessions have been chaired by senior
NLC members Jamie Sharpley, Noel
Hadjimichael, Janet Berridge, Karin Rehacek
and Robert Orchard. Most entertaining of all
was Vice President Paul Hunt, who regaled
the audience with tales from the campaign
trail over many years, especially in
parliamentary by-elections. An auction of
books, serious and frivolous, has helped raise
money for the Orpington Fund, which has
already been called on for the first byelection
of this Parliament (Runcorn and
Helsby). Donations by regular standing orders
are the main means of building the Fund.
Future guests already booked to engage in
‘Conversation’ are Bobby Dean, MP for
Carshalton and Wallington; Mike Martin, MP
for Lewes; and Charlie Maynard, MP for
Witney. After a break in December, the
Orpington Circle will welcome Luke Taylor,
MP for Sutton; Gideon Amos, MP for
Taunton and Wellington; Pippa Heylings, MP
for South Cambridgeshire; and Helen
Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell. Among
formal portfolio roles covered by these
speakers are defence, London, energy and
net zero, housing and planning, all serious
issues for debate and discussion.
42

that encourages constructive debate.
Liberal International, a worldwide
organisation of Liberal political parties
founded in 1947, is based at the NLC; the
close cooperation with the LI organisation
continues to this day, aimed at fulfilling
our vision of making the National Liberal
Club a place where like-minded people
can socialise and debate. However, none
of this excludes members of other
democratic political parties, as anyone
who casts an eye over the Club events
calendar will see. We welcome guests
and speakers who have something to say
on the important issues of the day, and
we do not shy away from challenging
debate. The NLC has something to offer
for all tastes.
NLC’s fortunes with the membership (the
shareholders!), and members have
supported initiatives like the appeal for
Life Membership. The phenomenal
success of the Liberal Democrats at the
2024 General Election gave us the ideal
opportunity to emphasise the “Liberal” in
the Club’s name. We welcome new
members from all walks of life with
democratic and inclusive values, and we
need the help of existing members to
achieve a constantly high level of new
membership for the foreseeable future.
The Lib Dem presence in the Club is
constantly growing: many affiliated Lib
Dem bodies already use the Club for
meetings; Lib Dem MPs and peers host
events; and as we broaden our appeal to
Party members from home and abroad,
we will bring together people who cherish
Liberal values. We continue to invite MPs
(many of them new to Parliament) and
constituency parties to ‘their’ Club in
London, and encourage them to join and
make full use of our facilities.
What is really important to this initiative is
that existing Club members recognise
the need to spread the word and find
new members. In recent years, the Club’s
leadership and the Company Board have
shared good and bad news about the
We are currently looking for regional Lib
Dem ‘champions’ to spearhead
recruitment to the NLC across the entire
country. Key to success is that existing
Club members – including Liberal
Democrats in the Younger Members
Circle – spread the word to inspire new
members.
If you know anyone who might be
interested in joining and who would
benefit from what the NLC has to offer,
please do approach them.
Scan
to
find
out
more
45

RECIPROCAL
CLUBS

The Walbrook Club
37A Walbrook, London EC4N 8BS
One of the newer clubs in the City. Founded in 2000, the Walbrook
Club is located in a historic townhouse and is known for its
discreet ambience and impeccable service. It provides members
with a calm oasis amidst the bustling City, complemented by an
elegant bar offering fantastic cocktails. During the week, NLC
members can enjoy lunch, dinner or just a drink.
walbrook-club.co.uk
Access: Mon-Fri,
7:30am-midnight
The East India Club
16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH
Our oldest London reciprocal club. Established in 1849 by officers
of the East India Company, the East India Club exudes timeless
elegance in central London. Among its facilities, the highlight is
The American Bar, which offers a unique blend of British pub and
American flair. From the grand dining rooms to the comfortable
lounges, tradition meets modernity, providing an elegant retreat
for guests to unwind. Accommodation is provided by 67 rooms
available for booking. With excellent service and extensive
amenities – including fine dining, a gym and snooker room – the
Club remains a cherished reciprocal among NLC members.
eastindiaclub.co.uk
Double room from £240
per night
Access: Weekends only
Accommodation-only clubs - the following clubs make their accommodation
available for NLC members. Bookings must be made via the NLC.
The Farmers Club
3 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EL
Our next-door neighbour. With a long-standing history deeply
rooted in agricultural heritage, the Farmers Club has been a
gathering place for farmers and rural enthusiasts for generations.
The Club offers comfortable accommodation seven days a week
to NLC members, along with hearty, farm-fresh meals for
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
thefarmersclub.com
Double room from £234
Access: Accommodation
only (includes the
restaurant for those
staying)
Army & Navy Club
36 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN
Affectionately known as ‘The Rag’. The Club’s mid-20th century
building stands as a testament to modernity and sophistication.
Erected during an upbeat era, it reflects the Club's wish to evolve
with the times while preserving its traditions. With modernist
design elements, the building offers a striking contrast to its
historical surroundings, making it a distinctive landmark in Pall
Mall. Its comfortable accommodation is available to NLC
members seven days a week, subject to availability.
therag.co.uk
Double room from £155
(Fri-Mon), £215 (Tue-
Thu)
Access: Accommodation
only (includes the
restaurant for those
staying)
48

INDIA
RECIPROCALS
By Don Dutta
Seasoned member and globe-trotter Don Dutta has managed to visit four of our wonderful
reciprocal clubs in India this year. Here are his thoughts about them:
I had the pleasure of visiting several reciprocal clubs in India between January and February 2025.
My experience with all of them was interesting and enjoyable.
Bengal Club, Kolkata
I visited the Bengal Club multiple times during my stay in Kolkata.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. Their Food and Beverage
Manager, Mr Mondal, helped me organise my birthday party lunch
and looked after me and my guests very well.
Founded in 1827, Bengal Club is the oldest social club in India, and
its location in Russel Street is ideal for shopping. The Club’s food
and drinks are legendary – especially their Chinese cuisine in the
Oriental Room.
cityuniversityclub.co.uk
Access:
Tue-Fri, 9am-5pm
Rooms are also available to stay at reasonable rates of between
Rs 6,000 and 8,000 per day, including taxes.
Calcutta Club, Kolkata
Together with Bengal and Tollygunge Clubs, Calcutta Club is the
third ‘elite club’ of Kolkata with whom we have reciprocal
arrangements. It was established in 1907 to meet the growing
demand and popularity of social clubs in the city.
The reception staff were friendly and the dining experience - both
inside and outside in the veranda - was great! The Club has a
picturesque garden and is definitely worth a visit.
Residential rooms are also available at approximately Rs 4,000 per
day, inclusive of all taxes.
Tollygunge Club, Kolkata
Founded in 1895, it is ranked among the top 20 clubs in the world. It
has fabulous grounds and sports facilities - golf, tennis, squash,
swimming and riding. I visited this Club multiple times, and as
always, dining in the veranda overlooking the golf course is very
special.
Madras Presidency Club, Chennai
We made a short visit to this Club when we were in Chennai in
January 2025. Founded in 1929, it is one of the premier clubs in the
city. We had an enjoyable lunch on the terrace.
49

OTHER
RECIPROCALS
Muthaiga Club, Nairobi, Kenya
By Tim Layton
Begin your East African journey with elegance and heritage at
Nairobi’s Muthaiga Club – now proudly part of our global network
of reciprocal clubs.
My love for this vibrant, diverse region runs deep. From the
majestic wildlife to warm welcomes, colourful cultures and firstclass
destinations like Zanzibar, Rwanda and Kilimanjaro – East
Africa stirs the soul. I’m delighted to offer fellow members a
gateway to experience more of it.
Founded in 1913, the Muthaiga Club was the social epicentre of
colonial Kenya and the legendary ‘Happy Valley’ set. Today, its
grand halls, vintage charm and serene gardens preserve a
timeless glamour.
Just 15 minutes from central Nairobi and close to Nairobi National
Park, the Club is a perfect base for safaris, golf or cultural visits to
the Karen Blixen Museum and Giraffe Centre.
European travellers will appreciate its refined dining and tranquil
ambience. Dress codes and prior arrangements apply – but once
inside, you’re not just a guest. You’re part of Kenya’s living history.
Haute, Zurich, Switzerland
By Shinshu Tozawa
In Zurich, there are not many places where you can take in views
of the city and its lake from a building. Haute is one of those rare
spots, offering a perfect vantage point to see the entire city while
enjoying lunch or dinner.
I visited just after lunchtime, so the menu was limited, but the veal
sausage with chips I ordered was tasty. It is nothing
groundbreaking, but the sweeping view more than makes up for
it. Being close to the city centre, it is also an ideal place to pause,
rest your feet after a day of walking, and savour a mix of local and
French flavours.
50

MUSIC, ART
& CULTURE

Chair of the Kettner Society since 2001, is a
Peter,
Liberal councillor and Bracknell Liberal
former
chairman. He leads the Society’s musicfocused
Association
programme at the National Liberal Club.
Piano recitals by Italian Emilio Aversano and our very
own Co-Artistic Director Cristian Sandrin followed in
May and June. Club Member Cristian is gaining
international recognition as a Beethoven interpreter,
and here he performed the composer’s first three piano
sonatas, a programme he then brought to the
Beethoven-Haus in Bonn. We are proud to share that
Cristian’s latest CD album, of Purcell’s complete
keyboard suites on Somm, has won the Instrumental
Choice Award in the BBC Music Magazine July 2025
issue with a 5-star review.
In July, we were thrilled to be joined by former Club
Chair Janet Berridge for a very special Vice-President’s
Concert, the 60th Kettner Concert at the NLC. We are
enormously grateful to Janet and her husband Michael
for their incredible support of the a musical life at the Club, and were delighted this could
be celebrated in such spectacular fashion, with Lyric Baritone Anton Kirchhoff, the son
of one of Janet’s former colleagues from her time working for the German subsidiary of
EMI Music, and pianist Daniel Peter Silcock enrapturing the audience with an
astonishing performance.
Away from our ‘home’ at the NLC, Kettner Concerts are reaching new audiences in
Twickenham (St Mary’s Church), Oxford (Holywell Music Room), and Manchester
(International Anthony Burgess Foundation).
Pianist Jed Distler came over from New York and joined Cristian Sandrin on 8
September to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death - putting
the NLC’s Steinway through its paces with a 4-hands performance of the ‘Leningrad’
Symphony. Looking forward, on 21 November, the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble
will return for Mozart Piano Concertos with Cristian. And on 1 December, Ursula Jones
OBE, co-founder of the ECO and Kettner Society Honorary Patron, is presenting an
exciting and eclectic programme. Plus, more concerts and lunches to be announced -
including lunchtime recitals. We hope to see you at some of our upcoming events!
Peter Whyte
Chair, Kettner Society
54

MEMBER PUBLICATIONS
Displacement
By Richard Harper
We made a short visit to this Club when we were in Chennai in
January 2025. Founded in 1929, it is one of the premier clubs in the
city. We had an enjoyable lunch on the terrace.
Going Digital: What It Takes for Smoother Transformations
By Lyndsey Jones and Balvinder Singh Powar
Digital transformation is a constant in organisations, but how do
you do it successfully? Going Digital, by Lyndsey Jones and
Balvinder Singh Powar, helps leaders and managers navigate the
fast pace of change in today’s workplace by focusing on the real
day-to-day challenges that organisations face.
Organised thematically and covering AI, diversity, crises, conflict
and other topics, each chapter covers the story art of what
businesses have done to address disruption. You will also learn
what worked and what didn’t from case studies such as the
Financial Times, CNN, Iberdrola, Zoom, Citrix and others.
Named as one of the best business books from the FT stable in
2022, it was described as an “ideal introduction for those who need
to get to grips quickly with transformation, what it is, what to
expect, and how to turn it into a profitable opportunity.”
Refuge: Stories of War (and Love)
By Sunny Singh
Spanning decades and continents, Sunny Singh’s collection brims
with nuance, compassion and truth. Turning its lens on those who
are often overlooked in stories about war, from the women and
children who await their loved ones’ return home to the soldiers
who commit unspeakable violence, Refuge simultaneously delves
into the darkest parts of the human psyche whilst being an ode to
humanity’s ability to not only just endure but also continue to love.
59

Killer Instinct
By Nicola Williams
Underdog barrister Lee Mitchell is back in a case that strikes at the
heart of her Chambers when its Head Clerk Tom is murdered. And
his diary – the one he used to blackmail Lee’s friends and enemies
alike to do his bidding – cannot be found. Lee steps in to defend
Junior Clerk Dean, last to see Tom and working class, still living on
the estate he grew up on. Lee knows how easily prejudices can
snowball into convictions.
The Policies and Power of Public Diplomacy:
Wilton Park’s Road
By Nick Hopkinson
Nick Hopkinson is the editor and lead author of a major book
examining higher level international discussions since 1946 at
Wilton Park, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's
policy forum.
Algorithms of Betrayal
By Anat Deracine
Ryan Archaki’s wake-up call has left him reeling. Fired by a former
best friend from the AI-based ad company he helped build, the
forty-something is suddenly unhirable and angry enough to be
impulsive. And learning his work is about to be weaponised for an
unethical client, the anti-social genius hatches a plan to hack his
old tech… that backfires with a vengeance.
The Divine Comedy of the Tech Sisterhood & Other Stories
By Anat Deracine
Adopting the structure of Dante’s Divine Comedy, Anat Deracine
confronts the circles of hell created by Silicon Valley’s maledominated
culture. And as she skillfully weaves a tale of sexism,
tech-bro reindeer games, and the failures of leadership, you’ll
laugh in sympathy while being inspired to stand up for diversity.
60

CLUB HISTORY

There had been tensions in the
Club in 1940. Some members
sought to restrict invitations to
give talks to members to those
supporting the coalition
government. Others felt that
there should be a wide range of
political views expressed within
the club.
Matters came to a head on 6
March 1940. On that day, Dr D. N.
Pritt, lawyer and Labour MP for
Hammersmith, delivered an
address on the topic Where
Russia Stands Now. In the same
month he lost the Labour Whip
and was expelled from the
Labour Party. Labour took action
against Pritt due to his
declaration of support for the
Soviet invasion of Finland. This
illustrated the difficulties caused
by giving an open platform to
anyone, however obnoxious their
views. He went on to defend
Stalin’s actions in signing the
Nazi–Soviet Pact. The Political
Committee viewed this episode
as ‘rank stupidity’. In future, there
would be what we now call a risk
assessment before any invitation
to speak might be confirmed.
Facing the Future
The Club had come through the
war in good condition. Club
members had the use of all
Club facilities. They had not
faced requisition by the War
Office as they had in 1915, when
the Club House was required for
use by the Canadian military.
Right from the start, demand for
Club accommodation had
risen considerably. However,
new challenges were to appear
from 1946 onwards.
The General Election of 1945
was won outright by Labour.
The Liberals held 19 of the seats
won in 1935. They had secured
three gains from Labour but lost
10 seats.
Up to that point, it looked as if
the portrait would never see the
light of day. However, indicating
Liberal support for Churchill’s
defiance of the enemy,
Churchill, accompanied by Mrs
Churchill and Sir Archibald
Sinclair, Liberal Leader, attended
an installation ceremony in the
lobby for the portrait of Sir
Winston. The portrait was hung
in a prominent position in the
hallway.
As the summer of 1940 passed,
with our army defeated in
France but thanks to the
courage and skill of RAF pilots
during the Battle of Britain,
together with the Royal Navy,
there was no invasion.
Nevertheless, Britain faced the
choice of standing alone, albeit
with support from the
Dominions and Colonies
overseas, or seeking terms with
the enemy. It is not possible to
find out how individual
members saw the position.
Nevertheless, after scanning
committee minutes, there is
nothing to indicate a wish to
surrender. The ethos of the
Club plainly was to simply
carry on.
In 1943, the Soviets were
advancing from the East after
the Battle of Stalingrad. The
Allies were driving the enemy
out of North Africa, invading
Sicily and then mainland Italy.
They were preparing for the
1944 Normandy landings.
The Club had suffered little in
the early stage of the Second
World War. As most of Europe
was in the hands of the
enemy, this increasingly led
to shortages affecting poor
people especially. The
government initiated a
coupon system of rationing
that was intended to ensure
that the less well off would be
treated in the same way as
the wealthy.
Members eating in the Club
restaurant would now face a
restrictive diet. They would be
affected by shortages and by
the 5-shilling limit on food.
Right from the start of the
war, there would be
unwelcome costs and
restrictions on clothes and
petrol.
64

Since the NLC’s foundation in 1882,
women had always been allowed to
use the Club as visitors, but had to use
a separate entrance (what is now the
lobby of the Royal Horseguards Hotel),
and remained barred from several
parts of the building.
The first woman to join was as part of
a student prank, in 1967: Hilary Wright
was a member of the Oxford University
Liberal Club, which at the time had the
right to propose candidates for the
NLC. When the NLC asked for
confirmation that she was a man, it
was claimed that the application
‘complied with the rules of the Club’.
(The rules did not in fact explicitly
require an applicant to be a man or
bar women as members.) She was
sent a membership card in the post,
and turned up demanding that the
porter let her in – having arranged for
the Daily Express to photograph the
incident.
The incident propelled the NLC to start
offering women ‘associate
membership’ later that year. Members
were canvassed to ‘test opinions’ and
the response (by 23% of the
membership) was either positive or
indifferent. Taken up initially by just five
women (who had to be the wife or
widow of a Club member), by January
1968 the number had risen to 34, the
Baronesses Violet Bonham Carter and
Nancy Seear both joining in the early
phase. Associate membership gave
restricted privileges and limited access
to the Club’s rooms and facilities,
including the Library and a (separate)
Ladies Lounge. I am indebted to our
Honorary Archivist Charles Gillett for
ferreting out these fascinating facts on
the topic from the minute-ledgers of
the Membership Committee.
Pressure was exerted by the Liberal
Party throughout the 1960s to admit
women as full members, and the
Women’s Liberal Federation (founded
in 1887, whose first president was
Catherine Gladstone, wife of our Club’s
founder) argued robustly that it was
indefensible for this particular club to
lay claim to being a citadel of
Liberalism and a rallying ground for
Liberals whilst denying the basic Liberal
belief in equality. A photograph in The
Lounge documents Liberal Ladies
picketing the Club in 1975 to admit
women as full members. The Club
eventually admitted women the
following year, in 1976. Charles
ascertained that the first three female
full members were Christina Baron (still
a member today), the late Joyce
Arram (1935–2018), known to many
members, and a Miss Jennifer Fitch
(1931–2007).
The growing number of women
members is sadly not recorded in the
Club’s early newsletters (re-introduced
in 1983 – no copies of the earlier
incarnation exist), though an influx of
new blood from the SDP and, no doubt,
from women keen to be members of
the refurbished Clubhouse, helped to
boost the overall membership of the
Club in the 1980s and early 1990s. In
October 1995 the newsletter proudly
announced that the Club would shortly
be able to boast 2,000 members, 250
of them women!
By the mid-1990s, it was time to
celebrate the twentieth anniversary of
admitting women as members, and
the guest of honour at that celebration
(a gala reception on the Terrace and a
buffet supper) was Betty Boothroyd,
first woman Speaker of the House of
Commons, no less.
67

One woman who came to prominence
at the NLC was Baroness Stina Robson.
Her husband Sir Lawrence Robson, an
accountant, had saved the NLC in the
late 1970s by masterminding a rescue
package. The refurbishment of the Club
was still underway when he sadly died
in August 1982 and Stina stepped into
his shoes, later founding the Robson
Charitable Trust (RCT) that then held
control of NLC Ltd, the company
charged with the day-to-day running
of the Club, and steered it through the
next 17 years before she died in early
1999. Some 18 years later her daughters,
Krissie Byng and Vanessa Potter, nobly
stepped up to help guide the Club into
a new phase of its existence, after their
brother Maurice retired as Chair of the
RCT due to ill health.
The number of women members
serving on the Club’s General
Committee (the forerunner of the
Members Council) began to increase
over time and as early as 1991 seven of
the 30 members were women, most of
them serving on committees and
contributing actively to Club life.
Women members began to take
responsibility for the Club’s affairs.
Veronica Herrington (1926–2015) was
Deputy Honorary Art Curator and a
regular contributor to the Club’s
newsletters, writing on the NLC’s
magnificent collection of portraits,
busts, statues and Liberal memorabilia.
Joyce Arram, a lawyer, was a member
of the Women’s Liberal Federation and
a stalwart supporter of many events at
the Club, especially legal dinners and
the ‘NLC Glyndebourne’ concerts
launched in 2005 featuring classical
music concerts in the David Lloyd
George Room with a delightful ‘picnic’
aa
68
supper or buffet on the Terrace during
the interval.
Ella Slack was a General Committee
member from 2004; her father Granville
was Chair of the Trustees from 1977 to
1990 and contributed a great deal to the
Club. Ella continues to support the NLC,
attending many events, participating in
the Club’s many trips to European and
Commonwealth countries and holding
special birthday celebrations at the
Club despite living on the Isle of Man.
Valerie Williams (who died in 2022), also
a long-standing General Committee
member, stepped up in 2012 to be
Acting Vice Chair of the Club when a
one-year vacancy occurred. She served
for many years on the Membership
Committee, supported the Club
wholeheartedly after her retirement and
often contributed to the Newsletters.
Jo Somerville (1928–2022), who
advanced over six decades from
clerical worker to PA for the Club
Secretary, was a mine of information
about the Club; for many years she
organised the traditional ‘Hibernation’
lunches for Club members over the age
of 80 and was a member of the
Nightingale Choir that regularly
entertained members and guests at the
annual Burns Night Supper. One
amusing footnote: many members will
have fond memories of Jo, who only
retired in 2016. Until the early 1960s she
was required to take the Minutes of the
General Committee’s meeting hidden
from view behind a screen in order to
comply with the Club’s strict rules
prohibiting the presence of women in
the Smoking Room!
In 2016, I was elected the first female
Chair of the Club.

NOTICES, HONOURS
and CONGRATULATIONS
The Reverend Joseph Grogan was
ordained as a deacon at St Paul’s
Cathedral on 28 June 2025 and will
serve as the curate at St Martin’s, Ruislip,
for the next three years.
Club member,
Cllr Noel
Hadjimichael,
was elected
Mayor of
Kingston
in 2025.
Club trustee
and former
Chair, Cllr Alan
Sherwell,
served as
Mayor of
Aylesbury from
2024 to 2025.
In February 2021 Gerry Hayter, the
husband of Jutta Hayter, a longstanding
member of the Club, passed
away suddenly and unexpectedly after
a fatal heart attack. The Hayter family
set up a memorial fund and
approached Karin Rehacek, the then
Chair of the NLC, with the kind and
generous offer to purchase and install
a defibrillator at the Club.
Jutta attends the Club on a regular
basis and is a long-standing member
of the German Circle. This life-saving
device is a very fitting contribution to
the Club.
In September 2023 Members’ Council
agreed unanimously to accept the
offer, which could save the life of
someone going into cardiac arrest. An
appropriate defibrillator was
purchased, and our Chief Executive
Paul Vesper arranged the installation in
November 2024. A small plaque to
retain the memory of Gerry reads: “In
memory of Gerry Hayter, who loved this
Club and its historic building.”
71

CLUBS, CIRCLES
& GROUPS

OBITUARIES
The Club received news of the deaths of the following members during 2024-25
Mr Elwyn Griffiths
Life Member since 1986
Mr Jonathan Goodchild
Country Member since 2023
Mr Michael J Down
Town Member since 1998
Mr Allan J Brookes
Life Political Member since 2004
Mr Paul W Browning
Country Member since 2019
Mr Michael J Corcoran
Town Member since 2013
Mr Marcus J Lee
Country Member since 1984
Mr Barry N Meacham
Town Member since 2010
Mr Christopher P McGinty
Overseas Member since 1990
Mr Woulter L Winton
Life Political Member since 1987
Mr Roger F C Walshe
Town Member since 1987
Mr Robin S Pitman
Country Member since 1995
Mr R Leslie Dubow
Town Political Member since 2016
Prof Raymond Clark
Overseas Member since 2017