Page Content Title Phyllis Court Club

Club News Spring 2014

Inside this issue Club Chairman

Christmas & New Year

Forthcoming Events

New Reciprocal Clubs

www.pccmembers.org

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9

6

12

Fantastic newly refurbished bedrooms coming soon

In February last year bedrooms

9-15 were refurbished and since

then the Club has received a great

deal of positive feedback regarding

the newly designed rooms. In order

to maintain the high standards

of quality, style, modernisation

and sophistication bedrooms 7

and 8 will now be completely

transformed in a similar style as the

previously refurbished rooms. The

work is due to begin on Monday

10th February until Friday 21st

March. Room 7 will be renovated

from its current colours to a teal

and grey colour scheme with darker

wood furnishings as shown left.

Room 8 will also be updated with

the same dark wood furnishings

but will be converted to a stylish

taupe and purple colour scheme.

Keep an eye on our Facebook

(Phyllis Court Club) and Twitter

(@PhyllisCourt) pages for regular

updates on the progress of the

refurbishment and to see the

stunning completed bedrooms!

Update on 2014 projects and looking into the future

The year began with an exciting

and historic development

when Members voted at the Special

Meeting held on 14th January to

provide the mandate for Council to

proceed with the acquisition of the

land on the River Front and within the

Paddock which has been leased since

1937. Ownership of the entire Club

estate has therefore been achieved,

something which has been a long-

standing ambition and which is an

invaluable safeguard for the future.

The Grandstand Pavilion is taking

shape and the refurbished building

is expected to be handed over to

us in May. From there, we will

run a number of test events to get

everything into shape for Regatta,

Henley Festival and beyond.

The possible health and fitness

facility is subject to meeting SODC

conditions and approval and Council

will be keeping Members apprised of

all details over the course of the year.

Four new rooms are set to become

part of Club parlance this year;

• Aston

• Peppard

Continued on page 2...

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Club Contacts To complete email address, add suffix: phylliscourt.co.uk

Club Secretary Graham Owen graham.owen@ 01491 570 501Secretariat Manager Clare Morris clare.morris@ 01491 570 502Club Manager Stuart Barr stuart.barr@ 01491 570 508Financial Controller Gary Panter gary.panter@ 01491 570 503Accounts Department accounts@ 01491 570 515Catering Operations Manager Barry Eaton barry.eaton@ 01491 570 546Membership Manager Michelle White michelle.white@ 01491 570 510Membership Administrator Laura Williams laura.williams@ 01491 570 519Sales & Marketing Manager Shirley Cunningham shirley.cunningham@ 01491 570 511

Events Executive Ella Vickery ella.vickery@ 01491 570 509Marketing Executive Emma Forster emma.forster@ 01491 570 514Reception rcpn@ 01491 570 500Club and Section Event Bookings Viktoria Gitye ticketoffice@ 01491 570 543Front of House Manager Janina Bohle janina.bohle@ 01491 570 500

...continued from page 1

• Rotherfield

• Sonning

The four committee rooms will be

equipped with wi-fi facilities and

will become available for use by

Members and Interest Groups as

from next month. They will provide

a private meeting space for groups

of 4/6/8 and also a designated

quiet space to facilitate working

on laptops or tablets. The Kennet

Room continues to be available

for up to 12. Coffee, tea and other

refreshments can be provided to

order. Booking of the rooms will be

co-ordinated by the Events Office.

Grandstand renovation work began in October 2013

Original roof removal

New roof structure taking shape which will ensure a much cleaner and simpler look once complete

If you would like to see more photos

of the Grandstand renovation

work as it progresses please visit

the photo gallery on our webpage:

w w w . p c c m e m b e r s . o r g

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Looking to the Future

Chairman’s Message

I would like to take the unusual

step of using the Chairman’s

piece to say a personal thank you to

Members. As most of you will know I

suffered a major heart attack towards

the end of last year and I have been

overwhelmed by the many good

wishes and kind thoughts that Ann

and I have received from Members

wishing me a speedy recovery. I

was very touched by your genuine

concern and I would just like to

express my personal thanks to you all.

The newly refurbished Grandstand

is now taking shape and it is

beginning to look splendid. It

promises to be a superb addition

to the riverside vista in Henley

and is another enhancement to

our unique position on this most

famous stretch of the river Thames.

One improvement which is not

obvious at the moment because it

is hidden behind the contractor’s

security fencing is the removal of

the scrub and widening of the path

alongside Manor Garden. This will

mean that vehicles will be able to

access the new Grandstand and a

wonderful vista will be opened up

with the view from the Finlay Suite.

We took an enormously important

step forward in January when

the Club purchased the freehold

of the remaining part of the

Paddock. This means that we now

own the whole of the estate and

have safeguarded the facilities

and amenities of that important

area for ever. Again my thanks to

Members for their overwhelming

vote of confidence in Council’s

decision to make the purchase.

I do hope you will like the new

membership cards, both the design

and ease of use. They will be used

only for some very basic functions

at the moment but the technology

which underpins them is capable

of being extended to many other

areas particularly to security of

both the site and the clubhouse.

A part of historyIn keeping with the numerous

redevelopments planned in 2014

at the Club, we take a look back

to the Club News published in

1998 and the plans to change the

canopy outside the front entrance.

An excerpt;

At long last the canopy is being

manufactured in galvanised

steel and if all goes to plan,

will be erected during the

last week of April. During

this week all Members will be

asked to use the side entrance.

The drawings detailing the

canopy and its structure

show little variance from the

original canopy, as shown

in the photograph taken in

approximately 1907.

The Club is most grateful for

the donations from Phyllis

Court Heritage Fund and the

Ladies Action Group in the

funding of this project, which

will give Members shelter when

entering and leaving the Club.

Page 4

Message from the Club Secretary

Our first edition for 2014 is

published earlier in the year

than has previously been done so

that we can set the scene in good

time for the exciting Club activities

being planned in the year ahead. The

calendar of events on page 8 gives

current details and we draw your

attention in particular to the musical

offerings this year which include

a performance in March from

brilliant young musicians from the

Yehudi Menuhin School, a concert

in June by The Springfields, and a

bravura performance by Charles

Court Opera in August. There will

be a special treat in October when

the Kings Singers perform and in

December we hail the return of the

St John, Smith’s Square, musicians

in another Christmas concert.

Much to look forward to, but

in the meantime we shall have

the refurbished Grandstand to

celebrate in mid 2014 and we are

planning other improvements to

the main Club house. These include

improvements to the Club Room

and the creation of new committee

rooms on the first floor to meet the

demands for meeting space from

the growing number of Interest

Groups. A canoe and kayak section

is being formed over this winter

with training programmes and river

excursions planned from the spring.

On-line booking systems which

have been in development over the

past year will become a convenient

option to Members over the coming

year – including the booking of Club

events and Regatta requirements.

Club catering continues to evolve

with the Orangery open seven

days per week for Breakfast and

Lunch, and six evenings per week

for Dinner (only closing on Sunday

evening). It also has a broadened

lunch-time menu. Our new Head

Chef, Tarik Ramjaun, is becoming

better known and the Dining

Room will see evolution over the

coming months. The Club Wine

list is reviewed after the February

tasting and comes into play in April.

We also plan to continue to develop

useful and beneficial reciprocal

arrangements with suitable clubs

in London, the UK and abroad.

Details of all of the happenings

in the Club are made available on

www.pccmembers.org and in

the twice-weekly editions of In

Touch sent to Members by e-mail.

PCC Charity Action Group

The Charity Action Group would

like to thank all PCC Members who

have so generously contributed

to the money raised during 2013.

Following the AGM in January

the CAG presented cheques to

the sum of £24,000 between the

chosen charities. The Sue Ryder

home in Nettlebed received two

thirds of the proceeds whilst the

Kingwood Trust, MS therapy,

Club SC Community Youth Club

and Henley Youth Club received

£2,000 each.

New Head Chef Tarik Ramjaun

Page 5

Dining Room

Dining at your Club

The Dining Room, with its tranquil

and discreet atmosphere, makes it

the perfect place for lunch or dinner

where diners can enjoy fine food

and wine with service to match.

The Club Room, is perfect for

diners to enjoy the Dining Room

food and wine, whilst enjoying

a private dining experience.

Parties of up to 20 diners can be

catered for and a menu can be

agreed with Barry Eaton, the Club’s

Catering Operations Manager.

Our Head Chef, Tarik Ramjaun,

can also offer a bespoke Menu

in order to produce something

extra special for any occasion.

Classically trained and inspired by

some of the finest establishments

in the UK and America, Tarik

would say his style of cooking is

Modern, European influenced

by traditional French cuisine.

Having been taught by some of the

finest Chefs in Michelin-starred

restaurants, his attention to detail

is exquisite. Tarik’s ethos for a

lighter more healthy approach to

eating will see the Club focus on fish

and seafood dishes in its menus.

Reservations for the Dining Room

or Club Room can be made online,

via Reception on 01491 570500

or email rcpn@phylliscourt.co.uk

Staff Fund Thank You

The response from Members

to the Fund for 2013 has been

tremendously generous with over

£65,000.00 raised. 55 staff each

received an equal share of the fund,

and a further 13 who had been

employees for less than 12 months

have received a proportionate share.

The Fund is an entity in its own

right which is recognised by

registration with HMRC and it

is entirely separate from Club

business. As a result, no National

Insurance deductions are made,

only income tax, so the net result

for recipients is suitably enhanced.

The Fund receives payments from

Members, Interest Groups and

external users at any time of the

year but traditionally pays out

to Staff in January and August.

We look forward to being of

continued service to Members

in the very busy year ahead.

Page 6

A look back at Christmas and New Year at Phyllis Court ClubABBA Gold Concert & Buffet Saturday 14th December 2013

Christmas Eve Carols & Supper Tuesday 24th December 2013

To see more of a selection of photographs from each of these wonderful events held at the Club over the festive period please visit the photo gallery on the website www.pccmembers.org

Page 7

Christmas and New Year Celebrations

A look back at Christmas and New Year at Phyllis Court ClubChildren’s Pantomime Aladdin Saturday 14th December 2013

The Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Ball Tuesday 31st December 2013

To see more of a selection of photographs from each of these wonderful events held at the Club over the festive period please visit the photo gallery on the website www.pccmembers.org

Page 8

Dates for your DiaryFriday 7th March Classical Concert & Dinner with The Yehudi Menuhin School

7pm for 7:30pm in the Ballroom

Dress Code: Black Tie

A Very Special Concert

“La crème de la crème”

of young British musical

talent will visit the

Club when the students of the world famous Yehudi

Menuhin School give a concert and recital for

Members and their guests. The programme is still to

be finalised but there will be a string quartet, a piano

soloist and duo combinations. There will be a unique

opportunity to chat to these outstanding players

as they are joining Members for dinner, and when

they have become the stars of the concert platform

we will be able to say “I heard him/her play long

before they were famous and had dinner with them!”

An event not to be missed.

Sunday 16th March Family Sunday Lunch

Sittings at 12:30pm, 1pm and 1:30pm in the Ballroom

Offering Sunday lunch for all the family, complete with

Children’s Menus using the Club’s quality ingredients,

cooked with a seasonal twist. With colouring sheets at

the table and baby friendly high chairs, you can relax

over lunch, whilst the rest of the family enjoy theirs.

Sunday 30th March Mothering Sunday Lunch

Sittings at 12:30pm, 1pm and 1:30pm in the Ballroom

Why not treat your mother or the mother of your

children to a day off? Enjoy a sumptuous family lunch,

with a special gift for her

to take away afterwards.

Lunch will be a traditional

Sunday luncheon allowing

the mothers in the

party to be really spoilt!

Thursday 3rd April 30 Years of Membership and Over Lunch

12:30pm for 1pm

A special luncheon for Members with over 30 years’

continuous membership. A great opportunity for

Members to share experiences and stories of the Club.

Friday 11th April Classical Concert & Dinner with Pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen

7pm for 7:30pm in the Ballroom

Dress Code: Black Tie.

Mishka Rushdie Momen,

was born in London in

1992 and is described as

“an extraordinarily gifted

young artist and a recitalist

of distinction.” She is the

youngest pupil ever to have been admitted by the Purcell

School at the age of six on a full scholarship. Her debut solo

recital was at the age of ten following which her concert

experience includes most of London’s major venues

including the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre,

Regents Hall, Spencer House and Leighton House.

Thursday 17th April 10-19 Year Membership Dinner

7pm for 7:30pm in the Ballroom

Especially for Phyllis Court Club Members with

between 10 and 19 years’ continuous membership.

Sunday 20th April Easter Sunday Lunch

Sittings at 12:30pm, 1pm and 1:30pm in the Ballroom

We all want to spend

more time with family and

friends yet time demands

mean this is often difficult.

Why not pledge to make

this Easter an exception? Get all the family together and

enjoy a seasonal three course lunch, including coffee and

petits fours. There will be chocolate eggs for the children!

All events can be booked 8 weeks in advance at the Member and Events Office:Tel: 01491 570543 Email: ticketoffice@phylliscourt.co.uk

Page 9

Forthcoming Events

Classic Motoring Section Visit to South Wales, October

Twenty-nine members of the Classic Car Section were

welcomed by the Councillor Derrick Morgan, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff at Cardiff Castle, where they were treated to coffee and welsh cakes, on their recent 3-day visit to South Wales. After a very informative tour of the Castle, the group were given lunch and a guided tour at the Wales Millennium Centre on Cardiff Bay, the arts centre, housing theatres for musicals, opera and ballet. It has stunning architectural features, unmistakably Welsh in the materials used, connecting to Wales’ culture, landscape and history. Inscribed in Welsh and English the words ‘In These Stones Horizons Sing’ are cut into the outside wall.

A visit to The Sennedd, the National Assembly for Wales building, followed, where memberslistened to a debate on education. The afternoon ended with a visit to the Wales Millennium Stadium where they toured the dressing rooms, heard the roar of the 74,500 fans in the tunnel and visited the hospitality boxes and the President’s box.

Thanks must go to Dr. Alfred Gooding, a Member of Phyllis Court Club and Louise Prynne of the Economical development of Cardiff, for their excellent organisation.

Over the following two days the group visited two outstanding private collections of classic cars travelling to the Gower and Newport where they were met with typical Welsh hospitality. Together with the gala dinners held at their hotel in the evening this visit was one of the most successful away trips the Section has made.

Visit our website to see more pictures from various Interest Group outings

www.pccmembers.org

Remember we are now on Facebook and Twitter so please ‘like’ us on

Facebook (Phyllis Court Club) and follow us on Twitter @PhyllisCourt

Wednesday 23rd AprilPCC Singers St. George’s Day Concert & Afternoon Tea

3pm in the Ballroom

The PCC Singers will

perform to mark the

occasion and Afternoon Tea

will be served in the interval.

There will be a chance for

Members to sing along!

Sunday 18th May PCC AGM & Supper

AGM 5:30pm, Dinner 7:30pm in the Ballroom

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Tuesday 13th May Chairman and Council Members Summer Drinks Reception

7pm in the Ballroom

Dress Code: Jacket & Tie

Join the Chairman and

members of Council for

drinks and canapés and catch

up with fellow Members.

Friday 30th May PCC Members Club Dinner

7pm for 7:30pm in the Ballroom

A perfect opportunity to dine formally at the Club with

fellow Members.

Page 10

Council Member Profile: Mrs Sue van der Veen Sue who is now living in Berkshire, is originally from Birmingham and studied French and German at St Hilda’s College Oxford. It was in Oxford where she met her husband Marten who was in the RAF. Sue and Marten have two children, both boys and six Grandchildren of whom the eldest is 8.

What made you decide to become a Member of Phyllis Court Club?

Friends of friends showed us round and we were instantly hooked! When we heard about all the Interest

Groups we realised what an ideal thing it was going to be for us. We were going to be able to stretch our brains to open new perspectives and become very involved which is something we both enjoy a great deal.

Since joining Phyllis Court Club what Interest Groups have you become a member of?

We joined Arts Appreciation and later I became the Membership Secretary. Soon after we joined Probus and then Family History. Later on I started to help in the Computer Section laptop classes and I then joined the committee of the Computer Section. I am now the Treasurer and Membership Secretary. Even though I am a linguist by training, I have always loved arithmetic and am interested in figures so that fits in fairly well with me.

You also joined the Council earlier in the year, what is your role?

Since the AGM I have been on the Finance and Audit Committee and it is very good to know how future plans fit in with the finances of the Club. It is a great Committee to be on because the finances are so central to everything.

Has joining the Council had an impact on your enjoyment at the Club?

I think it probably has because I enjoy the extra involvement and it has given me a different perspective. You get much more of an overall view of the Club when you are on Council. I stood down from the Arts Appreciation Membership Secretary role because I knew the Council needed more of my time but I am still a Section Member. Council enables you to know more people and the more you contribute to a Club the more you get out of it!

New Member Welcomes The Club welcomes the following members to the Club who have joined recently:

Mr Geoffrey AllisonMrs Sonia AllisonMrs June AshworthMr Anthony BarneyMrs Donna BarneyMr Carlo BelliMr Philip BennettMrs Marion BennettMrs Penelope BideMr Laurie BillsonMr John BishopMrs Gwendoline Bishop

Mr John BroderickMr Thomas BrowneMr Anthony BullMrs Carole BullMrs Teresa De VilliersMs Joanna FootMr Christopher ForemanMr Roger GarstangMr James GeorgeMr Martin GoodierMrs Sylvia GregoryMrs Patricia HallMr Brendan HawthorneMs Lynne HickeyMiss Daniella HortonMrs Catherine HunterMrs Hilary Hunter

Mrs Eileen HutchinsonMs Tracy HutchinsonMr Ian Hutton-PenmanMrs Thelma Hutton-Penman

Mr Simon JacksonMr Michael JonesMrs Vanessa JonesMiss Linda KeyMr Laurie KeysMr Brian LambeMrs Diane LambeMr Matthew MannallMrs Caroline MillerMr Edward PeyckeMrs Denise PeyckeDr Iain ReidMr Matthew Sayer

Mrs Pauline SilverMiss Samantha SmithMr Paul SouthwellMrs Sarah SouthwellMr Stanley TaylorMrs Jennifer TaylorMs Jacqueline ThoemingMr Richard TuckMr John WaldronMrs Margaret WaldronMrs Bernice WhitehouseMr Brian WilkinsonMiss Lydia WilkinsonMr Christopher WoodMrs Ann Wright

Page 11

Member ProfileWhat would you say to anyone who might be thinking of joining the Council?

It is a big responsibility as we are running it on behalf of more than 3,000 Members and we have to make sure we listen to them. I would say make sure you have the time because you need to be able to commit to doing the job thoroughly. If you do have the time, it is a wonderful way to make a contribution to the life of the Club.

Apart from the Interest Groups and the Council what do you use the Club for?

We often bring friends here for lunch or dinner and sometimes bring our sons and our Grandchildren. I am pleased to see the Club offering more for families. I sometimes come and work here to have a change of scene so I sit with my

laptop in the reading room. We love attending Club functions such as the New Year’s Eve Ball and Classical Concerts and attend many Interest Group functions. I also attended Regatta for the first time this year. The atmosphere was an exhilarating experience and everything sparkled.

Have you ever held an event at Phyllis Court?

Five years ago we held our Ruby Wedding Lunch in the Thames Room. It was great to hold it here in a place which is almost like a second home to us. Very happy memories; excellent service, wonderful food, brilliant surroundings, elegant, friendly - we couldn’t have asked for more! Hopefully in another 5 years we shall be able to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary here!

Have you ever visited any of our Reciprocal Clubs?

We have visited the Hurlingham Club and also the Circulo Ecuestre in Barcelona. The Barcelona club is in an elegant Art Nouveau building in the centre of the city; well worth a visit and very convenient.

When you are not at Phyllis Court, what do you do outside of the Club, do you still work?

Five years ago I stopped teaching, I was Deputy Head of St George’s School in Ascot. I taught there for about 20 years. I

taught French, German, some Latin, quite a bit of IT and in the latter years Spanish because we had both learnt Spanish to communicate with our co-in laws, as one of our sons married into a Spanish family and now lives out there. When I stopped teaching I set up the alumnae

organisation for the school and that’s what I do part-time at the moment.

Tell us about other interests and hobbies outside of Phyllis Court Club.

We enjoy going for walks and in particular going out to National Trust properties. My interests are predominantly language based. Marten and I go for a Spanish conversation lesson in Henley once a week and one thing I always wanted to do was to learn Classical Greek, so a neighbour and I meet once per week to do that and then do the Times Crossword which is another passion. When I have time I like sewing and drawing. We travel a lot abroad and on holiday I love photography and I of course try to use my language skills.

What would you say to anyone thinking of joining the Club?

When you have been in the RAF you have moved around a lot, you have

friends in lots of difference places but not very many locally and that’s where it has been brilliant being a Member of PCC. We know so many people through Phyllis Court; it is ideal for people moving into the area. One thing everybody remarks on when we bring them to the Club is how very attentive and polite the staff are. Many of them know the names of the Members and greet them personally. As for joining you will never regret it as long as you take full advantage of everything the Club has to offer. The people who don’t enjoy it are probably those that don’t really take advantage particularly through the Interest Groups, making new friends but also broadening their minds and learning new things for many-a-year to come.

Obituaries It is with deepest regret that Club News records the death of the following Members. The Club extends its sympathies to the families and friends of:

Mrs Margo Atkins Mrs Sheila AlexanderMr James AndersonDr Rolf BlachMr Roy BoxMr John BuchananDr Ian CheshireMr A. James Corrall Mr John FoordMrs Angela HallMr David HoughtonMr Dudley Ingoldby-WilliamsDr Glenn LambertMiss Ann NewmanMr Ernest PearceMr John MurrayMr Kenneth WhiteleyMr Thomas Yonker

Page 12

Club News is produced and published by

Phyllis Court Club, Marlow Road,

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,

RG9 2HTTel: 01491 570500

www.pccmembers.org

Editorial Contact for Club News is

Michelle White Membership Manager

Tel: 01491 570510 Email: michelle.white@

phylliscourt.co.uk

Welcoming our New Scottish Reciprocal Clubs

The New ClubThe New Club was founded in 1787

and is Scotland’s oldest Private

Members Club. It is located on

Princes Street, Edinburgh and

commands amazing views of

the Castle. The Club has 22 en-

suite bedrooms, all of which were

refurbished in 2013 and provides

an array of Dining options in either

the more formal Dining Rooms or

drinks in one of the two bars. The

Club has a business room, and a

separate computer room with stand

alone internet linked computers

and printers. There are 2 libraries

and for those looking for physical

recreation the Club has an exercise

area furnished with gym equipment.

Royal Perth Golfing Society and County Club and City Club The Royal Perth Golfing Society

and County & City Club is a Private

Members Club which was established

in 1824, and was the first such Club

to be accorded Royal patronage. It

is situated in a Georgian crescent in

the beautiful city of Perth, Scotland.

The Club overlooks the historic

North Inch and River Tay and

offers very comfortable dining and

recreational facilities, as well as a

meeting room available for business

or private functions. The Club now

offers four stunning individually

styled en-suite bedrooms available

for Reciprocal Members wishing to

stay at the Club Monday to Friday.

Royal Northern & University ClubFounded in 1854 and given its Royal

status following a visit to Aberdeen

by Queen Victoria in 1863, the Royal

Northern and University Club retains

an elegant and dignified atmosphere.

Renowned for its fine cuisine,

superb facilities for entertaining

and overnight accommodation, the

Club is ideally situated in the heart

of Aberdeen, with convenient off-

road parking and within easy reach

of the city centre, local businesses

and transport links. The Club offers

Dining and Conference facilities

as well as 10 en-suite bedrooms.

Planning on visiting any of our

Reciprocal Clubs?

Need an introductory letter

or a Reciprocal Card?

Please contact Laura Williams, Membership Administrator,

on 01491 570519 0r laura.williams@phylliscourt.co.uk.

For a full list of our Reciprocal

Clubs please visit

www.pccmembers.org/ membership/reciprocal_clubs

Phyllis Court Club