Caledonian Club
Encyclopedia
| Founded | 1891 |
|---|---|
| Home Page | www.caledonianclub.com |
| Address | 9 Halkin Street, Belgravia, LONDON, SW1X 7DR |
| Clubhouse here since | 1946 |
| Club established for | Scots Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
| Club motto | Floreat Caledonia |
The Caledonian Club is a members' club in central London, for Scots in London and their guests.
History
The club was founded in 1891 as a proprietary club, based in Chares II street, London SW1. It became a members’ club in 1917 when the Marquis of Tullibardine appealed to Members to make it "the representative national club and headquarters for Scotsmen in London".Membership
Membership requires at least one Scottish grandparent, or to have served, in the opinion of the committee of the Club, “in an important capacity in the public service of Scotland”. Most Members are Scots.The membership comprises a wide cross-section of professions, including lawyers, accountants, bankers and stockbrokers but also professional sportspeople, ambassadors and members of the armed services.
John Logie Baird
John Logie Baird
John Logie Baird FRSE was a Scottish engineer and inventor of the world's first practical, publicly demonstrated television system, and also the world's first fully electronic colour television tube...
, inventor of television was a Member. The late John Smith
John Smith (UK politician)
John Smith was a British Labour Party politician who served as Leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his sudden death from a heart attack in May 1994...
QC, MP, leader of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
until his death in May 1994, was a Member and regular user of the club, and occasionally brought young new Members of Parliament to the club, including, in 1984, the newly elected member for Sedgefield, Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
Other notable members have included Lord Mackay of Clashfern, Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
(1979-84), a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
(1985-87) and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
(1987-97).
Location
The club was originally located at 33 St James' Square. It moved to its present location at 9 Halkin Street, London SW1, behind Hyde Park CornerHyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
, on 17 October 1946.
Halkin Street is named after Halkin Castle, Flintshire, a seat of the Grosvenor family, Dukes of Westminster, who still own the freehold. The house at 9 Halkin Street was built for Hugh Morrison, a politician first returned to Parliament in 1918 and a wealthy landowner. The clubhouse at Number 9 was the last mansion house of its kind to be built in London.
In 2005-06, it was substantially extended with a new wing providing much enlarged facilities, including a new library, public rooms and many new bedrooms. The new wing was opened by Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, on 30 November 2006.
Societies
The Club has established various societies:- Members of the Golfing Society play regularly at prestigious courses throughout the UK, including Loch Lomond, The Berkshire, Woking, and Archerfield, and on an annual visit to France, usually Le Touquet. A unique putting contest takes place within the clubhouse at the annual social evening and guests are tested on their golf knowledge thereafter.
- The Racing Society has two horses in training at present "Caledonian Lad" and "Port Charlotte". Members may buy shares in a syndicate or become supporters: they are informed when horses are racing and have the opportunity to attend races using owners’ and trainers’ facilities. They are kept up-to-date with progress by means of a regular e-newsletter. The AGM and annual dinner is also an opportunity for Members to hear from the trainer on their horses’ progress.
- After lunch at the Club on the first Tuesday of each month, a well-known speaker is invited to talk to The Number 9 Society. Past speakers have included politicians, Scottish sports personalities, captains of industry and ambassadors.
- The Bridge Society meets informally on Mondays, sometimes playing against other clubs.
- A small number of keen amateurs make up the Snooker Society, which also meets informally as well as playing in an annual competition against other London clubs.
- The Shooting and Fishing Society hosts numerous events throughout the country, including a highly sociable competition against the New Club, Edinburgh.
- The Musical Society organises a series of performances by world-class young musicians in spring and autumn.
The Burns Club of London, The Caledonian Society of London, The Royal Caledonian School and many other Scottish organisations meet regularly at The Caledonian Club, and The National Trust for Scotland's London Branch is situated within the Club.