Julian Ebsworth reports…
The work of the Sub Committee on World War I reached its conclusion last Wednesday with some 60 people attending the commemoration service (led by the Rector of the Parish of Putney, the Revd John Whittaker) in the Fairbairn Room, followed by a lunch in The Long Room. The lunch concluded with a talk given by Mr and Mrs Ruaraidh Adams-Cairns on ‘The Great War – 100 Years On’. Copies were also made available of an A5 illustrated booklet, containing the biographies of the 50 members of the Club who fell in hostilities, which the Sub Committee has compiled; the graphic designer was Anthony Jones (a former Editor of the Club’s newsletter).
The following items were on display on 7th November: 1. The illustrated roll of honour (which normally hangs in the Fairbairn Room lobby); 2. The 1914-18 memorial book (which normally lives in a locked oak case in the Members’ Room – now with a calligrapher in Cambridge); and 3. A bronze wall memorial tablet (unveiled originally in 1921 and now restored, re-dedicated during the service, and due to be hung in the Fairbairn Room lobby, where space is reserved for it).
The grandson and granddaughter of J E Dewar, one of the 50 fallen, donated to the Club his collection of trophies at the lunch; the trophies have hitherto been on loan only, and are now back in the triangular display case in the Members’ Room.
A brief report on the 7th November event is in the latest (November) edition of ‘London Roar’, and includes the address which Mike Baldwin gave at the service. A longer report will be published in the December edition. Meanwhile, Chris Dodd has written an account for the ‘Hear the Boat Sing’ website, which is recommended reading.
The Sub Committee also produced a booklet on the 50 fallen. It contains a Foreword from the Patron. This is being made available free of charge to those members who ask for a copy; they can be picked up in the bar and in the office. The print run was 250 copies. Members wishing to order a copy through the post will be asked to pay for postage and packing. All this will be mentioned in the December issue of ‘London Roar’.
Copies of the booklet are being made available for Committee members to take away at the 14th November meeting.
