Biggus, agree except he might have been an AA. I know an ex-V-force flt lt who went as a flt lt.

Trash,

Income seems to be creeping ahead quicker than outgoings and total salary costs dropped last year (good to see occupational pension contributions up about 15% though ;) ).

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk...idiaryNumber=0

Total membership up too.

Some personal views:

1. The changes to the subscription policy w.e.f. 1 Jan 2012 for the over-65s (I am not one) are unreasonable, particularly for those who didn't retire as some multi-starred wheel.

2. The smaller rooms really are VERY small; people expect more in this day and age.

3. The weektime dress policy in the Cowdray Room discourages those who go out for dinner from having a pre-dinner sharpener or post-dinner drink in the bar. So instead people stay out and the Club loses their custom. No one is going to go out for dinner, then come back and put on a jacket and tie just to have a night cap in the Cowdray Room bar!

4. The Running Horse stops serving food too early (2015), the choice is often rather limited and the bar closes far too early - 2030, for heaven's sake! The fact that it is closed on Sundays and the only alternative is the rather formal Dining Room is very inconvenient for people arriving on a Sunday evening. It's also quite uncomfortable for even a light meal; the old 'Buttery restaurant' was far more comfortable. The body language of the Running Horse staff makes it pretty clear that you aren't really terribly welcome after about 2000.....

The Club needs to attract younger members; personally I don't consider that 'jeans (without rips and tears), clean trainers and sneakers' are ever acceptable in any public room, but I do consider 'a suit or jacket with smart trousers (not jeans), a collared shirt with tie and appropriate footwear' somewhat excessive for a quick G&T in the Cowdray Room before going out for dinner, or for having dinner. I doubt whether younger members really wish to appear in scruff order, but what on earth is wrong with 'smart casual' dress?

Sad I know, but I've just been reading the Club's Spring newsletter. As Al R points out, the Club had been doing very well up to 2009, but 2010 won't be so good and the forecast flatlines due to lower projected membership numbers. The Trustees seem worried about the future, hence the withdrawal of Life Honorary Membership and frozen subscriptions.

I actually like the Club, even though I only stay there once or twice a year, and would be very sad to see it disappear. However, it really does need to move with the times and reflect the more relaxed standards found in the modern RAF Officers' Mess if it wishes to entice increased numbers of young serving officers to join and retain membership.

Perhaps it is time to extend membership to WO's and SNCO's.


Blue touchpaper lit - retiring now!

minigundiplomat, they'll always be welcome in the RAF Club.....


.....once they've been commissioned as Officers.

Tankertrash
You may actually benefit ...if you've been a member for 25 years and you are 65 - the Newsletter appears to say the sub is being reduced by 25% which may be better [at least for the time being] than being 'frozen'
I suspect that in due course the Club will have to operate like the Royal Scots in Edinburgh which operates a 'two tier' system. It's effectively a hotel open to the public.If you are a member or Reciprocal Member you get a discount on the tariff eg Joe Public pays £4 for a G+T you pay £3
My gripe would be that I've just missed the free Hon Life Membership by a whisker.
But....it's a superb location, fairly smart,food's not bad and when I joined, I have to admit it seemed to be full of boring old [email protected] now I am one !
O tempora O mores

The RAF Club is a great facility and a wonderful and 'impressive' place to take non-RAF mates for a night away, without question. BUT...in the last 5 years I have tried no less than 16 times to book a room for a weekend (often at 4-5 months notice) and on every single occasion (I do not exaggerate) the Club was full, and I did not get a room. It is utterly pointless being a member of a Club which is unable to accommodate it's members. I wrote to the manager on 5 occasions to complain that as a member of 17 - 20 years standing (I am the first to admit that should not make a difference, by the way), I was unable to get a room. He suggested I stay in less busy times. Hardly the point Sir!!! It's supposedly a member's club, yet certain members have monopolized it and left the rest of us unable to use the facility. I am now in a position of some influence and I advise all junior officers i see (a lot) that the RAF Club is an elitist house full of retired senior officers who monopolize all the rooms. I suggest that membership is a complete and utter waste of money. Those who ignore me (and many do), have on several occasions returned to my desk to say (in effect) 'You were right - couldn't get a room'.

Great venue. Waste of money. Don't bother. Couldn't get a room in 16 attempts over 5 years - quite disgusting for the RAF Officers' Club, in my opinion. I loved the place the last time I stayed 8 years ago, and wish it were perhaps prioritised for serving officers, and further so for those on operational squadrons. Sadly it is not so. I am ashamed at how elitist and inaccesible this club is. I have cancelled my membership and would urge others to do the same.

Hmm. retired for quite a while - but recently joined, notwithstanding not getting (quite rightly) the frozen subscription benefit of long-standing members. I thought it offered good value for money - primarily because of its location. Haven't used it yet. Hope it works out.

Unfortunately, although if I tot it up I have been a member for well over 25 years, (12 years when serving) I have only been a member continuously since 1993, so looks I'll have to wait till I'm well over 70 till I get the 25% discount (I expect by then some new wheeze will have pushed the date back another 5 years, etc etc).

I'm starting to think that maybe I'll take chopabeefer's advice and cancel my membership. Quite frankly the rooms are substandard, the food is only so so, so spending well over £100 a year for the undoubted pleasure of having a gin and tonic in the Cowdray Lounge seems a bit excessive.

I'm emailing the club secretary with a link to this thread, with a request that he also points it out to the member of the board of trustees who authored the report in the newsletter.

I suspect that some on this thread may be missing the point of joining/paying for a club in London.

Of course you can get a room for less cost, but not with the same cudos or atmosphere. I, for one, get shivers merely entering the building and marvelling at both the ambiance and the history that created such a place, with the attendant pride at knowing I have earned the right to be there by my own efforts, plus a reminder of the humbling reality of the legacy to which I, as a serving officer, have duty to live up to.

And it impresses the hell out of any guests - an effect a travel lodge is unlikely to achieve.

My subscription is secure - we need to maske sure today's new officers recognise the opportunity they are offered. Without support it will surely die, and that would be a loss for all of us.

Whip round much appreciated Really Annoyed - I take Paypal ;)

I think Torque Tonight has rather proved the point - it an airline pilot earning more than a serving Flt Lt (£50k+) is finding it too expensive, what chance for those (and there will be plenty) who are having a harder time than I am?

Would you prefer the poor people went to the YMCA?

Blimey is that Fred in the middle behind the counter, or is it a cardboard cutout? He's been there so long he can remember Pontius Navigator as an APO!

That's incredibly arrogant coming from someone in a class, (Commissioned Officers), that has at least one class member, (the OP), who can't afford to be a member. I can guarantee you there are many SNCO's and WO's out there who can easily afford the price. Relaxation of the membership rules would help the club and therefore people such as the OP to enjoy their little luxury.

The only problem I see is the attitude of the current members to extending the "privilege" to the others is that none of the others would feel welcome despite the fact they will be saving your club. One of those "I don't want to be a member of a club that needs me as a member" situations.

Shame really... There goes another one of those institutions that defined the British.

Beagle:

While I'm sure it means nothing to you, you lost some respect with your comment above...

Tankertrashnav - yes, that's Fred. Still going strong when I was last at the Club a few months ago.

Incidentally, ex-colleagues who were SNCOs or Master Aircrew used to recommend the Union Jack Club UJC Membership . It looks very good indeed.

I think its a bit offside to expect them to drop their standards just to save your club, hmmm?

airpolice - I've responded to the thread in question as you requested.

Out of interest, minigundiplomat, have you ever tried the UJC? If not, perhaps you should consider giving it a try.

Avoid VSC. I wasn't very impressed by the standard of the rooms. It has been a long time since any of them have had any sort of upgrade when I was there, however that may have changed since I visited. Just a word of warning the single rooms are very pokey:ooh:

Tried both. The surroundings and G n T's are better in the RAF Club, but the service better in the UJ Club, as is the beer.

Out of interest Beagle, have you tried your local Pub?

Victory Services Club
 

I stayed at the Victory Services Club (All ranks) at Marble Arch a few weeks ago. Not bad and a good location, although some rooms are definitely better than others. I met quite a few serving officers who were staying there. They said it was more relaxed than the RAF Club, cheaper membership and thought the food was good value.