Sons at independent schools

[justeatsy]

If you have sons at private schools, be honest.

After finishing 6th form do you get them membership to a "private members clubs"?

I've read there are these clubs that are linked to independent schools.

The whole family belong to one - were proposed by friends. Wouldn't have signed the DC up but it just happened to offer 12-18 membership for a one off of about £300 - was useful as they could get a drink when in town as their club bills went to our account. Both go now (mainly to use the gym). As it is quite family friendly for a London club it means that there are quite a lot of younger members their age and an active under 35s group as well as the main social social groups.

DS went to a well known public school but no idea about a private members club. Are you sure you got the name right? private members of what ??? sureley once the leave school they just automatically become part of the school alumni, is that what you mean?

No. DS is a member of the local Pure gym, a karate club he's belonged to since he was 6, the local cycling club and young farmers.

It's hardly the Athenaeum. 🙂

No never heard of it but from the link DS could join. There is no point unless he ends up working in London. I doubt it would appeal to him unless a number of his friends were members.
He is due to go to Uni in Sept after a gap year. The uni he has chosen is popular with his school, so much so that when we did the open day he had several Snapchat messages while we were going round the uni from friends in his year and the year above, as well as bumping into one or two from the year below.
They have their own network but no where near as salubrious as the East India Club.

My DS has been to these clubs (but only as a guest) and just to have dinner.

He knows a lot of people who frequent these clubs and quite a few have the membership as a result of going to private school. Just wondering how common it is really.

It’s just advertising.

The East India Club amalgamated with various other defunct clubs in the past (like a company merger). One was the public schools club. So they advertise reduced membership to school leavers. No doubt 99% throw the flier away without even looking at it. But if you live too far from London for a day trip and visit regularly for work then the membership might pay for itself because you can then stay in a quiet part of central London affordable. It isn’t one of those clubs where you have to prove you are well connected to join.

You seem bothered by it. Any reason why?

I'm not bothered at all.

I was just curious how common it is for private school ,6th form leavers to join this.

It’s not just them. If you look at its history, it was set up for civil servants and all sorts of other professions who served in India in the 19th century. Clearly those days are long-gone, but it still exists. These clubs are basically hotel / bar / restaurant combined with hotel accommodation. They are often a bit old fashioned. Not all the rooms are en suite for example, and traditionally none of them would have been. They have function rooms that they rent out. I’ve been to meetings in a few of them, but never been a member. There are women’s clubs too, and a WI headquarter near Oxford Street where I gather women members used to be able to pop in and leave their shopping back in the day. No idea if that still exists.

I went to Oxford and can therefore automatically get membership of the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London. Literally none of the alumni or alumnae I know actually uses it.

Huh? Never heard of that. My son went to a non selective one but my one of my stepsons went to Charterhouse. Not a member of any 'club'.

DH and his brothers went to a top public school. His father was a member of the East India Club. It’s just a place in London to hang out, eat lunch and read the papers.

It would never occur to any of them to join, because it’s, you know, 2024.

Nor does he use school contacts for work, or particularly socialise with old school friends. Although he has a big circle of university friends.

We are members of one Central London club, which his mother is active in, but which has nothing to do with the school you attended etc. We are members because it has lovely members accommodation in Central London.

Not a member but have been to lots of events/dinners in a huge range of private members clubs in London through my job.

My grandfather was a member of the Athenaeum back in the 50s/60s (and was not private school).

They're very useful places for private dinners, and for people who need somewhere to stay/work in London every now and then. Also the reciprocal arrangements overseas can be very good.

From the times I have visited, the history/architecture is fascinating with a lot of them, and the average member is probably 50+ with a lot in their 70s/80s. I've never really seen anyone under 25 unless they are there with a parent or grandparent as a guest.

Food quality varies - some are superb and memorably good, others are terrible!

DH (also not public school) has been invited to join lots of them, but not really his thing.

I had no idea - will get my DS signed up in two years time 👍

No - this is a specific thing to the East India Club. If you look into it, the club was historically called the East India and Public Schools Club. I've been there a few times and they had all the school crests all over the walls. Not just the elite public school but all private schools with some kind of boarding I think. The likes of Christs Hospital etc were included.