et in arcania ego

[trippingowl]

After riding in Dorking, my life this week continued to present me with activities that would imply to the casual observer that I was living in a million pound mansion on The Bishop's Avenue rather than in a three bed ex-council house in a slightly less nice but still rather cheerful, comfortably middle-class area in north London.  One of my

Comments

[xavierxalfonso]

Interesting post, ta

[trippingowl]

Oh yes, that's true... £1000 only for over 35s, I think. In fact, now that you mention it, if one were to break it down, for younger members it's less than a membership to a gym. Maybe I should reconsider and investigate inveigling my way into the inner circles. I joke about the amusement value of becoming the first female member, but you know, now that I think about it...

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If only there -were- a gym. It would tip the balance. :)

I think you may well be right, that the problem is to the south... I think Public School English may be narrowing it down too far, though it is by far and wide the layer of society which is most afflicted by that particular sickness.

[bumpycat]

Interesting that you mention the Club as the preserve of Old England. In my handful of encounters with those establishments, I've formed the same impression - but it's through the Army, which of course is also a preserve of Old England. We still wear cavalry jackets and spurs to formal dinners, for example.

Interestingly, the divide you mention is also present in the Army. A lot of the officers are either public school or southern England - enough to create that kind of club atmosphere in the officers' mess (which in itself is a form of gentleman's club. With women too, now). The soldiers, on the other hand, are from a wider range of class, geographic origin and schooling, and so tend to be less formal and more open. This is part of the culture of the Army, and is ... well, not actively encouraged, but maintained through emulation of seniors and admired characters. It's odd how personality traits can become social traits.

Clubbing

[pinkthulhu]

I've always found the whole gentleman's club thing quite old-fashioned. Still, the Savile Club's background seems quite interesting