Signs of trouble at Harry’s polo club

PRINCE Harry has thundered across its turf, as has supermodel Elle Macpherson.

But Ham Polo Club, London’s last remaining polo ground, is currently the arena for an unseemly chukka involving allegations of ‘profligate spending’, the apparent sacking of a committee member — and the appearance of two extraordinary banners just outside its entrance.

‘The Club is being run by Vindictive Bullies,’ read the banners, ‘Against Elderly and Disabled Members and Family Local Business.’

The club is powerless to remove the banners, which were seen by hundreds of polo fans at the weekend, because they are on a neighbour’s property.

A member says feelings have been running high since the club’s chairman, Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, 70, stepped down last year. ‘He was chairman for about 25 years, and nurtured the club into financial and professional stability.’

In particular, Colquhoun-Denvers persuaded the late Thai billionaire — and Leicester City owner — Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha to become the club’s president. Srivaddhanaprabha hosted a charity match in which Prince Harry played, reportedly generating £100,000 for Harry’s favoured charities.

Vichai’s polo manager, Pete McCormack, is said to have left the committee for questioning what he claimed was ‘profligate spending’. Club committee member Freddie Ventura will say only: ‘The club denies the allegations on those banners.’