Hurlingham hurly-burly: Kate’s club says sorry

THERE are few spots as serene or exclusive in London as the Hurlingham Club, which counts the Duchess of Cambridge among its members and where she takes Prince George for tennis lessons.

However, in recent months its tranquillity has been disturbed by a members’ rebellion and the resignation of its chairman.

Now, I can disclose, in an act of extraordinary self-admonishment, the hierarchy at Hurlingham — which boasts the Duke of Edinburgh as patron and a 25-year waiting list — has written to members to admit recent deficiencies in its management.

‘Protocols were not followed,’ admits interim chairman Nicholas Pawson, aware members, who pay £1,400 a year for the privilege, were infuriated by the expenditure of £2.55 million on fees for a redevelopment scheme that may never materialise.

one tells me: ‘ Many are outraged membership fees have been squandered. This was done, many feel, without consulting properly the members who are footing the huge bill.’

Another said of the 42 acres of grounds bordering the Thames in Fulham: ‘This is an historic club, every acre and every tree is precious. We want it to remain as a gem without the bulldozers on the croquet lawns.’

Citing a review into a proposed £27 m redesign of the club’s Grade II West Wing, Pawson adds: ‘other areas such as member communications, the timetable, project sponsorship, financial oversight and conduct of General Meetings were also reviewed and could have been improved.’

Many members will feel it’s not before time. Some were so disgruntled by what they alleged was ‘dictatorial’ behaviour of previous chairman, Julian Holloway, they set up a website, ‘Reform Hurlingham’, which carried a snap of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un captioned ‘Hurlingham’s most unpopular chairman’.

‘A consideration of all views, including proper consultation and communication with members, will take time,’ says Pawson, ‘but we need to take the time to get this right if we are to avoid embarking on another development project without being confident members will give it their support.’

Let’s hope all will be sweetness and light by the AGM in November, when the new chairman, the Earl of Snowdon’s cousin, financier Luke Nunneley, is expected to take over.

In recent years, Hurlingham members have revolted over the ‘oiks’ invasion by members of TV’s Made In Chelsea and the ‘ industrial- size crusts’ on the club’s sandwiches. It all makes Brexit look like a picnic.