After 163 years, men-only club votes to let women join
Chairman welcomes change after overwhelming backing for move
ONE of Scotland’s few remaining “men-only” clubs has finally allowed women members to join for the first time in its 163-year history.
The Royal Northern and University Club (RNUC) in Aberdeen found itself at the centre of a sexism row after a debate was held last year to decide whether to open its doors to females.
But 86 per cent of members who attended an extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday evening voted in favour of admitting women.
It had been a topic of much debate at the club for a number of years, but when its new chairman Robert Smith was elected in November, he decided to again push for change.
Mr Smith, who himself has been a member of the RNUC since 2003, said that after consulting members he realised there was a desire for women to join.
He said: “Immediately after I became chairman I held a consultation exercise among the membership as it was quite evident there was an increasing number of them who supported a fundamental change.
“Ladies have always been welcome in the club as guests, but that consultation showed there was a significant majority of members in favour of the change, and accordingly I called an extraordinary general meeting.
“There was an excellent turnout, one of the biggest turnouts I have seen in a considerable number of years, and 86 per cent of those present voted in favour of the change.
“This change is welcome. Among the legal, medical, accountancy and other professions in the wider business community, there are a number of ladies in senior posts who, I am sure, would enjoy the conviviality and relaxation that comes with club membership.
“As chairman I look forward to receiving their applications for membership going forward.”
Founded in 1854, the club was given its royal status during the Queen Victoria’s visit to the city in 1863. It has a dining area along with facilities for entertaining and overnight accommodation.
The RNUC states on its website that the “club has kept pace with the changing times”.
Last year, vice-chairman of the club Mel Keenan said discussions held at the time of a committee set up to debate the matter had become “quite animated”, leading to ungentlemanly discussions at times.
He said: “There is a very special ambiance and atmosphere at the club and it would be a brave chairman indeed to say that ‘in my time we will overturn that tradition and brand’.”
However, the decision not to uplift the ban on women members caused controversy in the city, with one academic snubbing an invitation to dine at the club not long afterwards.
Dr Malcolm Harvey, a research fellow at Aberdeen University, declined the lunch invite and instead wrote a letter to the club criticising the “sexist establishment”.
Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman said: “The exclusion of women from private members clubs is a custom that may have been commonplace in previous centuries, but now that we have evolved a bit this sort of discrimination needs to end.”