Savile Club

Savile Club. The Savile Club is a gentlemen's club located in London, United Kingdom, founded in 1868 by Augustus FitzGeorge, a cousin of King Edward VII. The club is known for its rich history and has been a hub for British aristocracy and high society, including members such as Winston Churchill, Rudyard Kipling, and H.G. Wells. The club has been associated with various notable events, including the Boer War and World War I, and has hosted prominent figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and Oscar Wilde.

● History

The Savile Club was established in 1868 as a gentlemen's club, with the goal of providing a space for intellectuals, artists, and politicians to socialize and discuss various topics. The club's early members included Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and Anthony Trollope, who were all prominent figures in Victorian literature. During World War I, the club served as a meeting place for British politicians, including David Lloyd George and Arthur Balfour, who would often discuss war strategy and diplomacy with other members, such as Woodrow Wilson and Georges Clemenceau. The club has also been associated with various cultural movements, including the Aesthetic movement and the Bloomsbury Group, which included members like Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and Lytton Strachey.

● Membership

Membership in the Savile Club is highly exclusive and has included many notable figures throughout its history, such as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The club's members have also included prominent businessmen, like Cecil Rhodes and J.P. Morgan, as well as academics, such as Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore. To become a member, one must be nominated by an existing member and then approved by the club's committee, which includes members like Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home. The club has a long history of association with Oxford University and Cambridge University, with many members having attended these institutions, including Isaiah Berlin and C.S. Lewis.

● Facilities

The Savile Club is located in a historic building in London and offers its members a range of facilities, including a library, a dining room, and a bar. The club's library contains a vast collection of books and manuscripts, including works by Shakespeare, Milton, and Austen. The club's dining room has hosted many notable events, including state dinners and award ceremonies, with guests like Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev. The club also has a garden and a billiard room, which are popular among members, including Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

● Notable_members

The Savile Club has had many notable members throughout its history, including Winston Churchill, who was a frequent visitor to the club during World War II. Other notable members have included Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, and George Orwell, who were all prominent figures in English literature. The club has also been associated with various royal families, including the British royal family and the Russian royal family, with members like King George V and Tsar Nicholas II. Other notable members have included politicians like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Chamberlain, as well as artists like Walter Sickert and Augustus John.

● Activities_and_events

The Savile Club hosts a range of activities and events throughout the year, including lectures, concerts, and exhibitions. The club has hosted many notable speakers, including Nobel laureates like James Watson and Francis Crick, as well as world leaders like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. The club also hosts various cultural events, such as book launches and art exhibitions, with participants like Martin Amis and Ian McEwan. The club's members are also involved in various charitable activities, including fundraising events for organizations like Oxfam and Amnesty International, with supporters like Bono and Angelina Jolie.