LIPTON ELECTED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 13

LIPTON ELECTED

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON

MOST EXCLUSIVE CLUB

■ ■ LONDON, loth May. Sir Thomas Lipton at long" last has been! elected a member of the Royal Yachtt Squadron.

For1 years it.-has been a wonder in the -yiachting world why he was not elected when he has spent £500,000 on the spcxrt, and is easily the most famous yacht owner living. Moreover, he is a membervof sixteen other yacht clubs.

Sir Thomas was 81 years of age last Sunday, and apparently the years have obliterated memory of the fact that he began life as a -grocer, so he has been elected to a club which has the reputation of being tEe most exclusive in the world.

Pounded in 1812 the Koyal Yacht Squadron has<its headquarters at Cowes. Originally it had 50 members—all owners —and •was called simply the Yacht Club, But in 1820 the present name was adapted. To-day it has a great many mofre members, but not all of them are awtivo yachtsmen. It is sometimes said that it is an honour to be blackballed ijrom the Royal Yacht Squadron, so- socially difficult it is to enter even thk fringe of its circle. The entrance fee tk) the Squadron is 100 guinea«, and mauVy prominent x^eople have accepted morOa than one ballot rebuff before being admitted. Naturally, one qualification, apart from, those of a personal nature, iss the possession of a yacht, and rumous lias it that an ancient little craft ljung at Cowes has been' sold and resold; many times to accommodate prospective members who otherwise would be ineligible.