OLD CAMBRIDGE CLUBS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1934, Page 9

OLD CAMBRIDGE CLUBS

SAVING “THE BEEFSTEAK.”

LORD RANFURLY AS RESCUER.

London, May 15.

The Earl of Ranfurly, who succeeded to the title last October, on the death of his grandfather, a former Governor of New Zealand/ has come forward to save the Beefsteak Club. This is one of the oldest of the Cambridge University clubs, dating back for nearly 200 years. In Cambridge there are two exclusive dinner clubs—the Beefsteak and the True Blue—which were founded when money was plentiful. In recent times they-, have been .kept alive for reasons of sentiment, and when it was stated that they were; about to disappear the youthful Earl ,of Ranfurly—who is the son of the late Viscount Northland—came forward . to save one of “them.

The Cambridge correspondent of. the Yorkshire Post writes:—

“The earl, is a Trinity College man; and when I saw him ,at his charming lodgings in a former rectory he said, ‘lt is quite true that the Beefsteak Club has been saved, but I can tell you very little about it. I know it is the oldest club in Cambridge, and I believe that it was founded about 1750. It was not going out of existence for financial reasons. It was simply because no one appeared to be willing to accept the office of president.’ , r , ; “It is understood that Lord Ranfurly, has accepted the office of president of the club, whose membership is confined to four. Now that the Beefsteak has been saved, it is highly probable that the True Blue will also be saved, and the name of Lord Duncannon is being mentioned in this connection.

“In many ways these two clubs are similar, since they both dine in special costumed, which in many cases are handed down from one generation to another. Both are rich in plate and both have special music which is played during the toasts. This music is in manuscript form, and is very closely guarded. The details of the ritual have’ never leaked out. “The members of the Beefsteak Club dine in a costume which consists of patent leather shoes with silver'buckles and red heels, silk stockings, and satin knee-breeches, a fawn waistcoat, a dark blue coat with choker collar and stock, held together by gold buttons' ir. the forms of bulls’ heads. The bulls’ heads appear also on their plate. “Beef always appears on the bill of fare, the d ink is beer in. silver tankards and port passed round in a loving cup. Rose water and snuff are also handed round during the meal. “The True Blue dine in black court dress and weai wigs and smoke churchwarden pipes, but there are very seldom more than three or four resident members Of either club, and they are mostly members of both.”.