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Vincent's Club

Private members' club in Oxford From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vincent's Clubmap
"Vincent's" redirects here. For other uses, see St. Vincent's.

Vincent's Club, popularly known as Vinnie's, is a private members' club in Oxford. The club's membership consists predominantly, but not exclusively, of sporting blues of the University of Oxford.[1]

Quick Facts Formation, Location ...
Vincent's Club
Formation1863 (1863)
Location
  • 1A King Edward Street
Coordinates51.7522°N 1.2549°W / 51.7522; -1.2549
MembershipOxford Blues (predominantly)
President
Tom Barrett
Websitewww.vincents.org
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History

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Vincent's Club was founded in 1863 by oarsman Walter Bradford Woodgate[2] of Brasenose College, Oxford, who became the first president of the club.[3] Dissatisfied with the permissive admission policies and lack of refreshments at the Oxford Union,[3][4] Woodgate established his own club and stated that it "should consist of the picked hundred of the University, selected for all-round qualities; social, physical and intellectual qualities being duly considered."[5]

Vincent's Club quickly gained considerable prestige, which it enjoys to this day.[1] J.S.G. Pemberton regarded it as "the premier Social Club of the University",[6] while in 1894 The Isis could describe Vincent's as "a sacred Temple ... to those whom, by virtue of themselves, their athletic powers, and their social and general good-fellowship, a grateful University delighteth to honour", with membership considered to be "the diploma which the University of Undergraduates grants in due season to her most successful and deserving sons".[7]

Roger Bannister, president of the club in 1950, celebrated at Vincent's after running the world's first sub-four-minute mile at the Iffley Road track in 1954.[8] The Beatles visited the club in 1964.[9][10]

Membership

From the club's foundation, influenced by Woodgate's own sporting interests, the membership has been dominated by sportspeople. However, there has never been a sporting qualification for membership and membership does not accompany a Blue.[11] The club was originally limited to only 100 resident members, but as the university has expanded, so too has the club.[12]

Members must be enrolled at the University of Oxford at the time of their election, but remain members for life.[12] The club's constitution was amended to enable the admission of women as members on 9 March 2016.[13]

Clubhouse

The club was originally located in the old reading rooms which J. H. Vincent, a printer, had previously kept at 90 High Street.[14] Between 1894 and 1931, the club occupied premises at 6-7 High Street.[15]

Since 1931, the club has been located at 1A King Edward Street, in upstairs premises above Shepherd & Woodward on the High Street in central Oxford. Completely refurbished in 2014,[16] the club's facilities include a bar, lounge area, dining room, conference room, kitchen and administrative offices.[17]

Club regalia

Vincent’s members are entitled to wear the club tie, which is dark blue with a white crown motif, or a silver crown lapel pin.  The club tie, adopted in 1926,[4] is particularly renowned and was regarded by J.C. Masterman as "a sort of passport all over the English-speaking world".[12]

Notable members[18]

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