Vincent's Club

Vincent's Club
	The front door of Vincent's Club
Formation	1863
Location	1A King Edward Street;
Coordinates	51.7522°N 1.2549°W
Membership	Oxford Blues (predominantly)
President	Daniel Bundred
Website	www.vincents.org

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]

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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.^[6] J.S.G. Pemberton regarded it as "the premier Social Club of the University",^[7] 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".^[8]

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.^[9] The Beatles visited the club in 1964.^[10]^[11]

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.^[12] The club was originally limited to only 100 resident members, but as the university has expanded, so too has the club.^[13]

Members must be enrolled at the University of Oxford at the time of their election, but remain members for life.^[13] The club's constitution was amended to enable the admission of women as members on 9 March 2016.^[14]

The club was originally located in the old reading rooms which J. H. Vincent, a printer, had previously kept at 90 High Street.^[15] Between 1894 and 1931, the club occupied premises at 6-7 High Street.^[16]

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,^[17] the club's facilities include a bar, lounge area, dining room, conference room, kitchen and administrative offices.^[18]

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".^[13]

Royalty:

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
King Harald V of Norway, world champion sailor
King Olav V of Norway, Olympic Gold 1928
Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, Indian prince, India cricket captain and England cricket international
Emperor Naruhito of Japan (Honorary Member)

Politics & Law:

Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia
Sir George Abell, civil servant
Sir Anthony Acland, British diplomat and Provost of Eton College
Michael Beloff KC, barrister and President of Trinity College, Oxford
Bill Bradley, NBA player and US Senator, Olympic Gold 1964
Sir Robin Butler, Cabinet Secretary and Master of University College, Oxford
Bill Cash, MP
Randolph Churchill, MP and son of Winston Churchill
Lord Desborough, MP, President of the Amateur Fencing Association, President of Marylebone Cricket Club and President of the Lawn Tennis Association
Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of Oxford University
Alec Douglas-Home, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Bob Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia
John Gorton, Prime Minister of Australia
Roger Gifford, Lord Mayor of London
Sir Jeremy Greenstock, diplomat
Sir Edward Grey, UK Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of Oxford University
Melville Guest, diplomat
Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (Honorary Member)
Sir John Masterman, spymaster, Provost of Worcester College, Oxford and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
Lord Milligan, Scottish judge and politician
Colin Moynihan, Olympic Silver 1980, MP and Olympic administrator
Viscount Monckton, lawyer and Defence Secretary
Philip Moore, Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and England rugby international
Airey Neave, MP and soldier
Ossie Newton-Thompson, member of the South African parliament, England rugby international and winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Lord Oaksey, main British judge at the Nuremberg trials
Katsuhiko Oku, diplomat
Lord Porritt, Olympic Bronze 1924, military surgeon and Governor-General of New Zealand
Cecil Rhodes, Prime Minister of the Cape Colony and mining magnate
Sir Ivor Roberts, UK Ambassador to Yugoslavia, Ireland, and Italy and President of Trinity College, Oxford
Earl of Roseberry, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Sir Mark Sedwill, Cabinet Secretary and United Kingdom National Security Adviser
Edwyn Scudamore-Stanhope, peer and courtier
Montague Shearman, judge and co-founder of the Amateur Athletics Association
Whitney Shepardson, head of the Secret Intelligence Branch of the Office of Strategic Services
William Stevenson, Olympic Gold 1924, founding partner of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, president of Oberlin College and US ambassador to the Philippines
Frederic Thesiger, Viceroy of India, Governor of New South Wales, Governor of Queensland, First Lord of the Admiralty and Warden of All Souls College, Oxford
Sir John Weston, diplomat

Military:

Sir Brian Burnett, Royal Air Force air chief marshal and Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club
Robin Bourne-Taylor, British Olympic rower, Life Guards officer and winner of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Noel Chavasse VC & Bar, Olympic athlete and twice winner of the Victoria Cross
David Craig, Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Chief of the Defence Staff
Pete Dawkins, Rhodes Scholar, Heisman Trophy winner, US Army brigadier general and business executive
James Glancy, Royal Marines and Special Boat Service (SBS) officer, winner of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, wildlife conservationist, film maker and Member of the European Parliament
Sir Edmund Herring, senior Australian Army officer, Lieutenant Governor of Victoria and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Roger Kimpton, winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Jock Lewes, co-founder of the Special Air Service (SAS) and Welsh Guards officer
Sir Tommy Macpherson, winner of three Military Crosses
Robert Nairac, Grenadier Guards and military intelligence officer
Sir John Rawlins, Royal Navy Surgeon Vice Admiral
Arnold Strode-Jackson, Olympic Gold 1912 and British Army general officer
Wilfred Thesiger, military officer, explorer and writer
Richard Wakeford VC, winner of the Victoria Cross
Geoffrey Woolley VC, infantry officer, military chaplain and winner of the Victoria Cross
Melvin "Dinghy" Young, twice winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross and second in command of Operation Chastise

Academic:

Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford
Lord Blake, historian and Provost of The Queen's College, Oxford
Lord Butterfield, Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge, Master of Downing College, Cambridge and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University
John Dossetor, pioneering physician and bioethicist
Sir Keith Feiling, Chichele Professor of Modern History at All Souls College, Oxford
Robin Fletcher, Olympic Bronze 1952, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford and Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford
Gathorne Robert Girdlestone, pioneering orthopaedic surgeon
Sir John Hood, businessman and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
Frederick L. Hovde, president of Purdue University
Arthur Johnson, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford and FA Cup winner
Sir Colin Lucas, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Chair of the Board of the British Library
Sir Terence Morrison-Scott, zoologist, Director of the Science Museum and the British Museum (Natural History)
Francis Pember, Warden of All Souls College, Oxford and Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
Professor Graham Richards, head of the Department of Chemistry at Oxford University
Felix Stephens, Benedictine monk and Master of St Benet's Hall, Oxford
Sir Harold Thompson, Fellow of St John's College, Oxford and chairman of The FA
Alan Valentine, Olympic Gold 1924, academic, president of the University of Rochester and Marshall Plan official
Hugh Ward, bacteriologist and winner of the Military Cross
Sir Francis Wylie, the first Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford

Religion:

Walter Carey, international rugby player and Bishop of Bloemfontein
Edward Carr Glyn, Bishop of Peterborough
Hartwell de la Garde Grissell, papal chamberlain and founder of the Oxford University Newman Society
William Heard, cardinal
Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury
Nicholas Stacey, priest and social activist
Andrew Wingfield Digby, sports chaplain

Business:

Etienne de Villiers, investor and business executive
Sir Rod Eddington, business executive
Ivan Gazidis, former CEO of Arsenal F.C. and AC Milan
Jason Gissing, founder of Ocado
Sir Christopher Hogg, business executive
Jim Rogers, investor and financial commentator
Julian Ogilvie Thompson, chairman of De Beers and Anglo American
Lord Charles Williams, business executive and life peer

Arts:

Lord Jeffrey Archer, novelist and politician
John Buchan, author and Governor General of Canada
John Galsworthy, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Kris Kristofferson, singer, songwriter and actor
Lord Palumbo, chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain

Media:

James Allen, Formula 1 journalist
Sir Christopher Bland, businessman and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC
John Bryant, editor of The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph
Tim Hetherington, photojournalist
Marmaduke Hussey, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC
Walter Isaacson, author, professor, CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN and editor of Time
Norris McWhirter, co-founder of Guinness World Records and The Freedom Association
Ross McWhirter, co-founder of Guinness World Records
Dan Snow, historian and broadcaster
John Woodcock, cricket writer

Sportspeople:

A. G. G. Asher, Scottish rugby and cricket international
Jimmy Allan, Scottish cricket international
David McLaren Bain, Scotland rugby captain
Sir Roger Bannister, first to run the sub-4-minute mile, neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford
Stuart Barnes, England rugby international and commentator
Tommy Bedford, South Africa rugby captain
Robin Benson, FA Cup winner, merchant banker and art collector
Bernard Bosanquet, international cricketer and inventor of the googly
Marshall Brooks, England rugby international and world record holder for the high jump
Charles Burnell, Olympic Gold 1908
Richard Burnell, Olympic Gold 1948
Donald Carr, England cricket international and cricket administrator
Herbert Hayton Castens, captained South Africa at both rugby and cricket
Christopher Chataway, athlete and politician
Troy Coker, Australian rugby international and winner of the 1991 Rugby World Cup
Oliver Cook, world champion rower
Jerry Cornes, Olympic Silver 1932
Colin Cowdrey, England cricket international
Phillip Crowe, Australian rugby international
Phil de Glanville, England rugby captain
Barnabé Delarze, Swiss Olympic rower
Peter Dixon, England rugby international
Sandy Duncan, Olympic administrator
Hugh "Jumbo" Edwards, two Olympic Golds 1932 and Royal Air Force group captain
Mark Evans, Olympic Gold 1984
Mike Evans, Olympic Gold 1984
Jonathan Fellows-Smith, South African cricket international
R. E. Foster, England cricket and football captain
C. B. Fry, England cricket and football international, world record holder for the long jump
Angus Groom, Olympic Silver 2020
Simon Halliday, England rugby international
David Hemery, Olympic Gold 1968
Bob Hiller, England rugby international
Ewart Horsfall, Olympic Gold 1912, winner of the Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross
Malcolm Howard, Olympic Gold 2008
Andrew "Sandy" Irvine, mountaineer
Douglas Jardine, England cricket captain
Manon Johnes, Wales women's rugby international
Derek Johnson, Olympic Silver 1956
Abdul Kardar, first Pakistan cricket captain
F. S. Kelly, Olympic Gold 1908, musician and composer
Alister Kirby, Olympic Gold 1912
David Kirk, All Blacks captain and winner of the 1987 Rugby World Cup
Ronald Lagden, England rugby international
Chris Laidlaw, All Blacks international and politician
H. D. G. Leveson Gower, England cricket captain
Constantine Louloudis, Olympic Gold 2016
Jack Lovelock, Olympic Gold 1936
Donald MacDonald, Scottish rugby international
Dugald MacDonald, Springboks rugby international
Hugo MacNeill, Irish rugby international
Phil Macpherson, Scottish rugby international
Selwyn Maister, Olympic Gold 1976
Nick Mallett, South African rugby international and coach
Craig Masback, American middle distance runner, commentator and business executive
Alan Melville, South African cricket international
Adrian Metcalfe, Olympic Silver 1964 and commentator
Brendan Mullin, Irish rugby international
Patrick Munro, Scottish rugby international and politician
Thomas Nelson, Scottish rugby international
Charles Nepean, FA Cup winner
Guy Nickalls, Olympic Gold 1908
Prince Alexander Obolensky, England rugby international
Anton Oliver, All Blacks international
Tiger Pataudi, India cricket captain
Tony Pawson, cricketer, football and leading fly fisherman
Malcolm Phillips, England rugby international and President of the Rugby Football Union
Sir Matthew Pinsent, Olympic Golds 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
Rosemary Popa, Olympic Gold 2020
William Rawson, England football international and FA Cup winner
Pete Reed, Olympic Golds 2008, 2012, 2016 and Royal Navy officer
Joe Roff, Australian rugby international and 1991 Rugby World Cup winner
Alan Rotherham, England rugby captain and member of the IRB Hall of Fame
Bevil Rudd, Olympic Gold 1920 and winner of the Military Cross
Richard Sharp, England rugby captain
G. O. Smith, England football captain
Brian Smith, Australia and Ireland rugby international
M. J. K. Smith, England cricket captain and rugby international
Peter Stagg, Scotland and Zambia rugby international
Nigel Starmer-Smith, England rugby international
Davis Tarwater, Olympic Gold 2012
Cyril Tolley, British amateur golf champion
Daniel Topolski, rowing world champion, coach and commentator
Victor Ubogu, England rugby international
Pieter van der Bijl, South African cricket international
Clive van Ryneveld, South Africa cricket and England rugby international
Harry Vassall, England rugby international
Walpole Vidal, England football international, played in the first ever international football match and FA Cup winner
Michael Walford, Olympic Silver 1948
Frank Willan, rower and co-founder of the Royal Yachting Association
John Young, England rugby international

Hawks' Club, the closest equivalent members' club for sportsmen at the University of Cambridge
The Gridiron Club, private members' club open to students at the University of Oxford
University Pitt Club, private members' club open to students at the University of Cambridge

[1]
Lack, Alastair. "'Once a member, always a member'". Oxford Mail, 11th December 2009
[2]
Michael G. Brock and M. C. Curthoys, The History of the University of Oxford, Volume 7, Part 2. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-951017-7. Page 536.
[3]
W. B. Woodgate, Reminiscences of an old sportsman, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.
[4]
A Happy Breed of Men, Oxford Mail
[5]
Hibbert, Christopher (1988). "Vincent's Club". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. London: Macmillan. pp. 483−484. ISBN 978-0-333-39917-0.
[6]
Lack, Alastair. "'Once a member, always a member'". Oxford Mail, 11th December 2009
[7]
J. S. G. Pemberton, 'The social life', in J. Wells (ed.), Oxford and Oxford Life (1892), 91
[8]
M. C. Curthoys, M. G. Brock (eds.). The History of the University of Oxford: Volume VII: Nineteenth-Century Oxford, Part 2. (2000). United Kingdom: Clarendon Press. 536.
[9]
Bannister, Roger (2015). Twin Tracks: The Autobiography. The Robson Press. ISBN 9781849548366.
[10]
Razzall, Tim (2014). Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781849548205.
[11]
"BBC - Oxford Features - Secret Oxford". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
[12]
E. W. Swanton, An Oxford Institution, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.
[13]
J. C. Masterman, Vincent's Club, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.
[14]
Kodsi, Daniel (18 March 2016). "Vincent's Club ends gender exclusivity". Cherwell. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
[15]
"The High, Oxford: No 90". www.oxfordhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
[16]
"The High, Oxford: 6-7". www.oxfordhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
[17]
"Club Refurbishments". Vincent's Club. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
[18]
"Vincent's Club | Conference Oxford". conference-oxford.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
[19]
Lee, Simon (2014). Vincent's 1863-2013. London: Third Millennium Information. ISBN 978 1 908990 33 4.

Vincent's Club website

[1] [1]
Lack, Alastair. "'Once a member, always a member'". Oxford Mail, 11th December 2009

[2] [2]
Michael G. Brock and M. C. Curthoys, The History of the University of Oxford, Volume 7, Part 2. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-951017-7. Page 536.

[:1-3] [3]
W. B. Woodgate, Reminiscences of an old sportsman, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.

[:0-4] [4]
A Happy Breed of Men, Oxford Mail

[Encyclopaedia-5] [5]
Hibbert, Christopher (1988). "Vincent's Club". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. London: Macmillan. pp. 483−484. ISBN 978-0-333-39917-0.

[6] [6]
Lack, Alastair. "'Once a member, always a member'". Oxford Mail, 11th December 2009

[7] [7]
J. S. G. Pemberton, 'The social life', in J. Wells (ed.), Oxford and Oxford Life (1892), 91

[8] [8]
M. C. Curthoys, M. G. Brock (eds.). The History of the University of Oxford: Volume VII: Nineteenth-Century Oxford, Part 2. (2000). United Kingdom: Clarendon Press. 536.

[9] [9]
Bannister, Roger (2015). Twin Tracks: The Autobiography. The Robson Press. ISBN 9781849548366.

[10] [10]
Razzall, Tim (2014). Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781849548205.

[11] [11]
"BBC - Oxford Features - Secret Oxford". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2024.

[12] [12]
E. W. Swanton, An Oxford Institution, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.

[Masterman-13] [13]
J. C. Masterman, Vincent's Club, Vincent's Club, Oxford, UK.

[14] [14]
Kodsi, Daniel (18 March 2016). "Vincent's Club ends gender exclusivity". Cherwell. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

[15] [15]
"The High, Oxford: No 90". www.oxfordhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

[16] [16]
"The High, Oxford: 6-7". www.oxfordhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

[17] [17]
"Club Refurbishments". Vincent's Club. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

[18] [18]
"Vincent's Club | Conference Oxford". conference-oxford.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

[19] [19]
Lee, Simon (2014). Vincent's 1863-2013. London: Third Millennium Information. ISBN 978 1 908990 33 4.

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Vincent's Club

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History

Membership

Clubhouse

Club regalia

Notable members[19]

See also

References

External links

The front door of Vincent's Club
Formation	1863 (1863)
Location	1A King Edward Street
Coordinates	51.7522°N 1.2549°W / 51.7522; -1.2549
Membership	Oxford Blues (predominantly)
President	Daniel Bundred
Website	www.vincents.org