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Twelve: a good number -
Always ready to get to my feet -
Past Masters Yeo, Miller and Allen -
Past Masters Merton, Golding and Alexander -
Past Masters Walter, Taberer and Merton
The Master's Dinner for the Past Masters
10th September 2026In & Out Club, 4 St James' Square
One of the greatest pleasures of a Master's year is the annual Past Masters' Dinner: an opportunity to enjoy the company of those who have trodden this road before, where experiences can be exchanged, a few secrets divulged, challenging issues discussed, guidance sought and advice freely given.
By tradition, we meet at the Naval and Military Club—the famous "In and Out", originally at 94 Piccadilly but now in St James's Square. Our dinners take place in the beautiful Astor Room on the first floor, which has its own verandah overlooking the main courtyard.
Following our GPC meeting in the City, I arrived with Past Master Henry Tuck with twenty minutes to spare, to find Past Master Michael Walter already comfortably installed in reception. Past Master Elise Rasmussen followed shortly afterwards, always busy, with her phone pressed to her ear as usual!
It's traditional for the Master to provide the cigars and, this year, I was privileged to be invited by the legendary Mr Edward Sahakian, one of our Liverymen, to make my selection from his wonderful Davidoff showroom in St James's. The day before the dinner, I entered Davidoff to be greeted by his son Eddie, who took great care to explain the fantastic range of options before helping me decide on a Nicaraguan Petit Robusto from Regius Cigars. Created by Akhil Kapacee together with the late John Darnton, formerly of Hunters & Frankau, it was launched in the UK in 2010 and proved the perfect size to enjoy with a glass of champagne in the hour before dinner.
And for the non-smoking Master? A chocolate cigar, of course, together with a box of Fortnum & Mason's best Smoky Earl Grey silken teabags, to be enjoyed at a more leisurely moment!
Eventually, eleven Past Masters were gathered, appreciating the fizz and the chat before sitting down to dinner: ham hock and pea terrine, harissa roast lamb rump and raspberry and almond crumble tartlet. The wines were Domaine Auvigue 2022, Bodegas Taron 2017 and Château Paradis 2025. (I prefer to include a rosé option if I can.)
Much laughter and conversation followed before the traditional Norwegian toast was given in tribute to Past Master Rolf Christopherson and the port began its journey around the table.
Eventually, one or two began to flag and, conscious of my late-night train, I followed them out of the door to flag down a taxi. This left a couple of stalwarts on the balcony to finish the port and cigars before making their way towards the Tube. I arrived back in Bath at around midnight - about the same time, I suspect, as they finally managed to find their beds in London!
Thank you to the many Past Masters who were unable to travel to the In and Out for dinner but who sent me their good wishes.
In my blog of 9 July, I recalled the occasional delightful lunch at the old In and Out Club in Piccadilly in my twenties, when I was the guest of a venerable member of the Cork family. The In and Out was then a gentlemen's club, although in 1919 it had taken over a nearby hotel to provide designated facilities "for entertaining ladies". I was always directed to use the side entrance in Half Moon Street and not to go in through the famous In and Out pillars. Fortunately, ladies are now admitted as full members, a change which coincided with the Club's historic move to its comfortable and spacious new home in St James's Square in 1999.
The next time we gather in the Astor Room for the Past Masters' Dinner, I shall be a Past Master myself and perhaps ready to divulge a few of those Master's secrets!