Old guard fight for men only

Despite the MCC's break with

tradition, private men's clubs are reluctant to accept women members reports Warren Bull

One of the last bastions of male supremacy has finally given in to sexual equality, women's lib and political correctness.

But while women might have stumped the MCC's 211-year-old "men only" rule at Lords, there are still many clubs in Richmond and Kingston which refuse to yield. Institutions as diverse as the Royal British Legion in Surbiton and Wimbledon Common Golf Club prohibit "ladies", from full membership - and it is all perfectly legal.

The Royal British Legion Club in Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, has about 1,000 full members, and every one of them is male. Women cannot be full members even if they have served in the armed forces, they are only allowed to be associate members.

This means they are excluded from events such as the annual Armistice dinner and, even more significantly, they have no voting rights. The only way women can win equal status is through a motion at the annual general meeting - proposed, seconded and passed...by men.

Therein lies the crux of the problem. The last time the motion was even proposed, four years ago, it was defeated. Chairman Haydn Akerman, said: "We are not anti-women. We have a special Ladies' Night once a year and women can take part in most activities. In fact they get the best of both worlds because they are treated like members anyway."

If your method of discerning an exclusive club is to check its name, how about the East and West Molesey Conservative Working Men's Club? This 111-year-old club in Walton Road, East Molesey, was set up as a meeting place for working men who also happened to have Tory views.

Against

Former presidents include Ian Taylor, Conservative MP for Esher and Walton, but a grocer's daughter from Grantham would still not be welcome as a full member.

Chairman Ted Barker said: "We have put the matter to a general vote but the members are against it ."

But things could be even worse for cloth-capped female Tories: "Our club is not like some. At least ladies are allowed into the snooker room."

You might have believed that preventing women from enjoying the same status as men was illegal. Not a bit of it. A quick check on the law reveals that private clubs are not covered by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Nor does European legislation cover them.

The last time the problem of discrimination in private clubs was raised at the European Commission was 1981. Then MEP Ann Clwyd was told that the Commission was aware of the discrimination but was giving priority to equal treatment in employment. "

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