After 104 years, women are equals
A MEN-only members' club has had to change its rules on women guests after more than 100 years. The Bearsted & Thurnham Club, which
fronts onto The Green, has had to comply – though reluctantly – with the Equality Act, which became law in October. But president Colin Syrett said he does
not expect many women to take advantage of the new open-door policy. Most of the men are not happy with the
situation. Mr Syrett said: “One word ab- horred in the Bearsted & Thurnham Club is change. Members hate it. They think club rules should take precedence over national legislation.”
FOOTBALLERS from Lenham Primary School will fly the Kent flag in the south-east re- gional finals of the English Schools FA Primary School Sevens competition. After winning the first round
event at Allington Primary, Lenham represented Maidstone against teams from Orpington, Sittingbourne, Thanet, Shep- way and Ashford districts in the county finals in Dover. Three wins, one draw and
one defeat helped Lenham top the league and win the compe- tition. Year 5 and 6 pupils are now looking forward to repre- senting Kent against 11 other counties in the regional finals, which take place in Greenwich in March.
A letter to more than 600 members from
Mr Syrett said the new legislation stipulates that single-sex clubs can continue with male-only membership, but all guests must be treated equally, irrespective of gender. In the past, women have only been al- lowed into the club on certain days – on Sundays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and after 5pm on Saturdays. Mr Syrett and the committee agreed unan-
imously that both men and women would be allowed to enjoy the full facilities of the club at all times. As an interimmeasure, the changes were introduced in November, ahead of the annual meeting in April. Mr Syrett's letter added that, although the
committee's decision "breaches present club rules", it must comply with the law imme- diately. He explained: "The alternative of a full or partial banning of all guests would mean the end of many arrangements made by the club with other associations and institu- tions and the use of the function room by various parties. Clearly this would not be in the best interests of the club." As recently as July, the club was seeking
Lenham school boasts county’s best footballers
legal advice on whether the new law af- fected private members' clubs. "The possi- bility of the club being able to stay as it is with regard to the admission of guests must be welcomed," said the club's website. But Mr Syrett's letter to mem-
bers in November, explaining the need for changes to the rule book, said: "I hope you fully un- derstand the need for this deci- sion which has been taken in the best interests of the club." Meanwhile, Mr Syrett ex-
pects little to change at the club, established in 1906. “Most wives are anti-club and don’t want to go anyway. It doesn’t feel to me that we will be flooded with women.”
From scrap to cash APPLICANTBarbara Richards wants to convert Lenham High Street crafts shop, Scrapbook Angels, into an accountancy practice. The change of use ap- plication would also see the top two floors used for office and residential purposes.
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