The Garrick Club, a historically all-male private members’ club founded in 1831 in London’s West End, has voted to admit female members. This decision comes after significant scrutiny and pressure for the club to modernize its membership policies.
On Tuesday, the club’s members voted in favor of allowing women to join, with nearly 60% supporting the change. The resolution required only a 50% majority to pass, a shift from previous votes on female membership which demanded a two-thirds majority.
The vote follows a detailed analysis of the club’s rules by senior judges, who found that according to the 1925 Law of Property Act, the constitutional language did not bar women from joining. This interpretation specifies that in legal documents, the pronoun “he” should also be understood to mean “she.”
The decision comes in the wake of resignations from high-profile members, including the head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, and MI6 chief Richard Moore, after their membership became public knowledge.
The Guardian’s publication of the club’s exclusive membership list revealed several notable figures among its ranks, including the King, several judges, cabinet ministers, MPs, and celebrities from various fields.
