The chairman of a leading exclusive men’s club in London has resigned ahead of an expected policy change that could see women becoming members.
Gareth Neame, head of the 156-year-old Savile Club in Mayfair, resigned on Friday, giving up his membership of the Beefsteak Club and the Garrick Club at the same time.
Yesterday, two sources close to Savile blamed his decision to leave on discussions taking place at all three clubs about allowing women to join.
One source said Mr Neame simply could not cope with the proceedings and publicity involved.
Gareth Neame, (pictured) head of Mayfair’s 156-year-old Savile Club, quit on Friday
Neame is a successful British TV executive who produced Downton Abbey and, during his time as BBC director, created Tipping The Velve
But last night Mr Neame denied his reason for dismissing the clubs was over the female members issue.
Last week, the Garrick Club held a vote to pass a motion to allow women to become members for the first time in 200 years. The decision came after a leak in The Guardian last month, which published the names of 60 of its members.
The list read like a who’s who of the British establishment, with names like King Charles, Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry among its 1,500 members.
After the leak, Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, resigned as a member, along with Sir Richard Moore, head of MI6.
Prominent female names including Mary Beard, journalist Cathy Newman, Juliet Stevenson and Amber Rudd have since been put forward as potential candidates for the Garrick.
Debates and votes on whether to admit female members are now being planned at the Savile Club.
Meanwhile, the Beefsteak Club, whose motto is ‘steak and brotherhood’ – according to one member – has already decided to let women in.
But the issue is now the talking point of London’s high society, thanks to Mr Neame’s decision to storm out.
Another source told the MoS last night: ‘Savile’s chairman has resigned purely because of female members. Everyone is disappointed because he is such an excellent person.
“The Savile are still just talking about it, it hasn’t even started yet. But he resigned because many people gave him a hard time. There is discussion about it, but nothing is final yet.
‘It also happens at the Beefsteak, and at the Garrick. He just can’t handle having to go through all this.’
Neame is a successful British TV executive who produced Downton Abbey and, during his time as BBC director, made Tipping The Velvet – a feminist drama about lesbians. He won an OBE in 2016 for services to drama.
Scenes from Downton Abbey were filmed at the Savile Club, which introduced a strict drug ban after Sir Stephen Fry admitted snorting cocaine in the bathrooms.
