Garrick Club to allow female members for first time

The Garrick Club has voted to allow women members for the first time in its history, The Telegraph understands.

For more than 190 years, the Garrick had refused to admit women as members but this was overturned following a vote from its 1,500 members at a venue near its headquarters in Covent Garden on Tuesday.

It is understood that approximately 60 per cent had voted in favour of the change to 40 per cent against.

Speakers in favour of the change included Stephen Fry, James Naughtie, Jonathan Sumption and Nigel Havers.

Members were asked to vote to confirm a resolution “that the rules of the club allow the admission of women members”.

Women were previously only allowed to enter the club if invited and accompanied by a man.

The Garrick had come under mounting pressure to change its admission policy following the resignation of several of its members, including four senior judges.

The resignations of Keith Lindblom, an appeal court judge, and three high court justices Nicholas Cusworth, Nicholas Lavender and Ian Dove, had come soon after those of Simon Case, the head of the Civil Service, and Richard Moore, the MI6 chief.

Members of the club had sparked a motion last month to change the rule by nominating seven prominent women including Dame Mary Beard and Amber Rudd as members, putting forward the women’s names to a committee meeting.

An open letter in March signed by more than 80 lawyers in England and Wales was published calling on judges to give up their memberships.

The letter stated membership to the Garrick Club was “incompatible with the core principles of justice, equality and fairness”.