Men-only club denies sexism as talks to allow female members is delayed for THREE years

08:59, 16 JULY 2015 UPDATED 08:59, 16 JULY 2015
BY GARY CRUDEN

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THE Royal Northern and University Club in Aberdeen have banned further voting on allowing female members after failing to reach a decision following a recent row on the issue.

Aberdeen's RNUC is one of Scotland's few remaining gentleman's clubs

ONE of Scotland’s few remaining men-only clubs has decided not to allow female members for at least three more years after talks on the issue collapsed.

The 160-year-old Royal Northern and University Club in Aberdeen has banned any further vote on the issue after a debate became “ungentlemanly”.





A committee was set up last year to look at the issue after a perceived change of thinking among members.

But they failed to reach a decision following a row.

Mel Keenan, vice-chairman of the 160-year-old club, said: “This discussion became quite animated and led to, perhaps you might say, ungentlemanly discussions at times.

“What we’ve tried to look at is, can we have some formula that we can agree so as to discuss this calmly.

“There is a very special ambiance and atmosphere at the club and it would be a brave chairman indeed to say that ‘in my time we will over turn that tradition and brand’.

“After 160 years things change slowly.

“There is no atmosphere here of being anti-women – it’s more a tradition of being a gentlemen’s club and ladies are welcome as guests.

“We want to welcome ladies and look after them.

“Women that are serious about women’s place in society don’t judge it by can they get into a gentlemen’s club which perhaps has traditions of a bygone era.

“They are judging it by can I get a say in the running of this country, in the cabinet, in the parliament. Can I progress to a chief executive in my company?”

RNUC have around 700 members, mainly from the business community.

Their stance was criticised by the Scottish Government who said it was “disappointing”.

A spokeswoman said: “We leading by example with a gender balanced Cabinet, one of only three in the developed world, a campaign for gender balance in boardrooms, increased childcare which benefits mothers and fathers, and work to tackle gender stereotypes.

“Although there has been a great deal of progress in recent years, such as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club voting to open membership up to women in September 2014, it is disappointing that examples such as this still exist.”