File 6 - El Vino photographs

1 file

17 photographs record the inaugural meeting of the El Vino luncheon club at The Cafe Royal, hosted by Hugh Cudlipp.

The journalists featured are (see group portrait, from left to right) Hugh Cudlipp, Tom Baistow, Sydney Jacobson, the cartoonist Vicky, Michael Foot, Wolf Mankoviz, James Cameron. Two other men on the right are unidentified.

Tom Baistow's son, Peter Baistow wrote in 2003:
'The reason for such a gathering was simple, they had all been 'black balled' from one of Fleet Street's oldest drinking establishments, El Vinos. The manager had decreed the behaviour (of the above group) was unacceptable in such a reputable wine merchants. The incident that caused such an out burst from the manager, concerned the placing of his large bowler hat on the head of the diminutive figure of Vicky (a German Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany). In the best Jewish tradition of self mocking anti-semitism he played 'the yiddle in a hiddle'. The manager was not amused. They were forced to take their custom elsewhere for a few weeks, but resumed their gathering at El Vinos, having been sorely missed, not because of their witty banter, but their contribution to the till was missed more. To this day there exist a strict dress code at El Vinos, if you want to eat at table you must be wearing a tie and jacket.'