Just over a year ago, it delighted some of its breezier devotees – Nigel Havers and Stephen Fry among them – and dismayed many of its less famous stalwarts by voting to permit women members for the first time since its foundation in 1831.
But barely have the old boys wiped away tears of joy – or despair – than the Garrick Club has once again been engulfed by turmoil.
This time, I can disclose, it stems not from the admission of newcomers of either sex but the abrupt departure of a much-loved member of staff, the club’s maître d’, Massimo Galli, after nearly two decades’ ‘unblemished service’.
‘He was always so courteous, always absolutely charming – adored and respected,’ a Garrick aficionado tells me. ‘You need someone who really engages with members. Massimo did that perfectly.’
A letter sent to members captures the sense of loss – and bewilderment – currently felt by Galli’s innumerable admirers.
‘Our wonderful maître d’ Massimo Galli has left us after some 19 years of loyal and exemplary service to the club,’ says the letter, seeking donations for Galli’s leaving present.
‘His presence in the Coffee Room will be impossible to replace,’ it adds, describing Galli’s departure as ‘incredibly sad’.
The letter refrains from going into further details. But I understand that Galli and another senior member of the Garrick’s staff recently had a heated confrontation which, according to one member, meant that the departure of one or the other became inevitable.
Asking members to ‘give generously’ to the fund for Galli’s leaving present, the letter concludes by urging them to recognise ‘not only the 19 years of unblemished service Massimo has given us, but also the extraordinary impact he’s had on the club’.
An impact that seems destined to be felt after his departure for some time to come…
Maître d’ Massimo Galli has left the Garrick Club, pictured, after nearly two decades’ ‘unblemished service’
The interior of the Garrick Club. A letter sent to members captures the sense of loss – and bewilderment – currently felt by Galli’s innumerable admirers
The Daily Mail understands that Galli and another senior member of the Garrick’s staff recently had a heated confrontation
Gravity-defying Daphne takes on heels challenge
She’s considered a trendsetter, but occasionally fashion icon Daphne Guinness is not averse to following the crowd.
The heiress demonstrated how easy it is for her to balance in her trademark seven-inch heel-less platforms as she attempted the ‘Nicki Minaj challenge’ for a music video.
It has become a viral trend on social media as people attempt to emulate the gravity-defying perch – in heels.
Participants have taken it to new heights – literally – by balancing on dangerously tall or narrow objects. Daphne’s take saw her balancing on one leg on the side of a marble bathtub while wearing a pair of her vertiginous footwear.
‘Perched, precariously, between recording!’ she wrote as she shared the snap online.
I definitely won’t be trying this at home.
Daphne Guinness, pictured in 2023, is considered a trendsetter, but is not averse to following the crowd
The heiress demonstrated how easy it is for her to balance in her trademark seven-inch heel-less platforms as she attempted the ‘Nicki Minaj challenge’ for a music video, pictured
Charles: first royal in space?
Astronaut Tim Peake believes King Charles could be the first royal to take flight into space due to his interest in it.
‘We had a meeting earlier this year in Hampton Court about how we can protect the space environment,’ the former army officer tells me.
‘I think space is the next frontier for him. I’m sure if he would like to go, it could be made possible.’
He adds: ‘The King’s passionate about space and realises we need to grasp this opportunity, to start using space, a wonderful environment, to benefit here [Earth].’
Astronaut Tim Peake believes King Charles could be the first royal to take flight into space due to his interest in it
The King pictured at a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority reception in Thurso on Monday
Pearce’s refurb red card
While the Lionesses enjoyed a warm homecoming for their Euros victory parade in London on Tuesday, I hear one England football star hasn’t had much to celebrate about on the domestic front.
As I can reveal, former England captain Stuart Pearce, 63, is at loggerheads with officials at his local council who’ve shown him the red card over his plans for a new porch entrance at his £1.2million converted barn house.
He was warned his proposals were ‘inappropriate’ and ‘detrimental’.
A Buckinghamshire council spokesman said: ‘The agent was made aware of concerns of domesticating the dwelling and advised that the applicant wished to proceed with the application as submitted.’
The talkSPORT pundit has now appealed to a Government planning inspector against the council’s decision.
Stuart’s planning agent said: ‘The local planning authority has refused the application based on their opinion only. There were no objections by any other party.’
It’s not the only challenge the sports star has faced this year; in March, he suffered a heart scare during a transatlantic flight.
Stuart Pearce, pictured in March, is at loggerheads with officials at his local council over his converted barn house
It’s tough to cook with stars
The Princess of Wales’s favourite interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who turned 66 this week, has had a lot on her plate recently.
She admits she faced challenges while competing on ITV’s reality cookery show Cooking With The Stars due to her struggles with dyslexia.
‘I am a creative person but honestly, that doesn’t help in the kitchen,’ says Hoppen.
‘Reading recipes when you are dyslexic is tough. It means instructions just vanish, like someone’s just erased them – I have to be really careful,’ she explains.
Katie Hoppen, pictured in March, admits she faced challenges while competing on ITV’s reality cookery show Cooking With The Stars due to her struggles with dyslexia
She lit up screens as beloved matriarch Susan Harper in the BBC sitcom My Family, but Zoe Wanamaker ‘can’t bear’ to watch her own work.
‘You’re never as good as your last job and always want to do it better,’ she tells me.
‘That’s why I don’t watch myself back; I can’t change it. I’m too self-conscious.’
