25 years ago today the IRA bombed the Carlton Club in St James’s Street, London. Alistair Lexden—official historian of the Club as well as of the Conservative Party—marked the anniversary in a short article for circulation to members:
On 25 June 1990 the Club was damaged by an IRA bomb. It exploded shortly after 8.30pm, having been placed just inside the doorway some time earlier.
The attack formed part of a summer offensive that year by the Irish terrorist group. The aim was to weaken the Conservative Party’s commitment to maintain Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom in accordance with the wishes of its people. The IRA failed, just as it had done six years earlier when it took its evil campaign to the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party Conference.
On both occasions Margaret Thatcher, our country’s indomitable Prime Minister, underlined with characteristic force and eloquence the determination of British democracy never to give way to Irish terrorism. All members of the Club vigorously endorsed the Prime Minister’s response.
They also greatly appreciated the visit which she made the following day in the company of the Club’s Chairman, Lord Whitelaw, to inspect the damage and express sympathy to those who had been affected.
Mrs Thatcher, who was later to become the Club’s President, found that about half the ground floor, a quarter of the first floor and a portion of the basement had been severely damaged. Since the attack took place on a Monday, the Club had not been at its busiest; six people were injured, two seriously so. The latter were Lord(Donald) Kaberry, a former Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, and a much-loved porter, Charles Henry. Neither ever regained full health. Donald Kaberry died the following March; though Charles Henry was able to return to his duties after a serious operation, he died three years later.
The Club’s staff found a temporary home through the kindness of the nearby Over-Seas League. They returned in September 1990 when the Club reopened. By April 1991 all traces of the IRA’s attack had been removed as a result of an impressive restoration programme carried out under the instructions of the then Deputy Chairman, Keith Carmichael, and Secretary, Robert Linsley, working in brilliant partnership.
The tragedy that occurred 25 years ago tested the Club’s resilience. It was not found wanting.
Alistair Lexden, Club historian
(A fuller account can be found in my book, The Carlton Club 1832-2007, pp 211-15)