The London Press Club
The Club provides opportunities for journalists and others interested in the media to meet and learn of new developments, debate the latest issues and explore our collective past as communicators. Our events are many and varied, from the purely social, such as our annual ball and our monthly drinks, to discussions on matters of importance not only to journalism, but to the furtherance and protection of free speech throughout the world.
We welcome as members past and present journalists, journalism students, printers, designers, cartoonists, producers and corporate communicators.
Our history
The London Press Club can trace its origins back to 28 October 1882 when George Augustus Sala, a prominent journalist, illustrator and cartoonist of his day, presided over the inaugural dinner at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street. Many distinguished figures have been involved with the Club – a list of past officers is available here.
For much of its history, the London Press Club occupied premises in Wine Office Court, off Fleet Street, but this ended in 1986 when financial pressures caused the Club to reconstitute. It now organises networking and other events to journalists and others interested in the media in various locations around London.
Our Directors
Dr Martyn Bond
Deputy Chairman
Martyn Bond is a long-standing member of the LPC Board responsible for maintaining relations with the European and International Associations of Press Clubs.
He trained in the BBC, was a spokesman in Brussels in the 1970s, and was BBC correspondent in Berlin during the early 1980s.
Since the turn of the millennium he has been a freelance journalist here in London, writing on European affairs.
David Selves
Deputy Chairman
A director since 2001, David was recruited as Treasurer because our finances were precarious! Since 2007 he has been Deputy Chairman.
He chaired and founded the Management Committee, was founder Treasurer of the Ball committee, organises the Long Lunch and numerous one off events, is a regular delegate to international Press Club conferences and has run the monthly networking nights for 15 years.
Although not traditionally from the industry he is a highly experienced generalist with a unique diversity of thinking.
Richard Dymond
Hon Treasurer
Richard is a freelance communicator who became Club Treasurer in 2005.
A graduate of Queens’ University of Belfast, he trained as a journalist at the Institution of Electrical Engineers before working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority and British Gas (later Centrica).
He is a Member of the CIPR and a Fellow of the RSA.
Adam Cannon
Hon Secretary
Adam is the Legal Director of The Sun. He is a former Editorial Legal Director at the Telegraph Media Group and Group Legal advisor at Associated Newspapers. He was called to the bar in 1997. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Media Law Resource Centre and the Jewish News newspaper. He is a director of the British Israel communication group, and sits on the executive of the Conservative Friends of Israel. He is a governor of JFS school and also a previous President of the Cambridge Union
Samantha Simmonds
Director
Samantha is a journalist and broadcaster with over 20 years’ experience at the forefront of the news. She is currently presenting for BBC World News, the BBC News Channel and BBC Radio London.
An experienced corporate host and moderator, she hosts events all over the world. Samantha has her own podcast “It’s a Grown Up Life” here.
More information is available at www.samanthasimmonds.com.
George Westropp
Director
George Westropp was Chairman of the London Press Club from 1989 to 1998.
His first job in Fleet Street was as a financial journalist on the Sunday Express, then the Evening Standard and finally City Correspondent of the Press Association.
Following journalism, he was a partner with City accountants Deloitte & Touche.
Yvonne Harrop
Director
Yvonne has a wealth of experience in sales and marketing roles including playing a pivotal role in the establishment ot the first specialist business travel company to the then USSR.
She is a former media buyer and sales executive for media publications in the hospitality sector and is currently running a business development company.
Paul Charman
Director
After a career spanning 25 years as a reporter on national newspapers, Paul was head of journalism at the London College of Communication.
Now a media trainer and consultant, he chairs the Cudlipp Trust organising the annual lecture on behalf of the London Press Club.
He was a director of The Media Society and is a judge on the British Journalism Awards.
Cheryl Douglas
Director
Ray Massey
Director
Robert Jobson
Bill Hagerty
Moira Sleight
Director
Amar Singh
Director
Christoph Wyld
Director