Wallington, Hertfordshire that would become the founding fathers of The Wine Society: Major-General Henry Young Darracott Scott was one of the architects of the Royal Albert Hall and Secretary to the Great Exhibition Commissioners. After many of the lunch guests expressed an interest in purchasing wine, Major-General Scott proposed the setting up of "a co-operative company" to buy good quality wines on a regular basis to sell to members. He served as The Wine Society's first Treasurer until his death in 1883. Robert Brudenell Carter FRCS was a Fellow of the Medical Society of London and worked as 	The Wine Society
6574984	an ophthalmic surgeon at St George's Hospital. He had previously served as a staff surgeon during the Crimean War. Carter replaced Major-General Scott as Treasurer and in 1895 became The Wine Society's second chairman. He remained a member of the Committee until his death at the age of 90. More than anyone else, Carter was responsible for the supervision and conduct of The Wine Society during its first forty years. George E. Scrivenor, a senior Customs and Excise official, became the first Honorary general manager and did much of the early day-to-day work of The 	The Wine Society
6574985	Wine Society until another appointment forced his resignation in 1876. Although there is no evidence explaining why Major-General Scott suggested following the example of the Rochdale Pioneers to form a co-operative society rather than a joint stock company, the founding members' aim was to buy wines direct from growers to ensure their authenticity and quality and to offer them to members at fair prices. The "Objects of the Society" were originally published as follows: The first Chairman of The Wine Society was Norman MacLeod, the 25th Chief of the Clan MacLeod. The first Trustee was Earl Spencer KG	The Wine Society
6574986	, the Liberal statesman, who had also been one of the Great Exhibition Commissioners. Other famous members during The Wine Society's early years included Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, the Rt Hon Earl Russell, Sir Henry Wood and Alexander Fleming. The Wine Society grew gradually and, without any external shareholders to consider, surplus trading profits were used to provide better services to members and to increase the value of its wines. By 1965, The Wine Society was operating out of three separate cellars in London: one under the London Palladium, one at Joiner Street under London Bridge Station and one at 	The Wine Society
6574987	St James's Bond in Rotherhithe (which flooded at high tide). In 1965, thanks to the foresight of the then chairman Edmund Penning-Rowsell and treasurer Norman Alexander, The Wine Society moved to more suitable premises in Stevenage to the north of London, where all its operations have since been concentrated. The freehold of the Stevenage site was acquired in 1983, adjacent land purchased, a fleet of own delivery vans built up, and over of temperature-controlled warehouses have been built between 1965 and 2008 to contain some seven million bottles of wine. Membership. In order to trade with The 	The Wine Society
6574988	Wine Society, proof of membership is required as only members with share certificates are able to purchase its wines. People may be proposed for membership either by other existing members or by The Wine Society's company secretary by filling a form with formal election to membership following within a short time. Buying a share of the society provides lifetime membership and a share can be bequeathed to a family member or friend. Wine buyers. The Wine Society's eight buyers, who have been referred to as "some of the best noses in the business", are briefed to buy only 	The Wine Society
6574989	wines that they are enthusiastic about from producers who share their passion for quality at all price levels. The team is led by Pierre Mansour and includes three Masters of Wine: Sebastian Payne MW, Joanna Locke MW and Sarah Knowles MW. Two previous Heads of Buying who have now stepped down still make up part of the team of Buyers; Tim Sykes, who headed up the department from 2012 to 2017 and Sebastian Payne MW who was Head of Buying between 1986 and 2012. According to Charles Metcalfe of the International Wine Challenge, "much of The Society's success is 	The Wine Society
6574990	down to the buyers – truffle-snufflers, experts at finding interesting parcels from smaller producers and not buying for the sake of fashion." Management. The board of The Wine Society is known as the Committee and it consists of up to 13 members. Eight are elected by the membership; one is the Chief executive; and up to another four may be co-opted for limited periods by the eight elected members. The elected members appoint from their number the chairman and Deputy chairman (known as the Officers). The Committee has responsibility to the members for the direction of the business, with 	The Wine Society
6574991	day-to-day management in the hands of an executive team led by the Chief executive. The current CEO is Stephen Finlan. The Wine Society The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, commonly referred to as The Wine Society, is the world's oldest wine club having been founded on 4 August 1874 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom. The Wine Society was created and still operates as a co-operative with each member being the owner of one share. It has received several accolades from the wine trade industry throughout the years and is currently 	The Wine Society
6574992	Wallington, Hertfordshire Wallington, Hertfordshire Wallington is a small village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, near the town of Baldock. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 150. Nearby villages include Rushden and Sandon. It shares a parish council with Rushden. The Church of St Mary is a Grade II* listed building lying at the southern end of the village. The nave, west tower and windows date from the mid-15th Century. The chancel was rebuilt in 1864. The Icknield Way Path passes through the village on its 110-mile journey 	Wallington, Hertfordshire
6574993	from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk. George Orwell. The author George Orwell lived in a small cottage at no 2 Kits Lane, known as The Stores, in the village from 1936 to 1940, and at occasional weekends (when he was otherwise mainly in London) until he gave up the lease on the cottage in 1947. A commemorative plaque was placed there in 1989 by Hertfordshire County Council. This plaque is however not accurate, in that it refers to Orwell living at the Stores until 1940, whereas he had the lease until April 1947, and did stay 	Wallington, Hertfordshire
6574994	at the house from time to time until at least his wife Eileen's death (1945). He had married his first wife Eileen O'Shaughnessy at the village church on 9 June 1936. Orwell wrote his notable book Animal Farm" in 1944 probably much of it while he was at the village and certainly drew on his experiences there for inspiration, especially Manor Farm and The Great Barn. The farm in the village is, as in the book called Manor Farm. Other notable books that he wrote while he lived in the village include "Homage to Catalonia", and "The Road to  Wigan Pier" (which he had largely researched before he moved to Wallington, but which was written and published after his arrival.) Many of his notable essays, reviews and articles in various journals and collections, were also written during this period. In 2011 and 2012 the village was involved in the George Orwell Festival, of Letchworth and Wallington.  Wallington, Hertfordshire Wallington is a small village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, near the town of Baldock. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 150. Nearby villages include Rushden and