sadly, I seem to have lost touch - we would have some of the most stimulating

and intelligent debates on every aspect of our vocation. Indeed, today, those

evenings ran amongst my fondest memories from those times.

 

But let me return to the question that is of genuine interest, this question we

so enjoyed debating when our evenings were not spoilt by chatter from those who

lacked any fundamental understanding of the profession; that is to say, the

question 'what is a great butler?'

 

To the best of my knowledge, for all the talk this question has engendered over

the years, there have been very few attempts within the profession to formulate

an official answer. The only instance that comes to mind is the attempt of the

Hayes Society to devise criteria for membership. You may not be aware of the

Hayes Society, for few talk of it these days. But in the twenties and the early

thirties, it exerted a considerable influence over much of London and the Home

Counties. In fact, many felt its power had become too great and thought it no

bad thing when it was forced to close, I believe in 1932 or 1933.

 

The Hayes Society claimed to admit butlers of 'only the very first rank'. Much

of the power and prestige it went on to gain derived from the fact that unlike

other such organizations which have come and gone, it managed to keep its

numbers extremely low, thus giving this claim some credibility. Membership, it

was said, never at any point rose above thirty and much of the time remained

closer to nine or ten. This, and the fact that the Hayes Society tended to be a

rather secretive body, lent it much mystique for a time, ensuring that the