The sun just began to raise, casting a soft, golden hue over the sprawling lawns of our club. Amidst the chirping of early morning birdy and the gentle rustling of leaves, a group of dedicated members gathered at the Pavilion, unrolling their Yoga mats with a sence of anticipation and tranquility. "Yoga at the club has become an integral part of my routine, "member shared with a smile". It is not first about the physical exercise; it is a holistic approach to wellness that encompasses mind, body and spirit.
Waltair Club was established by the officers of the erstwhile East Coast Railway, East Coast Battalion and other Civilian officers stationed at Visakhapatnam way back in 1883 in the Book Club. It was expanded later on the land acquired by the then officers from various parties like Mr. Perla Narayana Chetty, Mr. Bhaumi Sohucar and others. The land, which was rocky, was levelled to construct the present Club buildings. Waltair Club's annexure was built for storing large stocks of provisions and goods directly imported by the Club and functioned as a commissary to the members. It was then handed over to Spencer & Co. in 1908 till they stopped operations in 1920.
Horse stables and carriage sheds used to be maintained by the Club for the convenience of its members till 1930, when automobiles entered the transport sector.
It was Waltair Club that brought the first rays of electric light to Visakhapatnam way back in 1912, through two diesel generators supplied to the Club by Messrs. Crompton Engineering Company. The plant was later disposed of by the municipal authorities.
The erstwhile Maharaja of Bobbili, Mr V.S. Ranga Rao, donated the first band stand on which a regular band used to play once in a week to entertain the Club members and their families. The practice of presenting Christmas gifts to the Club employees, started in 1904 by the then president R.H. Campbell ICS, is still being continued.
“As far as my knowledge goes, the Club was established in 1883. My late father joined its services in 1886 as a servant. Earlier, it was functioning as a military mess house. When the East Coast Railway was set up at Waltair, the Examiner of Accounts, Mr D.W. Mc-Pherson, joined the Club as its honorary secretary. He was instrumental in expanding the Club by setting up a bar, constructing chambers, billiards room etc.
I joined the Club in 1899, during the service of late Commander J Clarke R.I.M. (Retired) who was residing in its chambers. On Mondays, ‘at home' parties used to be organised on the tennis court for kids and women who played racquet, badminton, shuttle-cock and other sports.
The band of E.G. Vols used to entertain the members from 5 to 6 p.m. at the tennis court and from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Club twice in a week. The members used to play polo, cricket and hockey at Waltair R.S. and at the Vizag Police Grounds, when players from Vizianagaram used to participate. Moonlit picnics used to be organised at the beach, Lawson's Bay and in the Valley Gardens near the Dolphin's Nose.
In 1896, Peter Singh, who joined the Club as its butler, was given full charge of the Club by Mc-Pherson. Singh was also running the mess on condition that he pay 10% of his income to the Club. This was taken over after his retirement, for the Club's maintenance.
In those days, only Waltair Club had a telephone for getting information about train timings.
In 1901, Mr G. Paddison, ICS Special Assistant agent, Koraput, was wounded by a bison while hunting tigers. He was awarded a knighthood and titled Sir George Paddison. He later became a politician and retired in 1928. The head of the bison he had shot, is still there in the Club.
The present kitchen of Waltair Club used to house the city's first dispensary. Later, it was handed to the late honourable Rajah of Kurupam, Mr V. Veerabhadra Raju who shifted it to Waltair Uplands where it used to be maintained. till its takeover by the municipality.
The first small Ford car was brought to Vizag in 1904 by Messrs. Arbuthnot & Co of Chittivalasa Indigo Factory by its engineer, Mr Innes. The second Ford car by Capt C Arlington in 1907, the adjutant of EC Battalion and the third car, bought by the honourable Rajah to Kurupam in 1909, was a grand new large Humber car. The first mobike was bought in 1906 by Mr K.B. Dodd of the Garividi Mines, Cheepurupalli in 1906, while the first airplane was brought to Vizagapatnam in 1926 by Mr. Galimore of Burmah Shell Co. on his way to Calcutta. Mr C. Hodding travelled in it up to Gopalpur in Orissa, for sight-seeing.''
Capt E.H. Glassup
Capt E.H. Glassup goes down memory lane: "I joined the Walair Club in 1937, when there were only 30 Resident Members. Though people used to refer to it as the English Club, there were a few Indian members such as the Rajahs, the Railway, IMS and IP Officers who were top "Drawer" Indians. All European members at that time were not top “Drawers." Certain traditions were strictly followed and one's financial standing was not taken into consideration at all. Junior officers in the Government had to be proposed by their Heads of the department.
Members attending the Club after 6 p.m. had to strictly follow the dress code. Fish and Chips (Evening dress), which in the summers, used to be Red Sea Kit comprising of a white shirt with long sleeves, black bow, white long pants, black cummerband with black evening shoes and black socks was the norm. Ladies used to turn up in long evening frocks and were not permitted to enter the Billiards Room which was strictly for men. They were however allowed to play billiards in another room where a table, donated by Mr A.V. Bhanoji Row, was set up.
The call for drink was `Koi Hai' and when the bearer appeared, he was asked `Pucho.' On asking, the bearer used to take the order and serve the drinks. It was mostly a pow peg (1/2 chota peg). A burra peg was ordered only when a member was drinking with a friend. Otherwise, it was either a chota or a pow peg.”