Odney Club, Cookham

Image: © Sean Davis Taken: 16 May 2008

The Odney Club is on Formosa Island was once the local manor house, Lullebrook Manor. A manor of this name existed here since at least 1292 taking its name from the owner Walter de Lullebroc. The current one was built much later and was home to Colonel Francis Ricardo CBE, an Old Etonian and Grenadier Guard, who excelled at sports including cricket and rowing. He was a member of the exclusive Leander Rowing Club at Henley. For 11 years he was Honorary Secretary of the Naval and Military Tournament. He was appointed High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1913, and during World War I was Chief Constable of the Berkshire Police Force. Ricardo was very involved and generous to the community in Cookham. He was patron of many local regattas and donated the King's Hall as a reading room to the village. He died suddenly on 17th June 1924 while walking with his niece Lady Bruce in the gardens of the manor. In 1927 the manor house and grounds were bought by the John Lewis Partnership and have been used by the company as a country club and training centre ever since.

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