The Kensington Club is a private all-male dining club for students of the University of St Andrews.
The details of the foundation of the Kensington Club are opaque. The ClubâÂÂs own histories maintain that the Club was founded by Alexander, the Laird of Balgonie in the year 1739. While Alexander Laird Balgonie was indeed a historical figure, the extant family seat of Castle Balgonie being only 30 miles from the town of St Andrews, it is difficult to confirm the account of the often self-referential âÂÂclub historiesâ with confirmatory independent documentary evidence.
The club was certainly founded prior to the appearance of the âÂÂKensington Songâ in a publication of 1792 (see below). The epithet then given to it as âÂÂcelebratedâ suggests that the Club was founded some significant time earlier, giving credence to the possibility that the legend surrounding Alexander Balgonie is true. Further evidence of this can be found in the lyric of the song, which opens with a direct reference to âÂÂBalgonie of FifeâÂÂ.
The etymology of the ClubâÂÂs name remains unclear. There are three theories as to its origin: 1. It is a corruption or anglicisation of the Scots name of the town of âÂÂKennowayâÂÂ/âÂÂKennotonâÂÂ, a town in Fife less than two miles from Castle Balgonie; 2. It is a corruption or anglicisation of the old Scots term âÂÂkeest-an-tonâ meaning âÂÂa vigorous shout or hunting cryâÂÂ; and 3. There is some suggestion in the ClubâÂÂs own history that âÂÂKensingtonâ may have been the name of a mutually funded race horse owned by the club at some point in its early history.The evidence for the continued activities of the club are unsurprisingly scanty in the historical record. A print collection of 1814, by an anonymous Frenchman, contains a plate which is generally supposed to show the Kensington Club at dinner, entitled âÂÂLâÂÂAprès Dinée des ÃÂcossais - Scenes á St AndrewesâÂÂ. The engraving depicts seven men in matching maroon tailcoats in the later throws of a drunken dinner party (maroon and green being the club colours).
After the Second World War the Kensington Club entered a period of decline. It is not clear if the club was dormant or not, and the issue is hotly contested. It is generally accepted that the Club was re-constituted in its current form in the 1970s.
In 2001 Raymond, the present Laird of Balgonie, was given honorary membership and made the club patron.
Private dinners for club members are held biweekly. Etiquette and manners are enforced on the penalty of port.
Club members attend dinners wearing a uniform consisting of a tailcoat, waistcoat and bow tie in the club colours.
The club has received intermittent attention in regional Scottish and university publications, detailing its activities, and occasional attention from national media.
âÂÂThe Kensington SongâÂÂ, also known by its incipit âÂÂTo Balgonie of FifeâÂÂ, is the official song of the Kensington Club. The song bears extremely close relations to âÂÂThe Anacreontic SongâÂÂ, and it seems likely that it is an altered version of that original text. The Anacreontic song was also used by several other clubs and societies in altered form, eventually being combined with patriotic lyrics and adopted as the national anthem of the United States of America in 1931.
The date of the composition of the Song is uncertain. It cannot predate the composition of the Anacreontic Song, which is generally supposed to have been December 1773. The "Kensington lyrics" of the song were included in Songs and Anthems for the Piano Forte, Harpsichord and Voice, published in 1792. This publication does not name the composer.
1<blockquote>To Balgonie of Fife, where he sat in full Glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a Petition,
That he their Inspirer and Patron would be;
When this answer arrivâÂÂd from the jolly old clansman
âÂÂVoice, Fiddle and Flute,
âÂÂNo longer be mute,
âÂÂIâÂÂll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot,
âÂÂAnd, besides IâÂÂll instruct you, like me, to intwine
âÂÂThe Myrtle of Venus with BacchusâÂÂs Vine.âÂÂ</blockquote>2<blockquote>Ye sons of the Kensington, join Hand in Hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily planned.
YouâÂÂve the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our Toast let it be:
May our Club flourish happy, united and free!
As here, with good Fellows, we learn to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus with BacchusâÂÂs Vine.</blockquote>