After his retirement from the game Sir Jack, as he became, devoted time to his sports business in Fleet Street next to the Wellington Restaurant, where the amiable Belgian proprietor Emil Haon entertained Jack’s visitors and occasionally shared a glass of champagne with Jack himself.

John Arlott often lunched with Jack at the Wellington and one day in 1953, the year Jack was knighted, Kenneth Adam (of the BBC), Alfred Gover and John Marshall (of the Evening News) joined John for lunch with Sir Jack and Emil. This was the founding meeting of the Master’s Club at which Jack was the guest of honour. The only toast was to the Master.

Friends and admirers were added to the membership and each year met on The Master’s birthday - 16th December, or as near to it as convenient. After Emil’s death in 1957 when the Wellington closed, luncheons were held at The Mitre, The Bedford Head (later called Henri’s) and from 1966 at the St Stephen’s Tavern in Parliament Square. In 1978 the function took place for the first time at The Oval, which thereafter became its natural venue.

Many of Sir Jack’s cricketing contemporaries were the Club’s guests. Sir Donald Bradman and Sir Learie Constantine were among many overseas visitors from touring teams, and from other walks of life Sir Robert Menzies and Lord Birkett attended to toast The Master. Sir Jack’s eightieth birthday was celebrated at Henri’s in 1962 when the famous partnership of Hobbs and Sutcliffe was renewed with Andrew Sandham, Frank Woolley, Herbert Strudwick and Bill Hitch among the distinguished old players present.

After Sir Jack’s death in 1963 members continued to meet to toast The Master on his birthday and in 1990 approved a written constitution for the Club in the form of Rules and Regulations.