In the last article, we have seen how the political elite and the rich and powerful can network and forge relationships in certain secretive organisations that can be essential to decision making, business deals and gaining political support. But the value of this kind of networking can be learned early by the sons of the rich and powerful, especially when they enter prestigious Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge in England and Yale in the US.

The Bullingdon Club

These established Universities have certain clubs for the sons of the elite, such as at Oxford University where the infamous Bullingdon Club was formed. Famed for its riotous and rowdy behaviour, the club became an exclusive and rather secretive dining club for undergraduates in the later nineteenth century, catering mainly for Royalty and the sons of the aristocracy. Brethren of the Oxford-based Apollo University Lodge who were also members of the club included Prince Albert Edward and Cecil Rhodes. More recently, British Prime Minister David Cameron and fellow Conservative politicians such as George Osborne and Boris Johnson were members.[1]

The Piers Gaveston Society

The Piers Gaveston Society is also based at Oxford University, and was founded in 1977, being named after the favourite of Edward II, who has also been referred to as his lover. Similarly to the Bullingdon Club, it has been discussed in the British press as a club which includes drug use, wild behaviour and sexual indulgence, having secretive and ceremonial events at private locations, and was of course linked to the alleged ‘piggate’ affair which concerned current British Prime Minister David Cameron.[2]

The Order of Skull and Bones

In the USA, Fraternal Societies linked to certain Universities such as the Order of Skull and Bones became popular amongst the sons of the elite. Founded at Yale University in 1832 for undergraduates, the Skull and Bones, which has obvious Masonic overtones has, over the years, attracted such well-connected ‘Bonesmen’ as US Presidents George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush, and US Secretary of State John Kerry. The Order has admitted female undergraduates since the early 1990s.[3]

[1] ‘General Election 2015: Photographic history of Bullingdon Club tracked down – including new picture of David Cameron in his finery’, The Independent, 5^th May, 2015.

[2] ‘How the World Media Reacted to David Cameron ‘Dead Pigs and Drugs Claims’, The Independent, 21^st September, 2015.

[3] ‘Rob Reiner will produce a TV show about ‘Skull and Bones’’, The Washington Post, 13^th August, 2014.

For further information see the book below by Dr David Harrison: