History
Club founder, John Aspinall (known as "Aspers" to his friends) was a conservationist and the stepson of Sir George Osborne. He was a breeder of wild animals and also funded his zoos, to a large extent, from house winnings. In its earlier days, Aspinall's clientele comprised the traditional aristocratic elite who gambled away their inheritances. While this is still true to some extent, the gradual decline of the English landed gentry has forced Aspinall's to look elsewhere.
Aspinall's evaded major public recognition until the 1970s. Lord Lucan was a close friend of John Aspinall. Lucan's consequent disappearance catapulted the club into mainstream consciousness. Aspinall commissioned a bust of Lucan which remains displayed prominently.
Read more about this topic: Aspers
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