70. Happy New Year! 31 December 2018

On this the very last day of 2018 I would like to take the opportunity of wishing all members of the Company, their families and friends all the very best for 2019. The past year has been one of many ups and downs, both within the Company and in the wider world and many will be glad to see the back of it. No one has a crystal ball for the future but one thing is certain for 2019 – it will be another tumultuous year! So many things it seems are beyond our control so my philosophy has always been not to worry about these matters but to focus on what you can influence and put your energies into that. The world is still a fantastic place full of fantastic people!

Enjoy the party tonight (whatever you get up to!) and I send you every good wish for 2019!

69. Carols by Candlelight, 18 December 2018

After what had already been a busy day there remained one more important event; to represent the Company at the annual Carols by Candlelight at St Mary-at-Hill. It was a privilege therefore to accompany the Mistress and several other members of the Court to take part in this wonderful service.

Led as ever by Rose Hudson-Wilkins (now an Honorary Freeman of the Company! – see Blog No 67) the service was a collection of favourite carols interspersed with readings from the Old Testament and the Gospels, all telling the story of the birth of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem. One has heard theses stories so many times before but one is always moved by them and the in the simple setting of a church by candlelight it was doubly so. It is the central part of Christmas and the most important.

The St Marys’ organ and its choir (three baritones; three sopranos) led the singing which was joyous. As Master I was invited to read the fifth lesson (Matthew Chapter 2 v. 1-11) which tells of the wise men and the star. The sermon was very thought provoking and in it the Rev’d Rose urged us to shun the trappings of a commercialised Christmas and to focus on its true meaning of love and caring. It was a powerful message and so passionately delivered. 

After a moment of pray and reflection the final carol of Hark! the Herald Angels Sing rang out and the service was over. Mince pies followed and one felt that Christmas had well and truly started!

A wonderful way to end the formal Livery events of 2018.

68. Lady Mayoress Private Lunch, 18 December 2018

Should she need one, the Mistress had the perfect excuse not to attend the Company’s Christmas Lunch as she had been invited to dine with the Lady Mayoress. Her sense of loyalty was severely tested but in the end, common sense prevailed – when else would one be as privileged to receive such an invitation?! And so, dressed in her best bib and tucker the Mistress made her way to the Mansion House to join some 17 other Consorts to have lunch.

Welcomed in her private apartments the guests enjoyed a glass of champagne in the sitting room. The Mayoress is the perfect host and made everyone very welcome and the conversation flowed. There followed a brief tour of the private ballroom (!) and some of the bedrooms. Lodging in the Mansion House for one’s year of office as Lord and Lady Mayoress must be a very surreal experience with all the grandeur it entails; ‘make the most of it’ must be the mantra!

After a delicious two course lunch the party then descended to the Plate Room in the basement to see at first hand the amazing gold and silverware presented to generations of Lord Mayors over the years (see picture). Quite something to behold and many of them priceless. Alas they are seldom on public display due to their value and rarity but it was amazing to be given the chance to see them.

And then it was over and the Lady Mayoress bade farewell and wished all a very Merry Christmas. The Mistress then crossed to road to the Guildhall to join the remains of the Water Conservator Lunch. What a day!

67. Christmas Court Lunch, 18 December 2018

Following directly on from the Christmas Court and the unveiling of the Blue Plaque (see Blog No 66) came the Christmas Court Lunch. We all felt we had earned this after the exertions of the morning so it was very pleasing to be able to relax and enjoy the surroundings of the Members Dining Room and the hospitality of the Guildhall catering team!

After a glass of “Christmas Cheer” some 34 of us took our places around the table, resplendent with Christmas decorations and crackers. Grace was said by the Company Chaplain (see below) and the meal commenced.

However, just before the smoked salmon I had a very special duty to perform, namely that of admitting the Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkins as Freeman of the Company. Rose has long been a good friend, is the Company’s Chaplain and is also the Priest in Charge at St-Mary-at-Hill, the Companys church. In addition, she is Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen, amongst other duties. It was therefore a great privilege to able to welcome her – and her husband Ken Wilkins – into the Company and present to her with the blue tear drop and certificate. Lunch then followed.

After the Loyal and Civic Toasts, I was pleased to formally welcome our many guests and to toast them in water (as is our tradition). I also took the opportunity to thank members for their hard work on behalf of the Company during the year and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

A lovely way to end the year and in such good company. The only person missing was the Mistress who had another engagement – lunch with the Lady Mayoress no less! But her event finished before ours so she was able to join us in time for coffee and add her own thanks and best wishes to everyone before they departed.

Pictures show the Master in full flow and the Chaplain receiving her certificate.

66. Christmas Court and Blue Plaque Unveiling, 18 December 2018

Our Christmas Court meeting was held in the Alderman’s Dining Room at the Guildhall and was well attended by members of the Court. As is the norm at Christmas, the agenda was relatively short although there are always a number of issues that need to be discussed and matters requiring approval and these were duly dealt with. I was particularly keen to keep to the clock as we had an important duty to perform that morning; namely the unveiling a Blue Plaque to mark the course of the River Fleet on Fleet Street.

Having closed the Court, we assembled in the Reception area and the Master, Clerk and Wardens donned their robes. We were joined by Sheriff the Honourable Elizabeth Green who was to perform the ceremony and so we, together with other Past Masters, members of the Court and Consorts, were escorted by the Beadle through the streets of London to our destination, 81 Fleet Street – currently a branch of Barclays Bank. It was here that the Blue Plaque had been erected.

The historic importance of the water conduits in the City had not been recognised until the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators, principally through efforts of Past Master Ted Flaxman, initiated the erection of the first Blue Plaque in Aldermanbury in December 2010. The second marking the “Great Conduit" in Cheapside (outside Tesco’s) followed in December 2014. This was to be the third Blue Plaque and it marks the end of “The Fleet Conduit”.

After a few words of welcome from me, the unveiling was performed by the Sherriff with suitable aplomb and a short speech was given. Photographs then followed, one from a very excited member of the Barclays staff who witnessed our presence! That done, we made our way back to the Guildhall, just about keeping dry despite the threatening skies.

A very successful event and we are proud to have been able to make a permanent reminder of the importance of water in the City. Thank you to Liz Green for her time.

65. “A City Scrooge”, 17 December 2018

In aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the Egyptian Room at the Mansion House was the setting for “A City Scrooge” performed by the renowned actor, Simon Callow. As keen fans of Charles Dickens, the Mistress and I were pleased to attend.

On arrival we were offered “Scrooge’s refreshments” – a glass of cold water and a dry biscuit. Not quite the standard one expects at the Mansion House but very much in keeping with the theme of the evening! We then took our places to await the entertainment.

After a few words of welcome from the Lord Mayor, Mr Callow took to the rostrum. What followed was a virtuoso performance from one of the UK’s finest actors and – without any shadow of a doubt – an unashamed Dickens expert. Starting first with a brief background to his early life, his very poor upbringing and periods of the utmost poverty (his father was in a debtor’s prison for a while) Mr Callow went on the describe how A Christmas Carol came to be written and the motivation behind it.

Dickens it seems was a man very much aware of the social injustice of the Victorian world and the great divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-not’s’. His moral compass was well tuned, partly as a result of his childhood. Whilst not a Socialist in the accepted sense, he was scrupulous in regarding everyone as an equal and no one was worthy of better treatment than anyone else. These are themes that echo across every page of the novel.

Mr Callow then went on to read large portions of the story, assuming each character with utmost finesse and charm. It was a scintillating experience and done with such style and aplomb. The audience were captivated.

After what seemed only a few minutes but was in fact an hour, Mr Callow left the room to rapturous applause. Then followed the more familiar hospitality of the Lord Mayor with a drink’s reception and canapés. There was also a prize raffle and a chance to purchase some Lord Mayor endorsed products, all proceeds of which went to his three charities – Place2Be, OnSide and the Samaritans.

A wonderful evening and our thanks must go to the Lord Mayor and his team but especially to Simon Callow. Bah Humbug!

64. Consorts Visit to Kensington Palace, 12 December 2018

The Mistress had always wanted to visit Kensington Palace, not only to see the wonderful building and all the history it contains, but also to see the ‘Diana Dresses’ exhibition. On talking to other Consorts in the Company she found that they did too so she organised a visit. And what a lovely day they had!

We are very lucky in having as a Court Assistant Christine Jarvis who is a London Blue Badge Guide and as such gave them their own private tour of the Palace and exhibition. As a party of 12 they could move easily amongst the displays and ask questions of Christine. She answered every one and more!

If you haven’t been then the Mistress strongly advise you to do so; it’s fascinating. The dresses are but one of the very interesting things to see at the Palace and a two-hour tour hardly did justice to all that history. A wonderful visit.

But after all that culture and it being near Christmas there was only one thing that could follow – lunch at the Ivy Brasserie down the road! A lovely meal and in such great company. Well done girls!

63. Walbrook Ward Club Banquet, 4 December 2018

The 209^th Anniversary Banquet of the Walbrook Ward Club was this year held in the Saddlers’ Hall on Gutter Lane and as a member, I was pleased to attend along with the Mistress. We were delighted to be joined by Past Masters Peter Hall and Mike Williamson and their Consorts and by our Fleet Warden Rob Casey, all of whom are also members of the Club. Together with approximately 150 other guests, we filled the Great Hall to capacity and made for a very pleasant evening.

Founded in 1809, the Walbrook is one of the oldest Ward Clubs in the City. The ward of Walbrook itself covers an area broadly situated around Bank Underground Station and membership of it was originally for those who either worked or lived within its precinct. However, membership nowadays is open much more widely and comprises a diverse and thriving network of people from the business world as well as the Livery.  The Alderman of Walbrook Ward John Garbutt KFO JP is also the Clubs’ President and was the principle speaker on the night.

After a short drinks’ reception in the Court Room we were called to dinner by the Beadle and awaited the Presidents procession. Catering was courtesy of Party Ingredients who put on a wonderful dinner which was expertly served. A Loving Cup was offered and the musical interlude was given by the London Banqueting Ensemble who treated us to some amazing trumpet playing – where do they get their energy from?!

The Loyal Toasts were proposed by the Chairman Stuart Graves and the President made a speech of welcome to all the guests. Responding on their behalf, Brigadier Peter Sharpe gave a most amusing speech about the perils of living in “deepest Wiltshire” and the trials of owning sheep! A good way to end the dinner and a memorable evening.

Our thanks must therefore go to the Master Saddler for the use of his Hall and also to the catering staff and the officers of the Walbrook Ward Club. Thank you.

62. Environmental Cleaners Banquet, 30 November 2018

The Skinners’ Hall on Dowgate was the setting for the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners Ladies Charity Banquet and it was a great pleasure for the Mistress and I to be invited to attend. We joined some seventy or so members of the Company and their guests for a black-tie event and had a wonderful evening.

The present Skinners’ Hall (my first visit) is a charming hall which dates back to the time of the Fire of London. The original Skinners’ Hall – known in those days as the Copped Hall – has stood on this site since the 13^th century but alas was consumed by fire in 1666. The current incarnation has a lovely minstrels gallery in the Outer Hall which in turn leads to the Banqueting Hall, laid up as it was with round tables making for an intimate dinner.

After processing as usual we were served an excellent meal courtesy of Party Ingredients and were entertained – not once but three times – by the Lakeside Singers from the Guildhall School of Music. They performed magnificently and their range of musicianship was extraordinary. It being near to Christmas they rounded off with a hearty rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas, with much audience participation!

The focus of the evening was of course to raise funds for the Companies extensive list of charities and so a silent action was held with a range of magnificent prizes. The Mistress and I were lucky to secure a weekend away in Great Dunmow, Essex and we are looking forward going in the New Year. All the other prizes were snapped up too – well done for all the support!

After the Loyal Toasts and a speech of welcome from the Master, the Master Fanmaker, Dr Michael Smith responded on behalf of the guests. And a very good job he did too! A very amusing speech.

And so the evening drew to a close and we bade our farewells. Thank you to the Master and her Wardens for making us all so welcome, for organising the charity auction and for the lovely pewter Christmas Tree decorations. A great way to herald in the festive season.

61. Mistresses Special Birthday, 22 November 2018

Without giving anything away in terms of age, the Mistress celebrated a very special birthday today which kick-started a weekend of fun and frolics! After the usual dinner with the family we set off the next day to Lyme Regis in Dorset where we had rented a house for a large party of friends to celebrate in style. It was all very enjoyable and the Mistress was well pleased.

Not much to add from a Water Conservator perspective but we did find time to inspect the recently overhauled sea defences around the town and the protection they offer to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Very impressive and will sustain the area for many, many years. But then it got too cold so we headed for the pub!

Happy Birthday darling! 

60. Lord Mayors Annual Address, 21 November 2018

It is common practise for the new Lord Mayor to give an annual address to all the Livery Companies and Guilds soon after his installation.  Accordingly (while the Mistress was with the Lady Mayoress in Guildhall – see Blog No 59) I joined with pretty much all of the Masters from across the City at the Mansion House to hear what he had to say.

The address normally takes the form of a lecture by the Lord Mayor himself but this year Alderman Peter Estlin favoured instead an “Question Time” format. This took to form of an “interview” conducted by the Chairman of the Livery Committee, Victoria Russell with the other “panellist” being the Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation, John Barradell. These three made for a very interesting and at times challenging conversation!

Space does not allow for the details of the many topics covered during the interviews and much of this has been widely reported previously. Suffice to say the Lord Mayor has set an enormous challenge in “Shaping Tomorrows City Today” to the extent that it will not be a Mayoral theme for just one year but will transcend at least three Mayoralties, elements of which were already started by the last two Lord Mayors. These are very much long-term objectives.

Some searching questioning from the Chairman and the floor kept both panellists on their toes and it was particularly fascinating to hear the Town Clerks’ view of the Corporation as a paid executive rather than an elected Lord Mayor. But all parties are clearly singing from the same hymn sheet and so London is in safe hands. We wish the Lord Mayor and his team every success and the Livery will of course play its own part in ensuring that London remains the best city in the world to do business.

A small drinks reception followed which included the opportunity to purchase some of the Lord Mayor’s own whiskey – a good stocking filler perhaps?!

Picture shows (from left to right) the Lord Mayor, Ms Russell and the Town Clerk.

59. Consorts Tea Party, 21 November 2018

The Steering Committee of the Mistresses and Consorts Picture Book traditionally hold a champagne tea party to which the new Lady Mayoress is invited as principle guest. It was with great pleasure therefore that the Mistress attended the Guildhall Club to meet Lindy Estlin and wish her well for the year ahead.

The Mistresses and Consorts Picture Book is a very useful aid to the Livery across the City as it contains – as the name suggests – photographs of all the Masters and Consorts for each Company. It is invaluable at “putting a name to a face” when one is at various functions and as there is a constant “churn” of new Masters etc, one needs to be constantly updated. The Picture Book (which is also available on-line) does just that and we both have a link on our iPhones!

The lovely tea party was to raise awareness of the Book and to generate some funds to help in its production. But the most important element was to enable the new Lady Mayoress to meet as many Consorts as possible and to get to know people. Fortunately, the Mistress has met her several times before and so needed only a short chat to catch up. But others had not met so it was a very useful exercise and most enjoyable. 

Tea and cakes were served and champagne was available although being mid-afternoon, there were not many takers! But a wonderful way to meet fellow Consorts and Mistresses and in such convivial surroundings.

Thank you to the Steering Committee for organising and of course to the Lady Mayoress for her time. 

58. Festival of St Cecilia, 21 November 2018

According to legend, Saint Cecilia was a Roman woman of noble birth who was martyred for her Christian faith around 230 AD having previously lived a chaste existence. In 1683 the Musical Society was formed to counteract the Puritan view that music, whether sacred or secular, was dangerous fare and seeking a suitable saint to represent their cause, settled on St Cecilia. Her feast day is marked on 22 November and it has become tradition for a service to be held in one of the big London churches by rotation - Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Pauls - on or around that date. As the latter falls in the City, the Livery were invited to attend and process. And so it was that the Mistress and I arrived at just after 10:15 for the service.

These days the Festival of St Cecilia is organised by Help Musicians UK, the charity for professional musicians in hardship and as such was a wonderful celebration of music and song. While the Mistress found her place in the North Transept, I joined with Masters of most of the Livery Companies to robe and await our instructions. We then proudly processed in order to our seats under the Great Dome.

The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison and the choral music was provided by no less than three choirs; those of Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Pauls Cathedral – a truly extraordinary combination. These choirs sang as they processed down the nave followed by the other dignitaries (regrettably the Lord Mayor was unable to attend).

The First Lesson was read by Graham Sheffield CBE, Chair of Help Musicians UK and the Second by Jane Asher. These were followed by a testimonial from musician and composer Anna Paola who had her own reasons to be grateful to the charity. We were also treated to a stunning guitar recital by renowned soloist Miloš Karadaglić before the Address which was given by the Reverend Richard Coles, Vicar St Mary the Virgin, Finedon (and former pop-star!). And then of course there was the music! What an absolute delight to be in such surroundings and to hear such singing! A true privilege.

The Cathedral was packed and we recessed back to St Dunstan’s Chapel to dis-robe with the organ ringing in our ears!

More information about Help Musicians UK can be found at www.helpmusicians.org.uk

57. Guild of Entrepreneurs, 15 November 2018

I was pleased to receive an invitation to attend the Guild of Entrepreneurs annual lecture held at St Lawrence Jewry straight after the Big Curry Lunch Launch. The timing of the former meant I had little time for the drinks reception beforehand, arriving just as proceedings commenced.

The Guild has been in existence since 2014 and are very active. They are an aspirant Livery Company and will in time join the 110 other companies in the City. Their lecture was entitled “Does a formal education maketh the entrepreneur?” or more succinctly – are entrepreneurs born or made?! To answer this conundrum a panel of six experts discussed the various aspects of the make-up of an entrepreneur, each drawing from their own experiences in business. And they were wide and varied but fascinating nonetheless. The audience too had plenty to say and the whole evening was expertly hosted and managed by Jon Hammond, himself an experienced businessman and advisor.

Needless to say, the answer to the question was not straightforward and binary and the consensus was that it takes a range of skills to be successful (and fail!) but that nature, not nurture had a slight lead. But everyone acknowledged that entrepreneurship alone was not enough; a good back-up team was vital!

So a very interesting debate, followed by some sandwiches. My thanks to the Master and his Wardens – and to the panel – for an excellent evening.

56. Big Curry Lunch Launch, 15 November 2018

The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch has been in operation since 2008 and is now firmly on the City’s calendar. Raising an amazing £1.9m for ABF, The Soldier Charity since its inception it continues to provide much needed help and support for veterans and their families from all three armed services. It is a truly amazing charity and has the full support of the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation.

The launch was held at the City of London Club on Old Broad Street and I joined with many Masters from the Livery and Ward clubs as well as all those who have helped organise and deliver the Big Curry Lunch itself. The Lord Mayor soon arrived together with the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriff's and they worked the room dressed as they were in their finery. The Lord Mayor then formally opened the launch event and confirmed the date of the next Big Curry Lunch as being 4 April 2019. He went on to explain the theme of next years lunch and the ever-present need to support our soldiers, sailors and airmen and their families. He hoped that the £2m barrier could be broken in 2019.

Further details were given by Michael Hockney, Founder and Co-Chairman of the Big Curry Lunch Committee and these were echoed by General Sir Mike Jackson GCB CBE DSO DL, former Chief of the General Staff. Together they confirmed that the focus for 2019 would be on pain management for injured personnel and were working with the King Edward VII Hospital to develop a program of care and respite; a very worthwhile initiative.

A small drinks reception then followed.

The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch is an event not to be missed and so I look forward to joining with members of the Company to show our support and commitment.

55. FM&GP Meeting, 14 November 2018

The second meeting of the Finance, Membership and General Purposes Committee in my Mastership took place at the Guildhall on Wednesday and it was privilege to take the chair. Attended by eleven other members of the Company including the Wardens, Clerk and Treasurer we quickly got down to business on what was a full and busy agenda.

Space does not allow for the full details of the meeting to be discussed here but suffice to say good progress was made on a number of topics including finance, recruitment (H₂O) and staffing. There is always so much going on in a vibrant company such as ours and I am grateful to the Committee for their hard work and expertise. Our concentration was briefly broken by a Fire Alarm which effected the whole building; but fortunately it was not raining as we stood outside waiting for the All Clear!

It was also good to report on a number of successful events held recently including the Annual Banquet and the visit to the Bank of England. We also discussed the events planned for 2019 which include a New Year Networking event on 9 January. Good progress is being made with all of these.

The meeting was followed by lunch which gave us the opportunity to discuss more somewhat abstract matters without the confines of an agenda. Some very interesting debates were had!

My thanks must go to all the Committee for their input and good counsel. A great team to work with!

54. Barbers Company – Lecture, 13 November 2018

Now in its 36^th year, the Sir Lionel Denny Lecture is one of the high-points in the calendar for the Worshipful Company of Barbers and so it was a great pleasure for the Mistress and I invited to attend. Held in the wonderful Barber-Surgeons’ Hall off London Wall, we joined 70 or so other Masters and Consorts for the lecture.

On arrival we were shown into the Great Hall, a striking room panelled with Japanese Oak and opening directly onto the Terrace. Lit with Waterford crystal chandeliers, flooded with natural light and bowed towards the West, the Hall is dominated by a magnificent Holbein painting of Henry VIII uniting the Barbers’ and Surgeons’ Companies in 1541-42 (see photo). We duly took our seats to await our guest speaker who was introduced by the Master Barber, Dr Timothy Cutler.

Dr Margaret Pelling is a senior research associate of the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine at Oxford University. Her topic was the history of the Barbers Pole, a well-known symbol connected with the trade of barbering, a most ancient trade. Focussing particularly on the period 1500 to 1700 Dr Pilling took us through some of the lessor known aspects of the pole, its symbolism and significance. She also dispelled some urban myths as to the meaning of the red and white (and sometimes blue) stripes than adorn the pole. In short, no one really knows where they came from. But it was a fascinating insight into the workings of London life in the late Middle Ages!

After some questions from the floor Dr Pelling was thanked for her speech and a small gift was presented. Guests were then invited to a reception in the Court Room with drinks and canapes.

A very enjoyable evening and great to hear about an ancient trade that is still very much alive and well in modern society – that of having a hair-cut! Our thanks to the Master Barber and his Wardens for their hospitality.

53. Water Conservation Trust, 13 November 2018

As noted in a previous Blog (No 13) it is customary for the Master of the day to attend the above Trustee meetings as an observer. I therefore took my place with other Trustees at the offices of the IES at 140 London Wall.

The afternoon consisted of three separate meetings; the Annual General Meeting of the Trust; a meeting of the Charity Committee and a Trustee Board meeting. All three were expertly chaired by Past Master Roger North, ably assisted by Hon Secretary and Court Assistant, Christine Duthie. The Hon Treasurer Past Master Peter Hall was also in attendance.

Needless the say the business of the day was efficiently and effectively dealt with and a number of resolutions and action points were discussed and agreed. Of particular note was a discussion on the five-year strategic plan which is currently being formulated. A very significant document which will inform the shape and content of the Trust going forward. A very exciting period ahead.

My thanks to all involved and for the standing invitation to this very important element of the work of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators.

52. Armistice Sunday, 11 November 2018

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War and so a series of special events and church services were held across the City. The Company were represented at two; the first by the Thames Warden, Mark Lane at the Tower Hill Garden of Remembrance and the second by the Mistress and I at St Pauls Cathedral and afterwards at the Royal Exchange. It was with great pride that the Company took part in both important acts of respect and thanksgiving.

Before joining the congregation at St Pauls, I took the opportunity to re-visit the Garden of Remembrance set out in St Pauls Churchyard (see Blog No 43) and noted that the rows of crosses laid by the Livery were still in good order. The Company’s cross can be seen at the forefront of the picture.

After robing, the Mistress and I took our places beneath the Great Dome. I joined with many other Livery Masters as we awaited the arrival of the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries. The organ was swelling and the enormity of the occasion was very much in our minds as we thought about all those who had fallen in our name over the years. Most humbling.

The Lord Mayor – on one of his first official duties – together with the Aldermen, members of Common Hall and the clergy processed into the Cathedral. But a special place was kept for the standards of the Royal British Legion who formed a guard of honour in front of the quire. Very impressive.

The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls, the very Reverend Dr David Ison. The Lord Mayor read a lesson and the Address was given by the Canon in Residence, the Reverend Canon Jonathan Brewster who focused on the sacrifice and duty displayed by those in the First World War and others since then. And then the Last Post sounded and the great cathedral fell silent just as the hour of eleven tolled from the bell high above the congregation. A truly inspiring moment and not lost on anyone present.

At the close of the service the Livery Masters made their way down Cheapside to the Royal Exchange where we formed up by the War Memorial. Awaiting us were several hundred spectators wedged on to the pavements and again, we awaited the Lord Mayor. Music was provided by the Band of the Coldstream Guards and during the wreath laying, a lone piper played. Amongst many others a wreath was laid on behalf of the whole Livery by the Master Fruiterer; evidently this is the first time the Livery have been represented in this way and it was very pleasing to be allowed to take part. This may become a permanent feature of subsequent remembrance events.

After the wreath laying, we filed back across to Mansion House to watch and applaud as a parade of veterans proudly marched by. They got a great reception.

And then it was all over – 100 years since the guns fell silent and we were all there to remember them. A privilege to have taken part. We then made our way to the Guildhall for a most pleasant lunch courtesy of the Master Cook.

Other pictures show the War Memorial at the Royal Exchange and the Coldstream Guards forming up next to the Bank of England. 

51. Lord Mayor’s Show, 10 November 2018

Widely recognised as the world’s largest un-rehearsed street parade, the Lord Mayor’s show is a spectacle to behold and great fun! So it was with mounting excitement that the Mistress, the Fleet Warden, Rob Casey and I took up our positions on London Wall ready to take part. And what a great day we had!

Proudly marching in the Modern Livery Companies section (position 82 in the running order) I shouldered the “Water Conservators” banner and made ready to set off. As this is such a large show and a huge logistical exercise to mount, there is a degree of hanging around but the time soon passed by chatting to other Livery Companies all dressed as we were in robes and badges of office. A Golden Double Decker Bus acted as our travelling base but there was no temptation to take a ride as the roar of the crowds and the faces of the children as we passed by was a delight to behold.

Following a well tried and tested route around London, the high point is passing Mansion House where the Lord Mayor himself and his assembled dignitaries are seated on a raised platform. We had many waives and words of encouragement from the Lord Mayor and others and many a joke were traded as we marched by. We gave a resounding cry of “Three Cheers” to the Lord Mayor as we turned the corner from Princes Street into Cheapside – wonderful!

Arriving at Temple in time for lunch we went on board HQS Wellington at the kind invitation of the Master Mariner and his team. A welcome glass of ‘good cheer’ awaited us as did a hearty sandwich to fuel us for the second half of the route. The sun was shining and all was well – a very rare occurrence for the Show as it generally is reckoned to rain every time!

But we were soon back on the road and passed Blackfriars Station to enormous crowds and much cheering.

Our route took us back past the Mansion House and we finally reached journeys-end at London Wall again. The time had flown by and still no rain. So we quickly dispersed and thanked those of the Corporation who had organised the whole day. A great credit is due to the City of London, the Police and Ambulance Service for looking after us and of course to all the many, many floats and street theatre which makes the Show so special. But being a participant unfortunately means that one doesn’t actually see much of the rest of the parade so we quickly set off home to put our feet up and to watch it on TV!

What an experience – and it didn’t rain!

Pictures show the Lord Mayor in his coach; Gog (of Gog and Magog fame) passing the Mansion House with members of the Guild of Young Freemen and the Worshipful Company of Paviors with their inflatable pig (don’t ask!) just ahead of us in the Modern Companies Section.

50. City Livery Club Musical Awards, 9 November 2018

At the kind invitation of their Chairman, Mr Ken Chaproniere, the Mistress and I attended the City Livery Club, Music Sections’ Annual Awards Dinner at the Guildhall. This prestigious black-tie dinner was to celebrate the Sections 10^th Anniversary Students Awards and we joined some 50 or so other members and guests together with the award-winning students themselves.

Guests were welcomed by the Chairman and the Hon Secretary, Maureen Bonanno-Smith with a small reception followed by dinner in the Members Dining Room. The Music Section is a lively and energetic group who all share their passion for music and drama in London and further afield. Our principle speaker was Alderman Dr Sir Andrew Parmley who is well known for his support of the arts and of music.

After a wonderful dinner Sir Andrew gave a most humorous and interesting speech and thanked the Music Section on behalf of the guests for the evening. He then, in conjunction with the Hon Secretary, made a presentation to the award winners. There were three;

·         Mr Paul Grant, Baritone of the Lady Solti Foundation

·         Miss Gabriella Jones, Harpist of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and

·         Miss Pippa Myres, Ballerina of the Central School of Ballet

They were all delightful students and so enthusiastic. We were then treated to some beautiful singing by Paul followed by some lovely harp playing by Gabriella – truly magical. It was a real pleasure to see such talent and they were very worthy winners. Congratulations to all three!

A most enjoyable way to spend a Friday evening and in great company. Thank you to all involved in making this memorable event such a delight.

49. Silent Ceremony, 9 November 2018

Although Alderman Peter Estlin was elected as the next Lord Mayor on 1 October, it is not until the Silent Ceremony that the actual transfer of office takes place. And it is not called the Silent Ceremony for nothing! I therefore took my place in the Great Hall at Guildhall with a wide cross-section of Livery members (including the Sheriffs, Aldermen and member of Common Hall) and other friends and well-wishers to see the Admission of the Lord Mayor Elect (to give it its proper title) take place.

Those familiar with the Great Hall will know that it is a vast space but it was full to the brim to witness the ceremony as it unfolded before us. Unfortunately, the view is very limited but as the Lord Mayor elect is a tall man (and so am I), one could just about see what was happening (see picture). And it really is held in silence save for one oath given by Alderman Estlin at the beginning. The rest of the ceremony consists of the donning of the new Mayoral tri-corn hat (the moment the power transfers), the giving and receiving of seals of office, the Mace and the Sword and the key to the Christ’s Hospital seal. All this is undertaken by a number of City personnel including the Town Clerk, the Serjeant-at-Arms and the Common Cryer and in a very solemn, precise and ancient order. It is wonderful to see such traditions still being carried out.

The whole ceremony does not take very long and to the sound of marching feet, the new Lord Mayor reassesses from the Great Hall to the Guildhall Yard with a trumpet fan-fare. The new Lord Mayor is in office!

Dignitaries are then wished away to the Mansion House by the Mayoral limousines for afternoon tea. The rest of us just soak up the atmosphere!

So many congratulations to the new Lord Mayor, Alderman Peter Estlin and the Lady Mayoress, Lindy (see picture) and we wish them every success in their year of office. I am delighted that the new Lord Mayor has accepted my invitation to be the principle speaker at our Myddelton Lunch which will be held on 7 January 2019 at Trinity House. It will be a fascinating event.

48. Horners Lecture, 8 November 2018

Back into black tie again and the Mistress and I made our way over to the Royal Society of Medicine on Wimpole Street for the 21st Ralph Anderson Lecture hosted by the Worshipful Company of Horners. The lecture this year was given by Dr Ian Shott CBE and proved to be a fascinating and thought-provoking evening.

Dr Shott is Managing Director of Arcinova, a contract research and development company, and Shott Trinova through which he invests in, chairs and leads a portfolio of life science businesses. He previously held several global leadership positions, with multi-national life science companies (ICI, AstraZeneca, Lonza, ChiRex and Rhodia). He is also Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Committee.

Focusing on the emerging digital world in general and in particular its influence on polymer manufacturing, recycling and usage, Dr Shott was able to bring his extensive experiences to bare and give some insights into the future. He tackled some searching questions from the floor ranging from Brexit to Government funded research, all of which were expertly dealt with. Dr Shott is clearly in command of his brief and was a first-class orator. A privilege to hear his thoughts.

The lecture was followed by a buffet supper expertly laid out for the very sizable audience. It provided for a lot of useful networking and I used the opportunity to discuss recycling and reuse of plastic bottles with a number of Masters connected with our industry. A useful evening.

Thank you to the Horners for their generosity and hospitality.

47. Bank of England Museum, 8 November 2018

A welcome change from the more formal events of the last few days was a visit to the Bank of England Museum with members of the Company and associated friends. So, it was a great pleasure for the Mistress and I to join with 20 others for our private presentation into the workings of the “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street”!

Assembling in the Rotunda we were ushered into the private screening room where our guide, Shona gave us a very interesting and insightful presentation on the foundation, history and the building of the Bank over the centuries. Many little known facts were given as well as the more general understanding of how monetary systems work. Fascinating.

Of course, everyone wants to see the gold bullion stored in the vaults but sadly these days they are not for public display. However, in the general exhibition rooms there is a real gold bar which – by inserting ones’ hand through a special security screen – one can attempt to lift (see photo). They are very heavy and it would be impossible (and highly inadvisable) to attempt to make off with it. But it’s a great display.

The Museum also houses endless details about bank notes and their history and it was fun to see notes dating back to ones’ youth and even before – remember 10-shilling notes? (50p in today’s money!). It is a great Museum and full of amazing items from the world of money and we greatly enjoyed our time there.

We followed the visit with lunch at Jackson and Rye on Old Jewry and had a wonderful meal and were well attended. On departure, several members set off to the Tower of London to see the new installation “Beyond the Deepening Shadow” (we had seen it earlier in the week) but were thwarted by the enormous crowds.

But a great day out and lovely to see so many members and friends in fellowship together.

46. City Livery Club, 7 November 2018

As a new full member of the City Livery Club I was able to attend their Annual General Meeting and Installation Dinner at the Ironmongers’ Hall. It was a splendid evening and much enjoyed.

The AGM commenced at 18:00 and followed standard lines in receiving a Financial and Membership report, a review of the year by the outgoing President (not Master) and the election of officers. This was all done with efficiency and panache. The new President Dr Trevor Brignall then gave a short address thanking his predecessor and setting out his aims for his year.

There then followed an Installation Dinner kindly hosted by the President and his two Vice- Presidents and members of the Council. The Ironmongers’ Hall is a magnificent building with a large Banqueting Hall sufficient to accommodate the 170 or so guests and members all dressed in black tie with badges. It was good to meet some new faces as well as some old friends as the City Livery Club spans all the Liveries in London with many a distinguished member. The conversation was friendly and wide ranging.

After a splendid dinner, the Sung Grace and the Loving Cup ceremony, the toast to the guests was proposed – in rhyme! - by Senior Vice-President Adele Thorpe and the response was given by Past President and former Sherriff Neil Redcliffe. He regaled the audience with stories from his year in office which was well received. He also paid tribute to the work of the City Livery Club and its influence in the City.

In response, the President noted the increasing membership of the Club and with it the improvement in finances – a welcome trend. He also thanked again his Council for their support. We then rose from the table just before 23:00 for our trains home.

Thank you to the President and his team and to the staff and Master of the Ironmongers’ Hall for a lovely evening; as a new boy I was made to feel very welcome.

45. Mansion House, 6 November 2018

A meeting was held at the Mansion House to update Livery Companies on the work of the Pan-Livery initiative and so I took my place – together with all the other Masters - in the Egyptian Room to hear what had developed.

After a few opening comments by the Lord Mayor and by Alderman & Mercer William Russell, Chairman of the Pan-Livery Steering Group, we were updated by Chairman of the Communications Working Group, David Santa-Olalla who detailed the findings of the three surveys conducted over the last few months. These surveys covered 1) composition of the membership profile of Livery Companies; 2) the level of charitable giving made and 3) the number of voluntary hours given and pro-bono work undertaken by members across the Livery. They provided some fascinating and important statistics which space does not allow to be detailed here. Suffice to say that there is a lot more analysis needed and further research undertaken to develop the Communications thematic approach.

A presentation was then given by Victoria Russell on the extensive work of the Livery Committee (of which she is Chairman) and the benefits it provides to Livery Companies and their members. Very useful stuff.

After some questions from the floor the Lord Mayor closed the meeting and invited all assembled to join with him in a drinks reception in the Salon to mark the success of the RAF 100 in 100 campaign.

As previously reported (see Blog No 3) 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the RAF and so in this special year the Lord Mayor launched his 100 in 100 initiative to secure affiliations between 100 RAF units and 100 Livery Companies. To his enormous pride, the Lord Mayor was able to confirm that this target had been reached (in fact exceeded) and he thanked all Livery Companies for their support. For our part, the Water Conservators are affiliated with No.1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit RAF (AIDU), based at RAF Northolt and have developed this link since 1999. It is good to see so many other Livery Companies working closely with the Armed Services in this manner. A great campaign and a great response from the Livery movement.

44. Lord Mayor’s Service of Thanksgiving, 5 November 2018

St Stephen Walbrook – one of Wren’s finest churches – was the setting for this special Service of Thanksgiving to mark the successful completion of Alderman Charles Bowmans’ year of office as Lord Mayor. The Mistress and I joined with many other Masters, Clerks and Consorts to celebrate a year well-served to the City and the wider work of the Corporation.

Led by the Priest-in-Charge the Revd Stephen Baxter, music for the service was provided by Organist Polina Sosnina, the Brandenburg Brass and by the choir of St Stephen Voices all of whom performed to a very high standard. The singing was amazing and not just from the congregation!

The lesson was read by the Lord Mayor and told the story of the Good Samaritan, a theme which was picked up in the sermon by the Chaplin to the Lord Mayor, the Revd George Bush. This story was particularly apt as it was in this very church that the Revd Chad Varah founded the Samaritans telephone helpline back in 1953. In fact, the very first telephone he used is on display in the church (see picture). Their work has been a remarkable achievement over the last 65 years and has saved countless lives.

The whole service was very uplifting and provided a perfect end to what has been a very successful Mayoralty. A small drinks reception followed in the church and we took the opportunity to thank the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress personally for their service.

43. St Pauls Garden of Remembrance, 5 November 2018

Armistice Day this year will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the war to end all wars. To start a week of special remembrance services across the City culminating on Armistice Day itself, the Royal British Legion opened the annual Garden of Remembrance at St Pauls and the Mistress and I were proud to be invited to participate as representatives of the Company.

After coffee in the Crypt the Masters of all the City Livery Companies, office holders of City Institutions and representative of the Armed Services assembled in the north-east corner of the Churchyard where the Garden of Remembrance is traditionally laid out (see picture). The service was led by the Dean of St Pauls the Very Reverend Dr David Ison and was graciously attended by the Lord and Lady Mayor, on one of their last official engagements of their year. The Band of the Coldstream Guards provided the music and officers of the Regiment quickly assembled us all into line in order of precedence.

The service commenced with the parade of the Standards of the Royal British Legion and the Ceremonial Squad of the London Ambulance Service followed by the clergy and the Sheriffs. Fortunately the weather was dry and mild and the solemn but simple service followed traditional lines culminating with the Two Minutes Silence and the Last Post.

Crosses adorned with red poppies were then laid by the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries before the Livery Masters in turn laid their own Company cross in the green grass of the Churchyard (see picture). Elgar’s Enigma Variations was playing as we stepped forward to pay our respects to the Fallen; a most moving ceremony.

The Coldstream Guards then marched out leaving us all to reflect on the importance of remembering all those who gave their lives to the service of this country and the sacrifices they made. The Company and the wider Livery movement are proud to be able to play their part in this act of remembrance.

42. Water Conservators Banquet, 1 November 2018

It was with enormous pride and not a little trepidation that I as Master took my place at the head of the table for what is the high-point of the social year – the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators Annual Banquet. Set out before me were two long ‘sprigs’ laid up to exacting detail by the catering staff and surrounded by all our members and guests. It was a truly memorable moment.

But to backtrack a little; Drapers Hall was the setting for this wonderful evening and I was delighted – together with the Mistress, the Fleet Warden and the Walbrook Warden and Consort – to be able to welcome everyone as they climbed the staircase to the Court Dinning Room for the reception drinks. Expertly served by the in-house team the conversation flowed but before long the Beadle knocked up for dinner. The principle guests joined with me into processing into the stunning Livery Hall and we all found our places. After I had said Grace a sumptuous dinner followed, which was much enjoyed. Then came the traditional Sung Grace and the Loving Cup ceremony – always good fun - followed by the Loyal Toasts.

The musical interlude was provided by three students from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Mistress and I had chosen three of our favourite songs which were expertly delivered. The students received a resounding round of applause!

This was followed by a most pleasant duty which was to admit Alderman and World Trader Professor Michael Mainelli as an Honorary Freeman of the Company. I was able to give our guests but a small flavour of Michael’s career and interests before he read aloud the declaration. I then presented him with his ‘tear drop’ and certificate to confirm his new status. Michael then kindly replied and expressed his pleasure in becoming a member of the Company.

After welcoming all our other guests and toasting them in water as is our tradition, our Principle Guest, the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Lord Chartres KCVO proposed a toast to the Company. He also spoke to us about the importance – both physically and spiritually – of water and the heavy responsibility we all had to ensure the world has enough to drink. It was a challenging message but delivered with wit and good humour. A most brilliant orator.

In response I thanked Lord Chartres for an excellent speech and after a few parish notices invited all to join with me in a Stirrup Cup before departure.

My thanks must go to everyone who made the evening such a success and in particular I would mention the Beadle and the Clerk for all their work. We now look forward to the next Banquet in November 2019!

Pictures show the Livery Hall before dinner and the Master and Mistress with our two daughters, Holly and Emily.

For more details of the Banquet please see our website and the write-up kindly prepared by Past Master Keith Tozzi.