141. London’s Secret Rivers, 30 May 2019

For centuries Londoners have existed beside a series of waterways which have shaped the city and people within it. The history of this relationship and the art that is has inspired are the focus of major exhibition, ‘Secret Rivers’ at the Museum of London’s Docklands venue. As a Company, the Water Conservators have assisted in the research undertaken to build the exhibition and the Water Conservation Trust have provided financial support. It was appropriate then that I joined with Past Masters Roger North (also Chair of the WCT), Peter Hall and Mike Williamson to be given an exclusive private tour just after its opening earlier this week.

Secret Rivers – which is free entry - uses archaeological artefacts, art, photography and film to reveal stories of life by London’s rivers, streams, and brooks, exploring why many of them were lost over time.

Historic and contemporary artworks from artists, poets and authors also show how London’s rivers have played an important role in the city’s imaginations. Previously unseen artefacts from excavations of the River Fleet and elsewhere hint at the diverse industrial, economic and religious roles these rivers have played over the centuries.

The intriguing histories of the River Effra, Fleet, Neckinger, Lea, Wandle, Tyburn, Walbrook and Westbourne all feature in the exhibition. Each river highlights a broader theme such as poverty, industry, development, effluence, manipulation, activism, religion and restoration. We were shown around by Museum Assistant Katherine Hoare who was able to add some additional facts. For our part, us old ‘Wateries’ were able to give some further details gained from a lifetime of work in the sector. It is a fascinating exhibition and well worth the trip out on the DLR to visit it. Further details can be found at www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands The exhibition runs until the October half-term.

The Water Conservators look forward to working with the Museum again as it prepares to move its main exhibition space on London Wall to its new home in the former Smithfield Market building.

140. Masters Committee, 31 May 2019

A meeting of the Masters Committee was held in the Guildhall Members Club and once again we had a very full agenda. As well as the usual attendees, I was pleased to welcome Fleet Warden-Elect, Graham Howells and Walbrook Warden-Elect, Martin Baggs to the Committee, both of who made valuable contributions to the discussions.

This was the first meeting of the Committee since our very successful week of events to mark World Water Day back in late March and so it was appropriate to carry out a review after all the hard work that had been carried out. Suffice to say that lessons were learnt but the overall impact of the week had been considerable.

Other topics included our Networking events (next one on 18 September), our interface and profile with external bodies and stakeholders and matters of Company administration. All these and other issues are vital to the efficient and effective running of the Company and I am most grateful for the continued support and enthusiasm from the team.

This was my last Masters Committee before handing over to Master-Elect Mark Lane and the next meeting is scheduled for mid-July. Thank you all for your time and commitment.  

139. Vintners Foundation Concert, 29 May 2019

At the invitation of the Master Vintner, Alderman Dr Sir Andrew Parmley, the Mistress and I attended the Vintners Foundation Concert at St James, Garlickhythe on a rather cold and damp May evening. But it was well worth it – what a night of music!

St James Garlickhythe, in the Ward of Vintry is a wonderful Wren church – nicknamed ‘Wren’s Lantern’ due to the profusion of windows (see picture) - and is the mother church of the Worshipful Company of Vintners. We joined with the Water Conservators Immediate Past Master and his Consort, Mike and Sandra Williamson along with a hundred or so other supporters of the Vintners’ Foundation, music lovers and members of the church. A small drinks reception started proceedings but soon it was time to take our places in the pews.

Arranged before us were members of the Marcel Sinfonia, a collection of music graduates from some of the leading conservatoires in London. Conducted firstly by Andrew Campling (pictured), the Sinfonia gave us a stirring rendition of the ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, one of Handle’s greatest pieces. A marvellous way to start the evening!

The mood changed slightly with the next piece (under conductor Dr Christian Spielman); Gustav Holst’s ‘St Paul’s Suite’ written just before WWI. More famous is his ‘Planets Suite’ composed a few years later, but nonetheless some of the themes in that great work can be clearly heard in his earlier writing. A real joy to have all four movements played to us.

But then to the finale and main event; ‘Concerto for Organ, Timpani, Percussion and Strings’ composed and conducted by Andrew Campling. This specially written piece to commemorate the ‘Second Great Fire of London’ on the night of 29-30 December 1940, centred around the magnificent organ at St James, most ably played by Sir Andrew himself. With a CCTV link from the organ loft above us we were able to watch Sir Andrew as he performed the piece with his usual flair and passion. Set over four movements, the Concerto is highly evocative of those dark days during the Blitz and the use of a real air-raid siren gave an added piquancy to an already powerful performance. Truly amazing to hear and to watch and the organ playing was inspired. The composer and the musicians received a well-deserved and very hearty round of applause.

All monies raised at the event went to the Vintners’ Foundation, an ancient charity that supports families in times of hardship (as in the War). More recently it is supporting those with alcohol related illnesses and does much to alleviate suffering. A very worthy cause.

After a delicious range of canapes, it was time to leave with the music still ringing in our years! Our thanks must go to all those who organised the evening and also to the musicians (young and less young!) for the passion and joy they so clearly have when playing in such a venue. A memorable night!  

138. Prison Education Trust Lecture, 29 May 2019

The magnificent Fishmongers’ Hall on London Bridge was the venue for an evening lecture jointly hosted by the Worshipful Companies of Fishmongers and Educators and I was pleased to be able to attend. Joining several other Livery Masters, Clerks and members of the host companies we were welcomed to a small drinks reception in the Court Dining Room before the evening got underway.

The Prison Education Trust (PET) provides distance learning courses, materials, advice and support in every prison in England and Wales. It also carries out academic research and advises government and prison authorities. Both the host companies support the PET via their charitable arms and in 2018 an award to honour educational excellence was set up to recognise the immense contribution education makes to the potentially blighted lives of prisoners. The evenings events were designed to allow us to hear from the three 2019 award winners and to learn more about the work of the Trust and the issues it faces.

But first we were warmly welcomed in the Banqueting Hall by the Prime Warden of the Fishmongers, David Robertson who confirmed the arrangements for the evening. He then introduced our two principle speakers, Mr Rod Clark, CEO of PET (who also acted as MC for the evening) and Dr Jennifer Somerville, Chairman of the Worshipful Company of Educators Trust. Both gave excellent presentations as to the objectives of the PET and their various successes. And there are plenty of these, which was heartening.

Attention then turned to the three award winners themselves, each of whom gave a short presentation of their work. They were Jose Aguiar (HMP Pentonville), an educational consultant for the Ministry of Justice; Shirley Boslem (HMP Downview), their Commercial Projects Manager and Frances Findlater (HMP Brixton), CEO of the charity ‘Bounce Back’. To say that the current prison system is in something of a crisis at present would be an understatement but each of the award winners was able to explain how they are making a difference and helping some – not all – but some prisoners find a way out through education. It was very encouraging to hear, albeit tinged with a realisation that with increased resources, much more could be done.

The speakers were then joined on the stage by four others professionals including Lady Tessa Brewer, Chairman of the Sheriffs’ and Recorders’ Fund – a key supporter of PET - and by Emily Thomas, Governor of HMP Isis in London. This highly experienced and articulate panel took questions from the floor and a very lively debate ensued. It is clear that much work has been done through education but there are still some major obstacles to overcome, all of which will require greater political intervention and funding and some changes in societal norms. But at least these issues are being discussed.

In closing, the Master Educator Dr Lis Goodwin thanked all those who had taken part and for making this such a fascinating evening. Further light refreshments were offered before it was time to depart.

The Fishmongers’ Hall is a wonderful setting and the Prime Warden and his teams are to be congratulated for their hospitality. But the biggest thanks must go to all those who work so tirelessly on behalf of our (growing) prison population in giving them a chance via education to reclaim their lives. All power to their collective elbows.

137. Consorts Old Bailey Lunch, 22 May 2019

The Mistress was delighted to receive an invitation from the Sheriffs’ Consorts (Mrs Amanda Keaveny and Mr Peter Green) to join them for lunch at the Old Bailey and to visit one of the working Courtrooms. She therefore made her way to the Lord Mayors’ entrance off Warwick Lane to join some 14 other consorts for this wonderful opportunity to visit such an impressive building.

Received by the Consorts in the Aldermanic Sheriffs sitting room, a brief introduction to the Old Bailey was given including its long and important history. The conversation continued over a light lunch in the Judges Dining Room where the in-house caterers made guests very welcome.

But then it was time to visit a real working Courtroom. Guests were ushered into the public gallery as the court returned from the lunch break. One is prohibited from reporting details of the case but it was most interesting to see the British legal system at work and the care and attention to detail taken by the judiciary to ensure a fair trial. Most insightful.

But this was a long case and certainly not one to conclude that day. Therefore at an appropriate time the guests withdrew from the Courtroom to reflect on their day.

A most fascinating visit and it was most kind of the Sheriffs’ Consorts to extend the invitation. Thank you to you both.

136. Pewter Live 2019, 22 May 2019

As the name suggests, Pewter Live 2019 is an opportunity for the Worshipful Company of Pewterers to showcase the work of their trade in the form of an annual exhibition. Held in the Pewterers’ Hall over a couple of days, I was delighted to receive an invitation to join a number of Livery Masters to view the exhibition and to meet some of the very talented craftsmen and women.

Introduced by the Master Pewterer, Richard Parson we were welcomed to the beautiful Pewterers’ Hall (my first visit) where he took the opportunity to thank all those responsible for putting this exhibition together. Arranged over two floors in the Livery Hall and the Court Room, the exhibition comprised of a range of pieces entered as part of the Pewter Live 2019 design competition. And what stunning designs they were. A wide range of wonderful pieces all finished to a very high standard by young and experienced craftsmen alike. How the judges would arrive at their decision was beyond me, the standard was so high.

On the ground floor a market had been set up where guests had the opportunity to talk to pewterers and discuss their craft. There was also the opportunity to purchase some lovely pieces and there were plenty of credit cards in evidence. Some of the pieces were of very traditional designs; some much more contemporary. Pewter is a beautiful metal and has such a deep and bright lustre which makes any piece simply stunning.

A light buffet lunch was offered and it was a delight to spend some time witnessing at first-hand that the craft of the pewterer is alive and well.

Thank you to the team at the Pewterers Hall and the Master for allowing us to attend. We wait to see who are the winners when announced on 23 May!

Stop Press: Some 25 winners were announced at the closing ceremony with ‘Looking Forward’ by Jacky Oliver taking the Best in Show award. Congratulations to all the winners.

135. Festival Dinner, 21 May 2019

After the service at St Pauls it was a quick walk down Cheapside for the Mistress and I to attend a fund-raising dinner for the Clergy Support Trust held at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. It was a lovely May evening so it was a joy to stretch one’s legs after those hard cathedral chairs!

Joining over 200 other members of the Livery, of the Trust and their supporters and senior London clergy, a drinks reception was held in the delightful courtyard inside the Hall. This gave a chance to speak to some of those who had been assisted by the work of the Trust and to hear at first hand their stories. It was very uplifting to learn how their lives had been transformed and that their families could at last enjoy a small luxury or two (like a holiday!). Most clergy are woefully underpaid and every little helps!

We were then called into dinner in the splendid Great Hall where a magnificent meal awaited us. Grace was said by the Revd Dr Jack Dunn and the in-house caterers waited on us with silver-service – a real treat and very much appreciated.

After the Loyal Toast proposed by The Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, Sheriff the Hon Liz Green and the Civic Toast by the Bishop of London. A very kind toast to all the guests was proposed by the Treasurer, the Venerable Christine Allsopp and she made us all feel most welcome.

Responding on behalf of the guests was the former BBC Political Correspondent, Mr John Sergeant. He explained that as the son of a vicar brought up in the Home Counties, he had had first-hand experience of the Trust and the support it is able to give. Whilst he had a very happy childhood, he did recall that money was always tight and he was personally grateful for the work of the Trust.

He then went on to give a most amusing speech about his life as a political journalist and the various trials and tribulations that he had endured (including the famous ‘hand-bagging’ incident outside the British Embassy in Paris!). He also recounted stories about his brief time on Strictly Come Dancing - it all seems like a long time ago now. But he was very funny!

In conclusion, Mr Sergeant proposed a toast to the Clergy Support Trust and thanked them for all their hard work. A resounding round of applause from the guests ensued.

And then it was time to leave after a very uplifting and memorable day. Our thanks to the Master Merchant Taylor and his team for hosting the event and to all those at the Trust who organised the day. A lot of money was raised and it was a delight to be part of that. Thank you.

134. Clergy Support Trust Service, 21 May 2019

This service is held at St Pauls Cathedral and is now in its 365^th year since inception. It is a wonderful coming together of the Livery, Civic London and the Clergy to give thanks for the work of the Clergy Support Trust (previously known as the ‘Sons and Friends of the Clergy’) in supporting Anglican clergy and their families facing hardship or other difficulties. It always boasts some stunning music and choristry and as Master I was proud to represent to Company this year and was joined by the Mistress in some beautiful May sunshine.

Most of the Livery Masters were in attendance and we robed in the Chapel before being briefed as to the processional requirements. Suitable dressed we made our way down the aisle to our places under the Great Dome, strictly in order of precedence. It was wonderful to see so many Livery Companies represented and it is one of the few occasions in the year when we do so. Very impressive.

Whilst waiting for the Lord Mayor and the senior clergy we were treated to some fantastic organ recitals by the Cathedral Sub-Organist, William Fox. And then a fanfare sounded and the massed choirs of St Pauls, Canterbury and Coventry Cathedrals sang a most moving anthem as they jointly processed to the dais. The Lord Mayor was joined by the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally and the Dean of St Pauls, the Very Revd Dr David Ison (who led the service) and the Dean of Gloucester Cathedral, the Very Revd Stephen Lake (who gave the Sermon) together with other senior London clergy who all took their places under the Dome.

A rousing and upbeat service followed with wonderful hymns and some fantastic choral works by the three choirs; first individually but all joining together as a finale under the careful eye of the Director of Music at St Pauls, Andrew Carwood supported by Organist and Assistant Director Simon Johnson. It was some of the best music I have ever heard in this great Cathedral and was truly memorable. What a privilege to be there!   

During the service we heard a number of testimonials from members of the clergy who had been recipients of support by the Trust, all of whom were very grateful for their assistance at difficult times in their lives. This theme was picked up by the Dean of Gloucester in his sermon in which he thanked all those who contribute to the Trust and gave further examples of the enormous range of benefits it provides. An extremely worthwhile charity helping those in the clergy who in turn help us all.

And then it was time to recess out again into the London street-scene with the organ ringing in our ears and the bells in full cry. Amazing!

Thanks must go to all those who made the service so special but most of all to the Clergy Support Trust themselves and for all their fine work. May it continue to support those in need for another 365 years!

133. Consorts Livery Hall Walk, 20 May 2019

Organised by the City Consorts, the Mistress joined a group of approximately twenty outside Cannon Street Station for a walk around some of the adjoining streets to learn about the history of various Livery Halls (and other places) in the area.

Led by the Past Master Tax Advisors Consort, Andrew Loader the group embarked on a fascinating and insightful journey. Andrew is a Cambridge History Scholar and so had a deep knowledge and respect for the stories that surround the various buildings. Working their way up from Cannon Street the group went into Old Jewry and thence to St Olaves Court soaking up all that history as they passed along. The Mistress wasn’t taking notes so some of the detail went unrecorded! But it was all very interesting.

Heading over to Moorgate the party finally reached the Chartered Accountants Hall (see picture) where a buffet supper awaited them. And a reviving drink!

It was a marvellous evening and to be once again in the company of other Consorts is a great privilege. So too is to hear about the wonderful City of London and in such detail.

Thank you to Andrew for his tour, to the City Consorts Organising Committee for putting it all together and to the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants for their hospitality.

132. Gardeners Lecture, 20 May 2019

At the personal invitation of Past Master Paul Rochford of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, I attended their PHS Lecture held at the Garden Museum on Lambeth Bridge. The Garden Museum was founded in 1977 in order to rescue the abandoned church of St Mary’s at Lambeth, which was due for demolition. The church is the burial place of John Tradescant (c1570 – 1638), the first great gardener and plant-hunter in British history. His magnificent and enigmatic tomb is the centrepiece of the Sackler Garden, designed to reflect Tradescant’s life and spirit. It is certainly a very impressive building.

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS) is the oldest horticultural society in the world, second only to the RHS in the UK and was founded in 1827. Since then it has established itself as the leading light in the US and overseas and has an enviable reputation for greening the city of Philadelphia and the wider state of Pennsylvania.

After a brief introduction by the Museum Director Christopher Woodward, the principle speaker Matt Rader, BA, MBA took to the stage. Matt is the 37^th President of the PHS and has spent a lifetime in the world of horticulture and charitable organisations. He described in very honest detail some of the challenges the city faces with their large tracts of urban decline, chronic crime and depravation and the impact this has on the population. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom – there are some incredible success stories. Local volunteers and the City Authorities all recognise the need for ‘green lungs’ and the beneficial effect they have in improving life and wellbeing. Matt went through a range of initiatives - some small, some large scale – and the impact they have had. It was very much a good news story.

My take away was that the City Authorities want to help and do all they can in terms of resources, albeit limited. They seem to run towards the problem rather than away from it. If only that were true in the UK…

After an interesting Q&A session from the floor there was just time to quickly visit the Museum itself. Well worth a visit if in the area.

So, thank you to the Gardeners Company and to Matt for a most insightful evening and in such a lovely setting.  

131. Big Curry Lunch Reception, 16 May 2019

The Leathersellers’ Hall was the venue for a reception to announce the results of the Big Curry Lunch 2019 and so the Mistress and I were pleased to be able to attend. We joined many Livery Masters, Clerks and other supporters of the various charities involved to hear at first hand just how much had been raised in this its 11^th year of operation.

Sheriff the Hon Liz Green represented the Lord Mayor and she was accompanied by her Consort Peter and by the Lady Mayoress and gave a brief speech of welcome. She also thanked the myriad of supporters who make the Big Curry Lunch held on 4 April (see Blog No 109) such a success and noted that their time and contributions were given free of charge. An amazing level of support.

Handing over to Michael Hockney, Founder and Co-Chair of the Organising Committee he passed on apologies from General Sir Mike Jackson who was unable to be there on the night. He did repeat however Sir Mike and the Lord Mayors’ support of the Big Curry Lunch and passed on their thanks to all involved.

Michael then explained the recent additional support being provided to ex-service personnel in the form of a ground breaking pain management relief programme. This comes at an enormous cost but has proven benefits to the service men and women themselves and to their families. Extremely effective and much needed.

And then we got to the bit we were all waiting for; the total sum raised. It was with enormous pleasure that we learnt that all records had been broken this year with an amazing £246,500 being donated on the day. Truly incredible. And even more incredible was that as a result of the Master Leathersellers’ persuasive skills the last £3,500 was raised on the night making a cool quarter of a million pounds to the charity. What a result!

So a huge thank you to all involved and to the Company of Leathersellers for their hospitality. A wonderful charity and long may it flourish to support our Armed Services who keep us all safe.

Picture shows the Master presenting a cheque (raised at our recent Election Court Lunch) to Michael Hockney.

130. Buckingham Palace Garden Party, 15 May 2019

Perhaps one of the social highlights of the ‘season’ is to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. The Mistress and I were delighted to receive our invitation (back in January!) and so it was with great excitement that we donned our best bib and tucker and made our way over to Victoria to join the other guests.

But before we did so I had a arranged a private lunch at the Rubens Hotel, just a stone’s throw from the Palace. I was very pleased that some 36 Masters and their Consorts joined us for a splendid lunch in the most prestigious of venues and the restaurant staff there did us proud. Meeting in the bar at noon we all looked very splendid in our suits and badges of office before sitting down to a two-course lunch in the Rembrandt Suite. A very jolly occasion with everyone very much looking forward to the afternoon ahead.

A short stroll along the Palace walls took us to the Grosvenor Gate Entrance where our security details were thoroughly checked by the Police. The queue was fairly short, about 20 minutes which was quick in comparison with the main entrance on The Mall. A useful tip if ever one comes this way again!

And then into the wonderful Palace Gardens amongst graceful and elegant trees and planting and onwards to the Palace Lawns. This commanded a fantastic view of the back of the Palace made doubly impressive by the fabulous weather; not a cloud in the sky and just the right temperature. Stunning.

Tea was served in the main Tea Tent but the real fun was the people-watching and of course trying to sneak a glimpse of the Royal party. We were honoured to have their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Princess Royal in attendance and they did their best to meet as many people as possible. Not an easy task but expertly guided by the Equerries and the Yeoman of the Guard.

The bands played and the sun shone and we all had a very good time. But soon the National Anthem was being played and we slowly trickled out via the Main Gates and into the throng of the ever-present tourists on The Mall. A truly memorable experience made even more special by sharing it with friends and colleagues from the Livery. It was a privilege to be there.

Pictures show the Master and Mistress setting out for the day, the guests awaiting the Royal Party and the three members of the Royal Family on duty for the afternoon.

129. City Consorts River Cruise, 14 May 2019

The organising Committee of the City Consorts once more sprang into action with a lovely river cruise and lunch on the Thames. I was delighted to accompany the Mistress as her guest on a simply delightful mid-May morning; the sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky. Just the right weather for a cruise!

Kindly hosted by the Mistress Watermen and Lightermen, Susan Keane and ably assisted by Gaye Weston-Simons and others on the Committee, we boarded MV Mercia at her moorings at Crown Pier. There were over eighty guests and consorts so it was very pleasant to stand on the upper deck and enjoy the sunshine.

Drinks were served as we cast off up-river towards Battersea watching as we did all the landmarks of London slipping by. By the time were turned down-river it was time for lunch below and a light buffet meal was expertly served by the team from the Cook and the Butler. With no formal seating plan it was great fun to mix it up with new consorts, familiar faces and those on their way up in their respective Livery Companies.

Time just flew by as we made our way through the Pool of London and down to Greenwich where we again turned about. The mix of modern architecture and traditional river-life blend effortlessly and quite the best view of this part of the City is from a boat. What a treat!

But then it was three o’clock and time to disembark. A simply wonderful day and thanks to all those who made it possible. This is the Thames at its best!  

128. Masters Weekend, 10-12 May 2019

Each year the Master of the day organises a weekend in the country for members of the Company to enjoy some ‘down time’ away from London and the Livery world. This year the Mistress and I chose the charming City of Chichester as the venue and put together a series of events to showcase it and the surrounding area. Invitations went out to all Company members and we were delighted that a good number responded. Over the ensuing weeks a few fell away for various reasons but by Friday evening some 13 of us set forth to discover the charms of this lovely Sussex town.

Checking into the George and Dragon pub right in the centre of the City and in the pedestrian zone, we made ourselves comfortable with a very jolly pub supper in the bar. It being Friday night the locals were having a good time and we all joined in! But at last orders the drinkers dispersed and we settled down to a very restful night.

After breakfast a walking tour of the City walls beckoned. Chichester has a myriad of alleys, twittens and lanes to explore all crammed with flint cottages, grand town houses and all stops in between. We led our party along the walls and down towards the Cathedral via the Bishops Garden which looked splendid in the dappled sunshine. Then to the Cathedral itself where a guided tour had been laid on. The guide was aware we were from the Water Conservators and so had a few watery facts about the Cathedral up his sleeve! The gesture was very much appreciated.

Back to the car park for a short drive to Itchenor for lunch at the Ship. Standing on the edge of Chichester Harbour, Itchenor has a lovely little hard and after a snack lunch we boarded the Canberra for 90-minute tour of the waterways. It was utterly delightful on a crisp, sunny May afternoon to glide down the river towards East Head and the Witterings, slipping in and out of the vast armada of sailing dinghies all it seemed, in race mode. But we managed to miss them all due to the expertise of our Captain and tour guide.

Back on dry land we made tracks for Chichester again and after a welcome cup of tea and a bit of a kip, it was time for drinks before dinner. This was held at Purchases Restaurant, a very lively and efficient establishment within walking distance of the pub. The atmosphere was cracking and the food and service superb. We sat in the garden under the heaters along with what felt like half of Chichester and we all had a thoroughly good time!

Sunday dawned even sunnier and we set off the West Dean Gardens, stopping on the way on the Trundle next to Goodwood Racecourse where superb 360⁰views were laid out before us. Then down to West Dean for a tour of the glasshouses, sunken garden, Long Walk and yet more wonderful views.

After a light lunch we headed next door to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton where a whole village of rescued and restored ancient buildings have been amassed. A truly fascinating afternoon witnessing the ways our forebears lived, worked and raised their families. Time were pretty hard back then!

And so ended a wonderful couple of days. Everything seemed to go ok and we all departed firmer friends then when we had arrived! Another manifestation of the power of the Livery and the good fellowship it engenders. Here’s to the next Masters Weekend in Dorset in September!

Pictures show members outside the Assembly Rooms in Chichester, on-board the Canberra, enjoying dinner at Purchases Restaurant, the Long Walk at West Dean and the Masters new Tudor throne!  

127. Consorts Buffet Supper, 8 May 2019

In preparation for the Ironbridge weekend in early June, the Lady Mayoress and the Mistresses Picture Book Committee held a buffet supper in the Guildhall to which our Mistress was invited. She duly went along to meet up with many other Consorts and hear what had to be said.

The Ironbridge weekend is one of the highpoints of the Livery calendar whereby all Livery Masters and their Consorts, together with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs visit Ironbridge and the surrounding area for a weekend away. Partly social and partly work-focused, the weekend needs a lot of organising and the Lady Mayoress wanted to ensure that all Consorts who were attending were fully briefed and ready to make the most of it. Unfortunately, the Lady Mayoress was unable to attend this evening due to a diary clash which saw her travelling overseas with the Lord Mayor. In her place the Mistress Watermen and Lightermen, Susan Keane stepped in admirably.

A drinks reception beforehand allowed new Consorts to meet with more seasoned attendees and some good conversations were started. These continued though the buffet supper kindly provided by the in-house catering team. Whilst there were no formal speeches it was a very successful way of ensuring that everyone who attended Ironbridge would get off to a good start. A very pleasant evening.

Thanks go to the Picture Book Committee for making this a highly successful event.

126. Spring Network Event, 8 May 2019

The second network event of the Water Conservators year was held at the Guildhall on Wednesday evening and was well attended. Unfortunately, due to ill health I was unable to be there but the event was very ably hosted by the Master Elect, Mark Lane, the Thames Warden Elect, Rob Casey, the PR Manager, Keith Tozzi and by other members of the Court and Livery. It was a great success and the invited guests were able to find out more about the Company, its aims and objectives and the benefits of becoming a member.

Of particular interest was our mentoring programme which currently has a number of mentees actively engaged in the confidential programme. Also discussed was our school’s initiative and the work we do with universities and other higher education establishments. Reference was also made to our charitable work and to the outward facing nature of a modern company such as ours. And all this over a glass of wine and some nibbles!

We had a good response and a number of guests expressed an interest in taking matters further. My thanks therefore must go to the team for making this such a success and in particular to Court Assistant Ken Marsh without whose support the event could not have taken place.

We look forward to our next networking opportunity later in the autumn.

125. 100+ Club Luncheon, 3 May 2019

As the name suggests, the 100+ Club is made up of those Modern Livery Companies numbering 101 and above. As there are currently 110 of us it is a very select (and youthful) group and we celebrate this by holding an annual luncheon of Masters and Clerks. And so it was that the Clerk and I found our way to the Information Technologists’ Hall to meet our friends and colleagues.

Kindly hosted by the Master World Trader we joined with many other members of the Worshipful Company and with other Masters and Clerks for a drink’s reception before luncheon. Unfortunately, one or two Masters could not be there but nonetheless there were representatives from the Worshipful Companies of World Traders (101), Water Conservators (102), Firefighters (103), Hackney Carriage Drivers (104), Management Consultants (105), Tax Advisors (107), Security Professionals (108), Educators (109) and Art Scholars (110). And what a jolly bunch we all were! The conversation flowed and many new friends were made as well as reacquainting with old ones.

We were then called into lunch by the Clerk of the World Traders and the team from the Cook and the Butler served us a marvellous meal which was well enjoyed. After the Loyal Toast the Master World Trader, Dr Edwina Moreton bade us welcome and proposed a toast to all the guests. I was honoured to make the response on behalf of the guests and took the opportunity to once more underscore the important and significant work that us Modern Companies do in the industries that we serve and in the provision of charitable support. My speech was well received.

And then it was time to say farewell as a Bank Holiday weekend beckoned. Our thanks must go to the World Traders for hosting and to the caterers for such a lovely meal. A great way to end the week.

124. Distillers Debate, 1 May 2019

The offices of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch on King Edward Street was the venue for this the seventh annual Distillers Debate and at the kind invitation of the Master Distiller, the Mistress and I went along. The motion was “This House Believes that the Gin Boom has Reached its Peak”. What a subject!

After a refreshing glass of pure water to welcome the 170 or so guests from the Livery, from the Distilling trade and from business, the debate began. But before battle commenced, a show of hands was taken regarding the motion. This revealed that 20% were For and 80% Against; a fairly strong split. Under the expert chairmanship of Trevor Stirling of the Distillers Company, the protagonists locked horns!

Proposing the motion was Ms Dawn Davies, Buyer at Speciality Drinks who was seconded by Ed Mundy, Beverage Analysist at Jeffries. The Against camp was led by Ms Sophia Shaw-Brown, Senior Insights Manager at IWSR and the seconder was David T Smith, a drinks writer.

To say that each side was passionate would be an understatement and each produced endless statistics to support their case. There is no doubt that the gin boom is the most exciting success stories of a generation with a plethora of craft and flavoured gins flooding the market both home and abroad. And it is in other countries, particularly South America and India that huge growth potential is evident. But is there room for any more gins? Both sides argued their corner.

After a Q&A session from the floor the all-important final vote was taken, again via a show of hands. The result was 30% For the motion with 70% Against, a significant swing to the House. And for this reason, the Motion was carried! Who knew?!

After all this energetic debating, it was time to try a few well-chosen gins. This gave us a chance to mingle with guests and to thank the Master Distiller, Martin Riley and his team for their hospitality and good humour. As for the result, well only time will tell but we enjoyed discussing it!

123. Mistress Engineer’s Lunch, 29 April 2019

Returning to the RAF Club on Piccadilly again (see previous Blog), I was pleased to accompany the Mistress Water Conservator to the above lunch kindly organised by the Mistress Engineer, Dr Marilyn Wedgwood-Johnson. We joined upwards of eighty other Consorts and their guests to enjoy fellowship and good company but also to hear about a very worthwhile cause.

Before the reception began, we were given a brief tour of the Club building and shown some of the remarkable paintings on display (nearly all of aircraft somewhat unsurprisingly!). Also on display was the newly commissioned portrait of Her Majesty the Queen by Benjamin Sullivan and very splendid it looked too. We also saw the new stained glass window by Helen Whittaker created to celebrate Women in the RAF and only installed last autumn (see pictures). It is a most impressive Club and clearly very well used.

After a brief drink’s reception, we took our places at table and were warmly welcomed by the Mistress Engineer. She wasted no time in introducing our principle speaker Carmel McConnell, MBE, Woman of the Year Campaigner 2018 and founder of the charity Magic Breakfast. Formed in 2003 and in response to the horrifying statistic that over 500,000 children in the UK go to school without any breakfast and as a consequence are in no state to learn, Magic Breakfast now provides some 40,330 breakfasts each day across 480 partner schools. In London alone, they feed 15,280 children every morning. The reasons for these children’s lack of breakfast is many and varied but study after study shows that you cannot learn on an empty stomach and that disruptive behaviour is a likely consequence. These statistics are staggering and Ms McConnell explained clearly and eloquently how she, and others in the charity, were working with schools, Local Authorities, politicians and food wholesalers to tackle this problem. But they are not just treating the symptoms however; Magic Breakfast are also campaigning for an end to child poverty in this, the sixth richest nation in the world.

Magic Breakfast is supported by a number of Livery Companies and by personal involvement. She thanked all those who contribute to it and urged others to do their bit. She is very compelling and told a remarkable story which touched all those present.

There followed a lovely lunch and the conversation continued in a Q&A session over coffee. A very worthwhile charity and it was fascinating to hear of its work.

Thanks must go to the Mistress Engineer (and their Master!) for organising the lunch but most of all to Ms McConnell for her candid description of a child’s life in modern Britain. Very sobering.