The Mistress and I were delighted to receive an invitation
to join the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters for their Summer Dinner
and so we made our way down to Barber-Surgeons’ Hall on a lovely warm summers
evening. As this was to be our last formal ‘black-tie’ event of our year it was
a particular pleasure to spend it in such good company.
Received by the Master Framework Knitter, Mr Ian Grundy and
his Consort Julia, we were made to feel very welcome. A cooling glass of good
cheer awaited us on the Hall’s lovely terrace as we mingled with some 95 or so
other guests and members of the Company. The Barber-Surgeons’ Hall is a
wonderful space built on an original site (previous Halls having been lost to
the Great Fire and to enemy action in 1940) and opened some fifty years ago. Of
particular note is the splendid painting by Hans Holbein of King Henry VIII and
the Company’s Court. This was somewhat ironic given the event that was to
follow the next day – the Tudor Pull! (see next Blog). It certainly makes its
presence felt as one enters the Dining Hall.
After drinks we were called to diner by the Beadle and grace
was said by the Upper Warden. A lovely meal was served and the menu choices
were extremely good. The Loyal and Civic toasts were given by the Master and he
took wine with the three new Company members installed earlier that day at
Court. The Master also welcomed the many guests and proposed a toast to our
health – a very kind gesture. We then enjoyed a lovely musical interlude courtesy
of pianists Becky Thompson and Phillip Mountford.
In response the principle guest Sir Laurence Howard KCVO,
OBE gave a most interesting speech about his time as Lord Lieutenant in
Rutland. Whilst it maybe the smallest county in England it has had more than
its fair share of Royal visits and we were most entertained by some of the
stories (suitably discreet of course!) of his time in office. We finished with
a toast to the Company, ‘Root and Branch may it Flourish Forever’!
The Master kindly organised a Stirrup Cup before we departed
into the London night. A lovely evening and thanks of course go to the Master,
Wardens, Court Assistants and the Clerk for making it so special. Thank you.
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