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.