Today I attended a meeting of the Tylers and Bricklayers Charity Trustees held at the magnificent offices of Fieldfisher, Riverbank House, thanks to the kind generosity of Past Master Tom Rider. The Offices are in a superb location, overlooking the Thames with amazing views of Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast.

There was a full agenda at which the Trustees were given a complete update of the financial position of the charities by the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Liveryman Alan Dodd, and also were given sight of the final accounts for the previous year. There was discussion about how funds are going to be raised for Youthbuild UK, our charity of the year for 2019/2020. It was agreed that a letter would go from the Master to all Liverymen asking for contributions to the Charity of the Year and that other sponsorship events may be appropriate as the Company will not be taking part in the pancake races this year, which has raised some money for the charity of the year in the past.

There was also agreement about the process to be followed for choosing next year's charity of the year, which will be similar to previous years but this time the names of the nominators will not be revealed to those present at Common Hall prior to voting taking place.

The Chairman, past Master Tom Rider ended the meeting by proposing a vote of thanks to Past Master Ian Grimshaw for his excellent stewardship of the charities for the past 19 years.