Today I was delighted to attend, together with the Learned Clerk, the Blacksmith's Company Epiphany luncheon at the beautiful Trinity House, one of my favourite venues in the City. On arrival we were greeted by a Past Prime Warden and introduced to several other Assistants and Past Prime Wardens with whom we had very interesting conversations whilst taking in some wonderful glasses of champagne.

I was privileged to be invited to process in with the Prime Warden Blacksmith, Dr Nicholas Land, and to be seated to his right hand side as the principal guest. It was indeed a great honour to be sitting between both Dr Lands as the Prime Warden's wife is a GP!

Lunch consisted of a delicious filo pastry tart of wild mushroom with cumin hollandaise sauce followed by an exquisite confit of old Gloucester suckling pig with all the trimmings, and for dessert apple and blackberry crumble with custard sauce and clotted cream ice cream. A veritable feast all accompanied by excellent wines.

The Prime Warden made the loyal and civic toasts and the welcome to the guests was proposed by Court assistant Mr John Richardson. I was privileged to be asked to respond on behalf of the guests, which I was very happy to do.

The Prime Warden made a wonderful final speech to round off a truly excellent Epiphany luncheon. This was a superb way to start of the New Year 2020.