After our Common Hall on 27 January, attended by about 30 members on zoom, the next major event for the Company was the Court and Livery dinner on 2 February. This dinner has been held annually at Cutlers’ Hall for several years, and we were delighted to be back once again. Always a special event, it’s the one occasion in the year where personal guests are not invited, and so represents a very good time to meet Liverymen and Freemen of the company new and old.

50 members of the Company attended, and we were treated to a demonstration of ale conning by our very own Liveryman and Ale Conner, Christine Rigden. For those unversed in the art, the Ale Connor puts on a pair of leather trousers and determines the quality of the product by sitting on a wooden chair which has been liberally anointed with ale. There are just four Ale Conners appointed in the City, and Christine is the first female Ale Conner in over 700 years. I am pleased to report that our ale passed its test!

Earlier that day, I was honoured to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Navy, confirming our new affiliation with HMS Magpie. The MOU was co-signed by Lt Cmdr Hywel Morgan, Commanding Officer, who also accepted our invitation to speak after dinner.

Following the Commanding Officer’s fascinating explanation of the work of the ship and its crew, we exchanged armorial plaques to celebrate our new relationship. The Tylers and Bricklayers armorials will be prominently displayed on board, and I look forward to visiting the ship with a small party of members of the Company later in the year.

Our wonderful meal was prepared by the Cutlers’ Beadle David Hasler and his wife, and I am hugely grateful to them for their hard work. Together with great company and excellent wines, it was a most convivial evening.