On 3 April I was the guest of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects at their annual Milo lecture and reception, held at the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall. Professor Jan Gehl, the world-famous urban planner, explained how to make cities into places people want to travel into and enjoy, focussing on the spaces between buildings rather than the buildings themselves. He emphasised the importance of the ability to walk and bicycle safely together, avoiding the car-dependent culture, with cheap, efficient, accessible public transport. After the lecture, I had a delightful private dinner in the Coffee room with Past Master David Cole Adams and Mary Cole Adams. 

On 5 April I visited Sweetings Restaurant, Queen Victoria Street, and presented the manageress, Sue, with a plaque of the Company’s armorials. For many years, this iconic fish restaurant has been serving the City, in particular many Livery Companies including the Tylers and Bricklayers. Many other Livery Companies’ armorials are already displayed there, and at the suggestion of Liveryman Wayne Sheppard, the Court agreed that ours should join them.

Next, the Mistress and I visited Drapers’ Hall to undergo a rigorous and most demanding menu tasting in preparation for the Annual dinner in May. We were treated like royalty, and met the Head Chef Mark Page, twice a finalist of the UK's most prestigious culinary competition, Chef of the Year, winner of the British Prix Pierre Taittinger, and holder of more than 20 gold medals. Mark explained that with their massive ovens it was more difficult to cook a meal for two than a meal for two hundred. The Mistress and I both scored each dish separately on taste and presentation. It was really difficult to make the final choice as the dishes all scored so highly.  

Later that day I attended the Carpenters’ Company Annual Craft lecture and reception at Carpenters Hall. The speaker was Tony Hackney M.B.A. C.Eng, on ‘Building a Sustainable World: see timber in a new light’. He explained the production methods of timber used in construction and extolled the virtues of timber framed buildings. I had to point out there is nothing quite like bricks and tiles!