On 9 May, together with several other members of the Company, I attended the Festival Service of the Clergy Support Trust at St Paul’s Cathedral. Afterwards many of us enjoyed a lovely buffet supper at Merchant Taylors’ Hall. The Clergy Support Trust supports member of the clergy and their families who are in need, providing both financial and personal assistance.
The next day, on 10 May I was at St Paul’s Cathedral again for the “Bart’s 900 charity” Service of Thanksgiving, celebrating the 900th anniversary of the foundation of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The service was followed by a Bart’s 900 Anniversary drinks reception at Guildhall, with over 1000 guests attending. Funds are being raised for new breast cancer and clinical research units, and I am delighted to confirm that we have made a special donation to the Bart’s 900 appeal, courtesy of the Charity trustees.
A highlight of the Company year is always the Annual Guest Banquet, this year held at the spectacular Drapers’ Hall on 11 May. The Mistress and I were delighted that over 170 members and guests attended the banquet, one of the largest gatherings for some years. It was a very memorable event, with guest of honour Sheriff Andrew Marsden and his Consort, music from the London Banqueting Ensemble, and a most wonderful setting.
The staircase “carpet guard” of Army Cadets were particularly welcome. After an entertaining welcome to our guests by Court Assistant Col Ian Ogden, Sheriff Marsden made an excellent speech stressing the importance and relevance of our Company in the City today.
I presented the Sheriff with a copy of “They Built London”, the history of our Company by Dr Penny Hunting. A highlight of the evening was the horn players’ very amusing rendition of the “Post horn gallop”.
It really was a most spectacular event, which I will remember fondly for many years!
May got off to a spectacular start with the Coronation of their Royal Highnesses King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and celebrations for several days afterwards. The Mistress and I watched the Coronation on television on Saturday 6 May along with millions across the globe.
The Coronation ceremony included the all-important anointing of the King behind a specially created embroidered screen to which our Company contributed. A wonderful event, and the celebrations are already legendary.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday 2 May, a small group enjoyed a private view of Sir John Soane’s museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Soane was the son of a bricklayer and was himself in the trade before his skill at drawing singled him out for architectural training, subsequently becoming the most sought-after architect of the early 19th century.
Winning the Royal Academy Gold medal for architecture allowed him to travel to the Continent, and he became fascinated by classical architecture. His three houses are now one of the best small museums in the country, and a full account of the event will appear on the website shortly.
We walked the short distance to the Delaunay, Aldwych, where a very convivial luncheon was enjoyed in their private dining room. We were made very welcome and will certainly be back!
The next day, the Mistress and I were at the Coronation garden party at Buckingham palace, with King Charles and Queen Camilla in attendance. The gardens are spectacular, and it was a wonderfully sunny day with over 7000 guests including the Masters and Consorts of many other Livery Companies. Tea, sandwiches and cakes were all delicious, with two military bands playing in the background.
Two days later, I was delighted to be invited to lunch at Galvin at Windows as the guest of Liveryman Colin Beeck, who was in London for two weeks having just flown in from Western Australia. It was a superb lunch with friends in a very special setting. On the 28th floor of the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, the restaurant has stunning views in all directions.
A wonderful start to the month!
On 26 April, I was a delighted to be a guest of the Master Plumber at the Worshipful Company of Plumbers Masters’ and Clerks’ Luncheon, Carpenters Hall. It is always a pleasure to lunch here in the Hall where we hold our own installation luncheon, but this time with round tables giving a rather more informal feel.
The Master Plumber, Air Cdre Paul Nash OBE gave a most amusing speech on the Company and its origins, whilst welcoming the Masters and Clerks of eight Construction companies. Guests were presented with gifts of individual lead plumb weights, of a type first used by the Company in 1365. These had been “proved and tried as true”, and so were eligible to be marked with impression of St Michael the Archangel. One of the duties of the Plumbers’ Company in the 14th century was the detection of false weights within seven miles of the City of London. Each weight now comes with a warning to always wear gloves when handling lead, and to wash your hands as soon as you finish!
Later that day, the Mistress and I attended the Treloar’s School charity dinner at Mansion House, sponsored by the Lord Mayor. Treloar’s school is a truly remarkable institution, aking children with a range of serious disabilities and giving them quite exceptional opportunities and education. The Mistress and I had a wonderful time, and the musical entertainment by the cast of “Les Miserables” in the theatrical purple lighting in the Egyptian Hall was truly memorable.
Finally, on 27 April, together with the Clerk, I hosted an intimate “New members’ supper” at Davy’s Plantation Place, with five new members. This is a great way for the Master to get to know new Freemen, to discuss the Company and explain how one can become more involved in our activities. My sincere thanks to the new members who were able to attend.
On 27 March, I attended the Master Certificate scheme and City and Guilds Livery Company awards at Mansion house. Several of the Livery Companies present some of their most prestigious awards at this event in the presence of the Lord Mayor. It was wonderful to see Master craftsmen and apprentices being recognised in many different trades.
On 28 March, the Clerk and I attended a Court and livery dinner at Painters’ Hall as guests of the Painter Stainers’ Company as the guest of the Master, Mr James Glover. The earliest reference to the property is dated 1375, which was acquired in 1504 for £30 by John Browne and conveyed to a number of his brother “Paynter-Stayners” in 1532.The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed most of the building and, after rebuilding, its successor was again destroyed by fire in 1941. It seems apt that the Arms of the Painter-Stainers depict a phoenix!
Then, on 30 March a group of 29 Tylers and Bricklayers attended Guildhall for the Big Curry Lunch, in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who I was privileged to meet at the opening reception. This massive annual event supports a number of military charities. Our group was organised again by Liveryman Diana Malzer, and had a marvellous time with champagne in the library and the crypt followed by curry in the Great hall, together with 1500 others spread over three sittings.
After lunch, a wide range of specialist goods were available for sale at generous prices, all proceeds being donates to charity. The Company donated £1500 to ABF The Soldiers Charity in support of the Lifeworks Programme at King Edward VII Hospital. Members of our Company also donated three of the silent auction prizes, and the record turn-out would indicate a very successful fundraising event once again.
Before I left on 10 April for a visit to Vienna, the Mistress and I spent a delightful day in Canterbury, visiting the Cathedral and meeting with a local guide in preparation for the Master’s trip in June. We are looking forward to this very much, and the event is now fully booked with 25 people coming to Kent.
Over the Easter break, the Livery world goes quiet for a few days, making the trip to Vienna with a few friends feasible. We had a wonderful time, and it is a most impressive and historically important city. The spectacular tiles on the roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral were a reminder of the impact which decorative roof tiling can make.
Whilst I was away, the Mistress had a busy week. She attended our Women’s livery luncheon at Ironmongers’ Hall on 16 April, organised by Renter Warden Dr Jenny Rolls and Past Master Lesley Day, which I am assured was a great success!
This was followed on 19 April by the Consorts’ visit to the Ranger’s House, Blackheath. Now owned by English Heritage, Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa on the boundary of Greenwich Park and Blackheath which contains The Wernher Collection, a world-class art collection amassed by the 19th-century businessman, Sir Julius Wernher.
The house is better known to many as the London home of the Bridgerton family in the eponymous television series - note the imported wisteria!
Nineteen consorts and guests enjoyed a guided tour of the amazing and eclectic Werner collection of fine objects and art, followed by tea and a glass of champagne at Heathfield House, a short walk away.
Heathfield House was built in 1793 for John Brent, a wealthy shipbuilder based in Rotherhithe. In testament to his success, the National Maritime Museum has a 1797 painting by Pocock, entitled "Portraits of nine ships of war and others, launched from the yards of Messrs. Randall & Brent within the space of one year". Between 1770 and 1803 the Randall & Brent shipyards built a total of at least 64 ships, mainly warships of 74 guns and smaller for the Royal Navy.
The Mistress was very grateful to all who came and helped with serving tea and home-made scones. Our older daughter Emma made banana cake and fudge, and over £370 was raised for the Charitable Trust.