I begin with the tragedy that has shocked and saddened us all.

 

Liveryman Terry McMillan and his son Liveryman Brendan McMillan were fatally stabbed earlier this week. They, together with Liveryman Myles McMillan were great supporters of our Company and we were extremely proud to count them amongst our numbers. Brendon and Myles attended the Big Curry Lunch this year and thoroughly enjoyed it, bidding in the silent auction, only stopping when they realised they were bidding against Past Master Simon Martin. Brendan also took part with great spirit in the Livery Pancake race this year with me, Rachel Malpass Brown and Ed Renwick, winning his race. A day never to be forgotten.

 

They will be very much missed and our thoughts and prayers go to Sheron and the whole family.

 

 

July started with the Master’s trip to Norwich. I had chosen the venue because it is somewhere I have lived for the past 46 years and thought that I should let others enjoy it as much as Nigel and I do. Of course, the weather is something that cannot be planned, and we started with a heatwave, followed by rain on the one day I had been hoping for sun. However, nothing seemed to stop our enjoyment. We visited Dragon Hall, a large medieval hall with superb examples of bricklaying, -one of the oldest buildings in Norwich.

This was followed by a beautiful evensong at the Cathedral where we heard the choir sing Stanford in G perfectly. A wonderful experience to end a rather busy day.

 

 

Dinner that night was an excellent meal at our hotel, The Maids Head, just next door to the Cathedral. This is reputed to be the oldest hotel in Norwich, and is featured in a C J Sansom book, Tombland, which quite a few had read.

 

The following day we had a tour of the Cathedral while some chose to have a look around the city, before we all headed off to a Norfolk Broads pub for lunch. I had hoped that we would be able to walk along the riverbank admiring the view, but it rained, so we sheltered under umbrellas instead. On to the famous East Ruston Gardens which were a surprise to most and did not disappoint. They are magnificent. Work is constantly going ahead, and a new wall was spotted being built- complete with the bricklayer! Luckily, the rain had stopped by then and the sun came out.

 

 

The meal that evening was in the Assembly House, a Georgian building famous for its elegance right in the centre of the city. It was a lovely evening and thoroughly enjoyed by us all.

 

We had a variety of choices the next day before going home. Some of us went to the Sainsbury Centre, a Norman Foster building housing the Sainsbury Collection. This really was brought to life by the wonderful guides. Some went to St Ed’s and I think were duly impressed at the work they do there. Some made their way home. All, I hope having enjoyed a couple of days in Norwich. In spite of my meticulous organising, I have a feeling that the most popular place was the Wetherspoons next to the hotel.

 

 

 

I was invited to the Old Bailey to have lunch with Sheriff Gregory Jones, together with other judges and also Past Chief Commoner John Bennet. We had a very convivial time, and were able to sit in a case, which I found fascinating. I had never been before, so it was especially interesting.

 

I attended the annual speech day and prizegiving at St Paul’s Cathedral School, which was a little trip down memory lane for me. One of my sons was a gap year student there more years ago than I care to think of. Times have changed for the better, I hasten to add, as they now have girl choristers and a brand new boarding house for them. It was a lovely day, and I was especially pleased to meet Liveryman Nicola Martin there. Her family give prizes each year to the prep school. It was an excellent day, and I was so impressed by the pupils. Their standard of musicianship was absolutely extraordinary, and their confidence just wonderful.

 

Although my next event sounds sad, it really wasn’t. Isabel Langrishe, a Companion of the Company, died at the age of 90. She was a great supporter of the Company, and I had known her for many years when I was Almoner. In fact her last visit to us was my Installation. She had a very large family, who all attended her funeral, and it was very obvious that she was a much loved lady. All had many anecdotes of her sense of fun and kindness.

 

One of the problems with being Master is that you cannot attend all the events we are invited to. I have missed several this month but am pleased to say that I have been well represented. Chair of the Craft Committee, Court Assistant Ian Wilson and Court Assistant Keith Aldis went to the end of year show at the Building Crafts College at Stratford, and Liveryman John Gorman went to the award ceremony at St Edmund’s Society Training Centre in Norwich. Both events were excellent. John wrote that the awards were very well received, but as always, St Ed’s needs help. You can read more about St Ed’s here 

 

If you feel able to help in any way, please contact the Chair of the Craft Committee, CA Ian Wilson.

 

 

Golf has been at the fore as well this month. The Tylers and Bricklayers team wore their new shirts for the first time at the Marketors’ Golf Day. Very smart they look too I think you’ll agree.

 

 

Father of the Company Nicholas Ward represented the Company at the memorial service for Annabel Grellier, widow of Christopher, who was Master in 1993/4. Nicholas , Nick Carter and Christopher were consecutive Masters, so knew each other very well.

 

Our next big event was the Brigantes Breakfast at Scarborough. The Brigantes is the Association of City of London Liverymen in the North of England. Any Liveryman can join, not just those from the North! CA David Williams, June Warren, Nigel and I were invited to a dinner the evening before the “Breakfast” (actually a lunch), by Glyn Cartwright, Past Master Marketor, so we got to know a few faces before the big event. The following morning, over 250 met and were entertained by Dr Gervase Phinn, an author, poet, comedian and former Speaker of the Year. He lived up to his reputation, and an hour flew by. The meal was held in the Scarborough Spa, a beautiful building right on the seafront. The sun shone and the sea sparkled, nearly as much as the champagne we were drinking. We had a delicious meal, and Nigel and I were lucky enough to be on the top table, and I was next to Dr Gervase himself. Excellent company he was too. The speaker for the lunch was Judith Donovan CBE, Marketor, Woolman, Entrepreneur and Tobacco Pipe Maker -and she still found time to come and give a very witty speech.

 

It really was a thoroughly good couple of days, and lovely to catch up with other Masters, Past and Present. We also were able to catch up with Liverymen Mike Gee and Peter Rogerson, who were there.

 

 

Next was a rather busy couple of days. I went to Liphook Cadet Annual Camp and watched the Cadets in action, even on the firing range, where they were firing blanks, I hasten to add. As it was the Guest Day, there were other Masters and dignitaries there. We were all so impressed with the Cadets, who came from very varied backgrounds. All were polite, confident and eloquent. They were a credit to the Cadet Corps and their instructors, who had given up their time to volunteer to run the camp.

 

The camps run all summer. CA Ian Wilson went to one at Otterburn. He, like me, was impressed at the cadets, and how much time and effort are given not only by them, but their leaders. It is such a well-organised camp and attended by those not only who intend to make the services their careers. The aim of the camps is to prepare the young men and women for life. To teach skills such as cooking, generally looking after themselves and being responsible for their own welfare amongst others.

 

Back to London for the New Members’ Supper. This is an initiative paid for by the Company to get all the members who joined the Company in the past year or so to meet each other and the Master, Clerk and at least one member of the Membership Committee. This year we had nine new members who came. A good evening was had by all. Lots of discussion took place, and questions were asked and answered regarding the running of our Company. It is an evening which is much appreciated.

 

 

It was also a great day for Freeman Simon Holland as he received his Freedom of the City of London. The Upper Warden, Clerk and Renter Warden in Nomination were all there to support him, and he was able to celebrate at the New Members’ Supper!

 

A reminder of my last event, which is on September 4th, a black tie dinner at the rather lovely Apothecaries’ Hall. Please do book your tickets as time is ticking!

 

Jenny Rolls - Master