Of course, it is always said by a new Master that life gets rather busy immediately after taking up the role. This year has proved no exception. My Installation was a great occasion for me and my family, following on from the last Court Meeting of Deputy Master Chris Causer who very eloquently captured his year for us all. For me it was a very special day, as my son, Ed, was not only made a member of the Court but was the banner bearer for the Company procession to St Margaret’s Lothbury. I rather gather that his brothers have plans for a similar event over Christmas at home!

 

 

The Installation was a wonderful event and many thanks to Fr Jonathan, Fr Jeremy, Richard Townend and the remarkable Lothbury singers. You may not know that Richard’s son, William, is one of them. A fine day was had by all. There is a full report on the new Company website.

 

The following morning, I attended the 350th Anniversary service of Christ Hospital School at St Paul’s. This was a truly wonderful occasion-so nearly marred by a fire alarm in the Cathedral going off just before the entire school entered. Imagine how that could have ended. It was a splendid sight as the entire school marched with their band to the Guildhall afterwards. I managed to get a shot of Kiyan in the procession, leading his House. I felt so proud. The school has just been awarded the Independent School of the Year Award 2024, much deserved as I’m sure you will agree.

 

 

I attended the prize giving of the City of London School the following week. Another insight into a remarkable school. The Guildhall was packed with parents, pupils and staff, and the achievements of the pupils were quite rightly celebrated.

 

 

Nigel and I attended the funeral of the Father of our Company, Peter Fuller. This was a very moving occasion, attended by many Tylers and Bricklayers. It was a wonderful tribute to a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.

 

On Thursday, the Consort and I attended the Installation Banquet of Deborah Pullen, the new Master of the Constructors’ Company at the Grocers’ Hall. We were made very welcome and enjoyed the hospitality of the Constructors. A splendid occasion. Quite a full first week of my term!

 

Each year, a Masters’ group is formed, which is a very good way of meeting fellow Masters and their Consorts. This usually begins during the previous year and is a great success. Probably a not very well-known fact is that the Consorts have their own WhatsApp group. Nigel is thrilled with this as he can keep up to date with whether to wear a hat or not at an event! We all met for a dinner at the Accountants’ Hall, where the future Lord Mayor, Alistair King was the speaker. A very jolly evening was had by all.

 

The next evening, Nigel and I joined the Clerk, the Deputy Master and Gilly at the Painters’ Hall for a reception to view this year’s “Art in the City” exhibition. This featured a wide and varied selection of art which was thought provoking. A highlight was the restored painting of the Madonna and Child, featured in the Repair Shop. The painting had been smuggled out of Poland during the war by being rolled, folded and hidden in the lining of a coat. The restoration was truly remarkable. The restorer, Lucia Scalise, and the owner, Maria Kirk, were there to answer questions. Indeed, as the brochure stated, it was ‘Nothing short of a miracle’.

 

My Consort and I were delighted to be invited to the Installation Banquet of the Master Builders’ Merchants at the Mansion House. The new Master, Stephen Boyer made us very welcome. It was a magnificent setting with the Company of Pikemen and Musketeers providing a spectacular Carpet Guard. We also enjoyed the post horn gallop played by two trumpeters from the Royal Marines Association Ensemble. The speaker for the evening was the Lord Mayor, at what must have been one of his final events of an excellent and memorable year.

 

Deputy Master John Schofield and Helen very generously invited us to a Livery Dinner at the Reform club, together with other members of the Tylers and Bricklayers’. As you may imagine at an event organised by John, it was a splendid evening, with great conviviality and fun. The speaker was Adrian Waddingham CBE, who is not only a Past Sherriff of the City, and Past Master Actuary, but a founder member of the Brigantes, who arrange events across the North of England. The membership is open to all City of London Liverymen. He also happens to be an excellent and very interesting speaker!

 

 

Later that week was my first Tylers and Bricklayers’ trip. I thought Leighton House would be an interesting place to visit for our Company, because of the magnificent tiles, and the history of the house. It certainly was fascinating. We had an excellent guide, who showed us many more things than we might have seen on our own. In fact, I noticed a few others tagging on the back of our tour!

 

 

 

Lunch followed at the Scarsdale Tavern and we all had a great time, well looked after by the staff. For those who couldn’t get there, it is well worth a trip. Again, there is a report on the new website.

 

The Clerk, Deputy Master and Nigel and I went to Southwark Cathedral for the Dean’s Reception and to see Luke Jeram’s Gaia, a very large earth as seen from space. It acts as a reminder of the beauty of the earth, and how we need to change our behaviour to prevent more damage due to climate change. The Dean, the Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley, spoke about the changes to the Cathedral that, with our help, he hoped to bring about. We have connections to the Cathedral through the Rider family who have a stained-glass window there in memory of Thomas Rider, rebuilder of the nave between 1890 and 1897.

 

The next evening, I was invited to the Masons’ Dinner for the Associated Companies at the Mercers’ Hall by Liveryman Dr Christine Rigden, who is a Past Master of the Masons’ Company. We had a fine evening, with delicious food, wine and very convivial company. The Guest Speaker was Lord Black of Brentwood, a Conservative life peer and Deputy Chairman of the Telegraph Media Group.

 

As you will have gleaned from above, I am delighted to announce that our new and improved website has been launched. It is easy to use, so I urge you to have a go: www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk Many hours have gone in to making this possible, so thanks go to Court Assistant Keith Aldis and Past Master Lesley Day, who have worked so hard on our behalf.

 

You may also have heard of the recent death of former Liveryman George Clark. George died peacefully at the age of 93. George was a huge supporter of our Company and provided an annual prize to a student at St Edmund’s Training Centre. I have been privileged to present this on his behalf in recent years, and it was always greatly appreciated.

 

 

I seem to have done quite a lot during this first month, and November already looks very busy. One of the first events is the Lord Mayor’s Show, on November 9th. For the past few years, the Company has been represented by the Master, Wardens and a Banner Carrier walking the length of the parade- a distance of about three miles- although it can feel a lot longer. It is great fun to take part, and we really appreciate anyone who can come along and cheer us on our way. Please do join us. We usually have a small gang near the Ned Hotel in Poultry. This year, I have also been lucky enough to have been awarded a place in the Lord Mayor’s Guard of Honour at the end of the show. I am very excited about what that might entail!

 

Jenny Rolls - Master