The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 16

The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and
very humorous reply to which I responded initially
by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water - he was
very kind about it (sorry Tim!). I was very pleased
to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms
and Letters Patent which have been missing for many
years - our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and
the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his
IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful re-
presentation and they are now resplendent in frames
carved with tobacco leaves (or close to); Sandra also
located a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus
Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
Quarterdeck.
Sally Audley accepts Cigar Writer of the Year Award
on behalf of our late Court Assistant Nic Wing
Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblical-
style downpours were being had all over London
- oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch
and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee,
Cigars, and Cognac awaited us (I did mention that
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
At the invitation of Liveryman Jemma Freeman, who which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars
is also MD of cigar importers Hunter & Frankau, I
attended this rather exclusive Cigar Award Evening at and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported
Boisdale in Canary Wharf.
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
Meeting up with Assistant Elise Rasmussen and
conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its
Jemma, I was very pleased to also see our late
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
Assistant Nic Wing’s widow, Sally and son, Leo who
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
had come along to receive an award in his name.
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
Several awards were given, including ‘Cigar Writer of use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
the Year’ which was won by Nic Wing - Sally accepted Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
the award and made a touching speech in his absence. year such a special start.
Nearly all the other awards seemed to be won by people on our table until the Cigar Smoker of the Year was
announced which was presented to Kelsey Grammer (Frasier to most of us) and who had been kind
enough
The
Master
to visit our little table of fans just after dessert (I don’t think Elise gave him a choice, but he was very good
about it!)
Charles Miller
Immediate Past Master
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