The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 20

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.
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
which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars
and had
them asked
placed to in present
souvenir
tubes with
our
This
year had
we were
ourselves
at Mons
Crest emblazoned
Several
of us having
also sported
Barracks,
Aldershot on by it. 09.30
where,
cleared
a limited Major
edition Brown
Livery met
Smoking
hat Me,
- originally
security,
the team:
Colin
conceived
as
a
sort
of
shooting
hat,
it
serves
Ritchie, Paul Taberer, Adam Bennett, Archie its
Smith,
purpose
so well along
as a “team”
hat, the
that son
of the
twenty
John
Gossage,
with Ellis,
of the
Irish
ordered, WO
but in
one
remained
by shoot,
the close
of Beggs,
the day!
Guards
control
of the
Alan
Thank
you Sandra
to the Master
Mariners Whilst
for allowing
and
Clerk
as cheerleader.
waiting us the
use the
of briefing
the venue,
to Tim
for of
being
perfect
Principal
in
room,
a sort
jerry a can
containing
Guest,
and
for
everyone
attending
and
giving
my
something the army call “coffee” arrived.
year such a special start.
We were then briefed on the day. We discovered we
were in for a real treat: a day on the proper army
training simulator using the present service rifle
The lasers
Master
which has been cleverly adapted with gas and
London Regiment ‘Sirrah’ Cup Shooting Match
If anyone reading this wonders why we shoot for the
‘Sirrah’ Cup each year, then one only has to look to
the list of Past Masters and note that it was company
founder Stanley Harris (father of Past Master Derek)
who presented the trophy to shoot for, and then spell
his name backwards! Derek informs me that originally
SIRRAH was registered as a pipe brand in 1914 (as
Sirrah Gold Spot Pipes, price 5/-).
For many years, we fought it out at the old barracks
in Battersea but with everything in flux now, that is
now longer possible and so it is with great thanks
to Major Bob Brown of the London Regiment D
(London Irish Rifles) Company that we now meet in
even more exotic locations than Battersea and the last
two matches have taken place in or near Aldershot,
a good hour’s drive from Town and why it’s less
convenient for members to view the proceedings -
although the invitation still stands to all Liverymen.
so one can shoot (without ear defenders) against
a range of targets on large screens. The guns went
“bang” and had some recoil. We were also made to
observe the correct loading drills with the magazines
etc. It’s a very clever and expensive bit of kit - the
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