The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 23

With the racing concluded, we changed back and
went to dine in the buffet underneath Guildhall
where Mark Grove had provided a tasty and
warming lunch. The soup was served in special
commemorative mugs and there was plenty of wine
to keep us going. As workers, Roger and I split the
party and wended our way back to a more hum drum
afternoon - the morning had remained fine, clear
and
sunny, was
as I deliciously
rode home catered
it began by to Mark
rain and
the
The lunch
Grove
wind
picked
so we & were
lucky
many
ways this
and his
team up,
at Cook
Butler
and in we
cracked
morning.
Thank
you
‘Poulters’
,
it
was
-
as
ever
- good
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
fun.
introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and
Charles
Miller
very humorous reply to which I responded
initially
Immediate
by drenching poor Tim in a glass
of water Past
- he Master
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 had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
year such a special start.
The Master
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