The Annual Inter-Livery Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition
This was another wonderfully supported day , despite the rain , with around 76 Livery Companies participating and providing some 430 shooting guns !
The Master Charles Miller , Fourth Warden Adam Bennett , Past Master John Nokes and Court Assistant Paul Taberer represented the Livery Company .
The annual Inter Livery Charity Clay Shoot is one of the highlights of the City of London charity events .
Since its revival in 1993 , it has been a hugely successful fundraiser for charities nominated by teams involved in the day .
The venue was once again the beautiful shooting grounds of Holland & Holland in Northwood , North London . The grounds boast 10 shooting stands , each with its own identity and challenge plus an onslaught of 80 clays from the high tower known as the Flush . We got busy after a fine breakfast in a room packed with fellow ‘ gunners ’ all scheming on the day ahead .
Our Livery smoking hats once again drew much attention and interest … if only our shooting skills could have done the same !
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked
It was a rather damp but very pleasant and wellorganized event ; though sadly no real chance to
along at a goodly pace . Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our enjoy a cigar for fear of it dampening out . Principal Guest , Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very Though humorous not in the reply prizes to which we were I responded respectable initially for part by time drenching novice shooters poor Tim , and in it a was glass a of great water occasion - he was to very rub shoulders kind about with ( sorry many Tim other !). I liverymen was pleased . to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Lunch Letters was a Patent fine spread which of have several been dishes missing in a for large many years marquee - our housing Clerk tenaciously all 430 guns sought and several them more out , and . the Fifty new percent Immediate of monies Past raised Master were , Chris awarded Allen , as and prizes his IPM to the , Mark winning Gower-Smith teams ’ nominated have funded charities a beautiful . The representation remainder goes and to they charities are now chosen resplendent by members in frames of carved the organising with tobacco volunteers leaves , including ( or close to a contribution ); Sandra also of located a £ 1,000 a to huge the banner Lord Mayor not seen ’ s charity since . 1985 and Angus Menzies , Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy of a challenge saw to it that it was Assistant displayed Paul on Taberer the Quarterdeck .
Whilst all this was going on , apparently biblicalstyle 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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