The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 26

A Day at the Races
On 3rd May 2017, Court Assistants Elise Rasmussen
and Martine Petetin attended the opening of
the flat season at Ascot racecourse. They were
joined by several members of Women in Tobacco
(WIT), a trade-marked international membership
organization for women in the tobacco and vaping
industries to network, of whom Elise is also the
chairwoman. Other members of WIT present
were Past Master Fiona Adler and Mrs Maureen
Edmondson, soon to be the Mistress Tobacco Pipe
Maker. Their visit to this extraordinary event took
place upon special invitation from the Lord Mayor
of London, who hosted a charity fund-raising lunch
at Ascot’s Pavilion Restaurant in support of the Lord
Mayor of the City of London’s Appeal.
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
This trooped
year’s officeholder,
Dr. where
Andrew
and
back to the Alderman
quarterdeck
Coffee,
Parmley, and
himself
a teacher
as well
Cigars,
Cognac
awaited and
us a (I musician
did mention
that as
Honorary
of the on Worshipful
Company
our
Livery Liveryman
enjoyed dining
the High C’s..)
and
of
Tobacco
Pipe
Makers
and
Tobacco
Blenders,
which seemed to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma
has chosen
a charity
project that
the
Freeman
had
kindly provided
the promotes
torpedo cigars
involvement
of
young
people
with
music.
Following
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
the motto
“Educate on
– support
– inspire”,
funds
Crest
emblazoned
it. Several
of us also the
sported
from
the 2017
Lord
Mayor’s hat
Appeal
support
a raised
limited
edition
Livery
Smoking
- originally
three
major
projects:
LSO
Discovery
is
the
conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves London
its
Symphony
Orchestra’s
(LSO)
pioneering
community
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
and education
programme.
Launched
it
ordered,
but one
remained by
the close in of 1990,
the day!
currently
music-making
learning us the
Thank
you provides
to the Master
Mariners and
for allowing
opportunities
for to
over
60,000
people
every year.
use
of the venue,
Tim
for being
a perfect
Principal
It
enables
especially
young
people,
often
from my
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving
challenging
circumstances,
year
such a special
start. to make music – right
through from infancy to adulthood. LSO Discovery
stages around 950 workshops every year; in 2016, 72
workshops for under-five-year-olds took place.
The Master
Another LSO mission the Lord Mayor’s Appeal
sustains financially is Music in Hospitals, which
supports children and young people to improve their
wellbeing through the joy and therapeutic benefits of
live music.
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