The Master ’ s Reception
Each Livery has its own ‘ Master ’ s event ’ – many go away
The on long lunch weekends was deliciously to exotic catered locations by Mark , or use
Grove their own fabulous halls to host some spectacular entertainment and . We his ’ ve team yet at to Cook delve & into
Butler these and realms we cracked and so every year the Master organises a bit of a do at some interesting along location at a , goodly often a pace museum
. Our , guests and we were have admirably seen some interesting places over the years . introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal Guest , Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and Indulging my personal interest in silent cinema , very on earth humorous . With our reply cigars to which smoked I responded but retaining initially our I chose the Cinema Museum in Kennington , a by glasses drenching we trooped poor Tim inside in for a glass a look of water the exhibits - he was museum co-founded about 25 years ago that not very before kind going about upstairs it ( sorry to the Tim impressive !). I was very and very pleased only maintains a film archive and library , but all to spacious show off chapel the newly which found has seating Livery , tables Grant and of Arms a bar the paraphernalia associated with the cinemas of and Letters servery . Patent Everyone which soon have settled been somewhere missing for and many yesteryear – signage , posters , uniforms , projectors years I introduced - our Clerk Martin tenaciously again , and sought Lillian them Henley out , our and etc . It ’ s located in the chapel of what used to the the pianist new for Immediate the evening Past . I ’ d Master asked , Chris Kevin Allen Brownlow , and his Lambeth Work House ( c . 1871 ) a building that IPM ( the , film Mark historian Gower-Smith , who was have sadly funded called a beautiful away at representation the last minute and ) and they Martin are now to resplendent give us tobacco- in frames became a hospital when the work house closed in 1922 ( yes , that late !) and which was latterly absorbed carved related with films tobacco as far as leaves possible ( or , but close to to include ); Sandra one also into the NHS until the early 2000s . The main located Chaplin a short huge in banner deference not seen to the since location 1985 . and We then Angus problem is its slightly obscure location in a nest of Menzies enjoyed , two Clerk halves to the of Master about 45 Mariners minutes and each never which shy streets about 10 minutes ’ walk from Kennington tube of comprised a challenge : saw to it that it was displayed on the station . The answer was to use a bus and , through a Quarterdeck
Part 1
. pal at the London Bus Museum , I managed to get a 1961 Routemaster to meet us at St . Lawrence Jewry .
Whilst Admiral all Cigarette this was advert going on 1897 , apparently biblicalstyle Breath downpours of A Nation were 1919 being had all over London
We were about fifty in total and everyone was asked to muster by 5.45 for a prompt 6pm departure and - Cultivation oblivious to of all Tobacco that drama 1909 we ended our lunch
( one thing I ’ ve noticed about Liveries ) everyone was and trooped back to the quarterdeck where Coffee , Harold Lloyd in Among those Present 1921 assembled and aboard on time . Our Chaplain had Cigars , and Cognac awaited us ( I did mention that kindly chilled a case of Prosecco I ’ d sent him for us our Part Livery 2 enjoyed dining on the High C ’ s ..) and all to enjoy aboard - and we ’ d nearly dispatched the which A Voyage seemed to Jupiter to hit 1909 the mark – Liveryman Jemma lot as we arrived at the museum 25 minutes later ! We Freeman Charley Bowers had kindly There provided it is 1928 the torpedo cigars were blessed with fine evening sunshine throughout and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our Chaplin in The Cure 1917
( after a very overcast day , the Chaplain had obviously Crest emblazoned on it . Several of us also sported had a word !) and so were able to use the little garden a Between limited halves edition , we Livery enjoyed Smoking a good hat meal - originally of Coq au adjacent to the museum for more drinks and a little conceived Vin followed as a by sort Eton of Mess shooting with hat enough , it serves time its for
‘ interval ’ cigar kindly provided by Liveryman Jemma purpose those who so wished well as to a “ pop team out ” hat for , that a puff of the after twenty , and the
Freeman . ordered bar had , plenty but one of remained cold beer by which the close proved of popular the day ! for
Thank the second you to half the . Master Mariners for allowing us the Once everyone ’ s glass was charged and cigar lit , use Lillian of ’ the s accompaniment venue , to Tim for lifted being these a perfect old titles Principal from
I introduced Martin Humphries , one of the cofounders , who gave us a potted history of the year spirit such of another a special , perhaps start . simpler , age . With the films
Guest their dusty , and for graves everyone and everyone attending was and infected giving with my the museum and the building it ’ s now contained in – the done , I presented Martin and Lillian with a souvenir most famous ‘ resident ’ was a young Charlie Chaplin clay pipe to remember us by and we went and found who accompanied his mother there when her funds the bus which had cleverly turned itself around The Master and ran out ( after a glittering music hall career , she lost was waiting with the engine running . I enjoyed it all her voice ) in a tale that really makes you realise that immensely , and thank the Livery and their guests for however bad things may seem sometimes today , supporting me at my last event . we ’ ve no real idea of the grinding poverty so many endured at the apex of our Imperial past when we
Charles Miller were supposed to be one of the wealthiest countries Immediate Past Master
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