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 representation 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 .
Women In Tobacco celebrates its 7th Birthday
June 8th 2017 was an auspicious date not simply because of the Parliamentary Election !
Women In Tobacco ( WIT ) celebrated its 7th birthday by cruising the Thames and listening to financial analyst , Erik Bloomquist discuss changes within the tobacco trade and the ramifications of Next Generation Products to the business landscape and stock portfolios .
The birthday celebration was sponsored by SPI ( Liveryman Henry Tuck is a Director of SPI ), SWM and the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum . Women In Tobacco is a non-profit organization with an international membership of approximately 500 .
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 Mistress so Tobacco well as Pipe a “ team Maker ” hat Maureen , that of the Edmondson twenty , ordered Clerk Sandra , but one Stocker remained and Court by the Assistant close of the and day WIT ! Thank Chair , Elise you to Rasmussen the Master were Mariners attendance for allowing . us the use of the venue , to Tim for being a perfect Principal Women In Tobacco welcomes female Freemen and Guest , and for everyone attending and giving my Liverymen as well as spouses of male Freemen and year such a special start . Liverymen to participate . There is no membership fee or dues . For more information , please contact witforwomen @ gmail . com
The Master
Assistant Elise Rasmussen
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