The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 4

of what the Livery movement should be about . I am keen to retain my position as Secretary of the Benevolent Fund during my year as Master . I do not think the two positions are incompatible and the Trustees have agreed to me keeping that position . I think the Benevolent Fund has made good progress over the last three years and now distributes more than ever to deserving causes . We can do more if the donations from the Livery can be increased . I am grateful to everyone who has supported my Jailed and Bailed appeal , in favour of the British Red Cross . The terrorist events have underlined the importance of that charity .
My Master ’ s year started a day early with the Tobacco Trade Sponsored Lunch organised by Past Master Roger Merton . This event allows the Master to present the Livery ’ s prize to the Tobacco Retailer of the Year . It was my pleasure to present our cheque for £ 500 to Chris Mercer who accepted the prize on behalf of James Barber of Otley . I also enjoyed the company of TV personality , Alexander Armstrong , who entertained us during and after lunch . I even had the opportunity to play ‘ Pointless ’! The proceeds of this event go to our Welfare Fund so I was there in two capacities .
My Installation Dinner was attended by Masters from other companies , many of our Liverymen and Freemen , their guests , my family members and old
The friends lunch . I am was grateful deliciously to Tony catered Scanlan by Mark for toasting Grove and the guests his team and at to Cook Richard & Butler Burrows and , we Chairman cracked along of British at a American goodly pace Tobacco . Our guests , for delivering were admirably an introduced entertaining by speech Liveryman that covered Fran Morrison the history and of our Principal tobacco . Richard Guest , Tim started Wonnacott with the gave Huron a generous native and very American humorous myth reply which to recalled which I in responded ancient times initially , by when drenching the land poor was barren Tim in and a glass the of people water were - he was very starving kind , the about Great it ( Spirit sorry Tim sent !). forth I was a woman very pleased to to save show humanity off the . newly As she found travelled Livery over Grant the world of Arms , and everywhere Letters Patent her right which hand have touched been the missing soil , for there many years grew potatoes - our Clerk . Everywhere tenaciously her sought left hand them touched out , and the the soil new grew Immediate corn . And Past when Master the world , Chris was Allen rich , and his IPM fertile , Mark , she sat Gower-Smith down and rested have . funded When she a beautiful arose , representation there grew tobacco and they . ‘ Producat are now terra resplendent ’. We also in heard frames carved about development with tobacco of leaves the new ( or close generation to ); Sandra noncombustion a huge products banner aimed not seen at reducing since 1985 risk and to Angus the
also located Menzies consumer , Clerk . to the Master Mariners and never shy of In a the challenge splendid saw setting to it of that
Skinners it was displayed
’ Hall , it was on a the jolly Quarterdeck event with good
. humour , friendship , the clinking of
Whilst glasses all and this , on was the going roof terrace on , apparently , the aroma biblicalstyle cigars downpours and Armagnac were . being A perfect had start all over to my London year .
of Cuban
- 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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