The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 28 Winter 2017 | Page 20

The Worshipful Company of Carmen 500th
Anniversary Golf Competition
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
Last year, the golf team from The Worshipful Company
of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders were
winners of the overall best two to count competition
for the Carmen Masters Trophy (presented by Bruce
Owen).
The Carmen Company (celebrating 500 years) held
their annual charity golf day at Cuddington Golf Club
on Thursday 14 September 2017. The day was attended
by 12 Livery Companies along with 7 Carmen teams all
competing for the Annual Bruce Owen Trophy.
We entered the same team for the Carmen’s 500th
Anniversary Golf Match which this year was once
again combined with the Fan Makers’ Trophy.
Our 4-man team comprised Past Master Simon Orlik,
Liveryman Archie Smith and Assistants Colin Ritchie
and Paul Taberer.
Cuddington, located on the outskirts of London
in Banstead, Surrey, is a 1929 Harry Colt design
course and was once again well presented and in fine
condition. After a chilly autumnal start, all players
soon got into stride and a great day was had.
However - we were not as fortunate as last year and
came in with no prizes, despite playing some pretty
good golf! There were some unbelievably good scores
from our fellow opponents!
The Carmen (in cooperation with the Fan Makers this
year) were wonderful hosts and golf was followed by
lunch and prize giving, with prizes presented by The
Master of the Carmen - seen here chatting with Archie
Smith while Colin Ritchie contemplates his score.
It is hoped that we can put a team together for 2018 as
it is always a good day on a very nice golf course.
Assistant Paul Taberer
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
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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