The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 28 Winter 2017 | Page 3

was TV personality Alexander Armstrong, who
invited me to play a version of “Pointless” against the
audience. The audience won.
We arrived home on the Sunday evening to get an
early night before setting off to Tandridge where the
annual Livery Golf Day is held, organized by Derek
The
lunch
was lovely
deliciously
catered
Mark
Harris.
It was
occasion
and by
I had
the Grove
pleasure
and presenting
his team at
Cook to & grateful
Butler and
we cracked
of
prizes
recipients
(the
along at a won
goodly
Our guests
were admirably
Taberers
both pace.
the Men’s
and Ladies’
first prizes
introduced
by
Liveryman
Fran
Morrison
and our
once again).
Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and
A
week
later, I was
jailed
at the I Old
Bailey and
very
humorous
reply
to which
responded
initially
subsequently
bailed
at
the
Tower
of
London.
by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water - he A was
heartfelt
to all Tim!).
who contributed
the
very kind thank
about you
it (sorry
I was very to pleased
£2,000
bail
went
to the
British
Red
to show of off
the money
newly that
found
Livery
Grant
of Arms
Cross.
On one
of the
hottest
a very hot
and Letters
Patent
which
have days
been of missing
for June,
many
a years
large - group
of
masters,
fully
chained
and
gowned,
our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and
photo
bombed
tourists’
in Chris
the Tower
the new
Immediate
Past selfies
Master,
Allen, of and his
London.
IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful re-
presentation
are website
now resplendent
in frames
A visit to my and
blog they
on our
will give an
carved
with of tobacco
to); and
Sandra
also
indication
just how leaves
busy (or
the close
Mistress
I were
located
a
huge
banner
not
seen
since
1985
and
Angus
during June and July. It has been a privilege to
Menzies,
to the Master
and never shy
represent Clerk
our Company
at so Mariners
many events.
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
One
highlight of July was a trip to Liverpool to
Quarterdeck.
attend the Annual Brigantes Breakfast held in
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.
I was delighted to have Richard Burrows, Chairman
of British American Tobacco, as my principal guest at
the Installation Dinner held at Skinners’ Hall. With
family and many friends there, Richard spoke about
my previous life as a “Master of the Dark Arts of
Investor Relations”. It was a delightful evening with
an opportunity to smoke a cigar with the Stirrup Cup
on the roof terrace at Skinners.
Two days later, the Mistress and I drove to Ironbridge
for the annual Masters’ weekend meeting. It is the
perfect networking event for a rookie Master. I was
the most recently installed master, beating the Master
Security Professional who was “done” about four
hours before my installation. On the Sunday, I took
the opportunity to visit the Pipe Museum at Broseley,
which is in some need of investment and TLC. Our
Company has a collection of prints on show, which
are now being restored in mounts and frames that
will ensure their longevity for many more years.
The Master
3