The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 28 Winter 2017 | Page 4

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 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
gather
in the back
crypt to of the
Guildhall
to be where
led into Coffee,
and
trooped
quarterdeck
the yard and
and Cognac
process awaited
to St Lawrence
for a that
Cigars,
us (I did Jewry
mention
church
service.
This
year,
the
Prime
Warden
of the
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
Fishmongers
The mark
Princess
Royal. However,
which
seemed is to HRH
hit the
– Liveryman
Jemma
Her Royal had
Highness
spared
the
confinement
Freeman
kindly was
provided
the
torpedo
cigars
to
the
Crypt
with
109
fellow
masters
and,
from
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our
the air-conditioned
corridor
above,
slipped
Crest
emblazoned on
it. Several
of us she
also
sported
seamlessly
into
the
procession
across
Guildhall
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally Yard.
In due course,
successor
to Andrew
Parmley
conceived
as a a sort
of shooting
hat, it serves
its was
elected and
we trotted
off to hat,
the that
traditional
lunch at
purpose
so well
as a “team”
of the twenty
Stationers’
Hall.
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
Having missed the September Court, I was
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
determined to get to our Annual Banquet at Mansion
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
House. This was a wonderful evening attended by
year such a special start.
almost 200 people, including family, many friends
and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. Our Clerk
had meticulously organized the event and it ran like
The Master
clockwork. We enjoyed very entertaining speeches
from the Lord Mayor, Fourth Warden Jerry Merton
and my principal guest, Lt. Col. Tim Smart. As far
as I was concerned, the evening could not have been
more enjoyable.
St Georges Hall. As northerners, the Mistress and I
felt we should represent the Company and support
the Lord Mayor, Alderman Dr Andrew Parmley, who
was brought up in Blackpool. We were seated with
the Yorkshire contingent who were very Yorkshire
and not too happy about having Lincolnshire folk
joining them. Nevertheless, after a few glasses of
wine, they mellowed and I am sure I spotted one
smiling at one of Parmley’s jokes.
In August, the Master’s calendar included just one
event (a joyous visit to a brewery) and, while many
masters were on holiday, I hit the speed bump which
resulted in my absence from the September Court.
I am grateful to Immediate Past Master Miller for
presiding over the meeting and dinner on HQS
Wellington while I had a consultation at a hospital
some 50 miles away. The next