The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 10

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
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
Vella is Crest
the pony
bought for on
Barrow
Farm of Riding
emblazoned
it. Several
us also for
sported
the Disabled
with
the
very
kind
donations
of
so
many
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
Pipe Makers
and the
Fund in hat,
memory
of its
conceived
as a Benevolent
sort of shooting
it serves
Past Master
John
Adler.
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
ordered,
but one
remained
by the
close of
the day!
Vella started
joining
in with
some RDA
sessions
after
Thank
you
to
the
Master
Mariners
for
allowing
the
Christmas. She started doing a couple a week and is now us
doing
use of
venue,
to Tim
for and
being
a perfect very
Principal
4/5 a week.
She the
is very
good
to lead
is generally
calm.
Guest,
and
for
everyone
attending
and
giving
She is fitting in well with the other ponies and is happy my
to
year such
a special start.
be ride leader
or following.
She is practising trotting on the
sessions with some of our more able riders. We hope in time
that she will start to do some off-lead work. All the riders
and volunteers seem to enjoy working with her and The
she is
a
Master
pleasure to have on the riding session.
Vella
10
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