The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 12

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
organised
one of the
or so of
livery
tables.
Cain
Crest emblazoned
on three
it. Several
us also
sported
Hayward-Hughes
showed
me
a
black
version
of our
a limited edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
smoking
he shooting
has copied
his Black
conceived cap
as a which
sort of
hat, for
it serves
its Wolf
Cigar
Club
imitation
is the hat,
best that
form
of flattery
purpose
so –
well
as a “team”
of the
twenty and
they’ve
gone
down
as
well
with
the
members
ordered, but one remained by the close of the there
day! as
ours
with
seems.
The Mariners
Master and
Thank
you us to it the
Master
for Mistress
allowing made
us the
an
early
entrance
and
were
soon
pressing
the
flesh
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
in
earnest
ensured attending
the Master and
didn’t
want
Guest,
and and
for I everyone
giving
my for a
cigar
for the
duration.
year such
a special
start.
Tobacco Trade Sponsored Charity Lunch
Past Master Roger Merton, Mike Adams, Peter
Jenkinson and Chris Mercer are the ‘Gang of 3+1’
and they are the organising Committee that pulled
together this year’s annual Tobacco Trade Sponsored
Charity Lunch.
This is always a popular and over-subscribed event
and one that no one should ever attempt to drive
to in the hope of leaving legally. Bright sunshine
banished all memory of last year’s wind and rain and
the guests assembled in the lovely Harris Garden
from 11am for the champagne reception. Naturally
many fine cigars were produced and Court Assistant
Colin Ritchie made many friends by bringing a
box along - one can never have too much of a good
thing! The Livery Company were represented in
abundance, with Past Master Derek Harris doing the
rounds, and Past Master Michael Walter who had
Our guest speaker was the remarkable Jon Culshaw,
a master of impersonation, who was genial company
The voices
Master
over a glass and who can’t stop himself trying
and practicing, I think he has over 600 memorised!
We needed a good long time to finish large cigars, so
were only just ready when the MC broke us up and
sent up to dine in the Thomas Lord Suite. A fine beef
lunch was consumed and, after a ‘comfort’ (for which
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