The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 13

read ‘smoking’) break had been enjoyed, the Master
presented the Tobacco Retailer of the Year trophy
and cheque – this year to Davidoff owner, Edward
Sahakian (whose son did so on his behalf as he was
absent). Jon Culshaw was then formally introduced
and we were introduced to his devastating wit and
impersonations for characters suggested by the
audience, along with descriptions of how he arrived
at them from time to time – no one was spared and
all the usual suspects plus a few old favourites (such
as William Hague’s ‘Bhengaaaaaazi’) kept us highly
entertained and it felt too short when time came to
conclude. Jon then very sportingly drew the ten or
so
prizes
which, combined
all the Grove
other
The raffle
lunch
was deliciously
catered with
by Mark
initiatives
raised
a total
£8,500
for we the
Livery
and his team
at Cook
& of
Butler
and
cracked
Benevolent
Fund.
With
the
formal
proceedings
now
along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
at
an end, many
chose to carry
at the local
pub. A
introduced
by Liveryman
Fran on
Morrison
and our
lovely
lunch
and Tim
all thanks
to Roger
et al for
Principal
Guest,
Wonnacott
gave Merton
a generous
and
another
fine
job.
very humorous reply to which I responded initially
by drenching poor Tim in Past
a glass
of water
- he was
Master
Charles
Miller
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