The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 16

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
the Sirrah
High Cup.
C’s..) Using
and
The Learned Clerk reassured me that being left handed would
not be
a handicap
for on the
which
seemed
to
hit
the
mark
–
Liveryman
Jemma
firearms can be a painful process if you are left handed because the spent shells are ejected towards the side
Freeman
had kindly provided
the Sandra
torpedo
of your head. “Although the guns are real, you won’t be using
live ammunition”,
she said.
was cigars
right
had had and
them
placed in gas
souvenir
with from
our
about the ammunition. The hardware is real enough but and
computers
pressurised
mean tubes
the recoil
Crest emblazoned
on it. Several
us the
also Glock
sported
firing is there but the noise is reduced and the smell of cordite
is absent. Nevertheless,
all of but
17 is
a limited
edition
Livery
originally
designed for right handed soldiers and I had to shoot using
the wrong
hand
and Smoking
eye. This hat
gave - me
the perfect
conceived
as
a
sort
of
shooting
hat,
it
serves
its
excuse for a poor score.
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
It was great fun and the Tobacco Pipe Makers
for
themselves
using
Glock by
17 the
pistols.
James,
ordered,
but one
remained
close My
of son,
the day!
consoled themselves that this type of weaponry is
got
through
a play
off with
a FANY.
Much to us
the the
Thank
you to to the
Master
Mariners
for allowing
best left in the hands of the professionals. The Irish
relief
the venue,
Pipe Makers,
James
won
so we weren’t
use of of the
to Tim for
being
a perfect
Principal
Rifles Company of the London Regiment looked
totally
embarrassed.
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
professional and they retained the Sirrah Cup with
year such
special
Thank
you a to
Major start.
Bob and the Irish Rifles
ease. A third team from the First Aid Nursing
Company
of
the
London
Regiment for organising a
Yeomanry (FANY) also romped home in second
splendid day for us. It is a great experience, regardless
place. Bearing in mind these ladies are trained to
The Master
save lives, if push comes to shove, they are capable of of whether you are left or right handed. Thank you to
Sandra
for
organising
our
end
of
the
experience.
defending themselves.
The ’SIRRAH’ Cup Regimental Shoot
The competition is played out using assault rifles and
then we had a go with heavy machine guns. Great
fun! The last competition was each man or woman
Ralph Edmondson
Immediate Past Master
16
3