The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 29 Summer 2018 | Page 20

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
win the prizes
two years
in a row.
are not
working
Freeman
had kindly
provided
the We
torpedo
cigars
towards
a
hat
trick
so
will
be
polishing
off
our
crystal
and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with
our
balls and
hoping to on
need
silver
polish
next
Crest
emblazoned
it. some
Several
of us
also after
sported
event.
a year’s
limited
edition Livery Smoking hat - originally
conceived as a sort of shooting
hat, it Elise
serves
its
Assistant
Rasmussen
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
year such a special start.
Annual Inter Livery Bridge Tournament
Every time I play bridge, I wish I was a fortune teller.
Since the inception of the game, players have been
devising patterns, rules, conventions and mathematical
equations to share their card hand with their partners
and to determine what the opposition’s cards and
points are. Senior Warden, Andrew Golding and I
would have benefited if at least one of us had brought
a crystal ball to the Annual Inter Livery Bridge
Tournament - and knew how to use it.
Regardless, we adhered to ‘Bridge Etiquette and
Protocol’. Yes, this document truly exists! We smiled
amenably and valiantly guessed our way into some
perfect fits - but, more often than not grinned/
gritted our way through some completely unwinnable
contracts.
The Master
We were reminded of our predecessors who won the
trophy on numerous (translate all) occasions. In this
regard, Andrew and I proved ourselves very gracious
competitors having afforded others the opportunity to
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