Ralph told the group about how he took a position with Eagle Star Trust Company which led to a prestigious career with British American Tobacco , initially accepting an investor relations role for 2 to 3 years and eventually retiring from the job 20 years later in 2012 . He joined the Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders as a freeman in 2006 , was appointed to the Court in 2012 and was installed Master in June 2017 . As Master , he led the Court which is the governing body of the Livery company .
Ralph engaged listeners with the 400-year history of the livery including how it was originally founded in 1619 as a guild tasked with regulating the manufacture of clay pipes in the City of London . Indeed , it was King James I , who hated tobacco but knew there was money in it , who banned tobacco growing in England but ordered that all tobacco must come into the country through London and that pipes in London were to be made by craftsmen governed by the Guild , to whom he granted a Royal Charter for an annual fee . The guild was actually twice dissolved and re-established and is now listed as a Modern Livery Company having been resurrected in 1954 .
Ralph further explained how the term livery originated from how types of clothing related to the position of belonging to a trade . Livery companies grew from London ’ s medieval guilds , becoming corporations by Royal Charter responsible for training in their respective trades , as well as for the regulation of aspects such as granting licences to trade , labour conditions and industry standards .
Ralph concluded his talk by speaking passionately about his on-going role as secretary to the Livery Benevolent Fund and how supporting charitable giving is at the heart of the work the Livery Company does . WIT members were encouraged to get involved with the Livery and he explained how to join . In addition , £ 180 worth of raffle tickets were purchased by members benefiting the Benevolent Fund .
WIT was very proud to raise £ 600 for S . T . O . R . M . at the Thames cruise event . One class offered by the charity centres around art therapy which focusses on helping members to overcome the emotional issues that domestic violence causes . The generous donation raised by WIT contributed to an art exhibition which was
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 representation 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 biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London - oblivious to all that drama we ended our lunch and held trooped on 21 June back at the to the View quarterdeck , part of the where Battersea Coffee Power , Cigars Station , Development and Cognac awaited company us . The ( I did event mention gave the that our art therapy Livery enjoyed participants dining an opportunity on the High to C ’ showcase s ..) and which their work seemed and discuss to hit the how mark the – art Liveryman has helped Jemma them Freeman overcome had such kindly challenges provided as low the self-esteem torpedo cigars and has and also had encouraged had them them placed to find souvenir their voices tubes . with our Crest A warm emblazoned thank you on to generous it . Several event of us sponsors also sported SWM a and limited SPI , whose edition Director Livery is Smoking Court Assistant hat - originally Henry conceived Tuck . For more as a sort information of shooting on Women hat , it serves in Tobacco its or purpose how to become so well a as member a “ team , contact ” hat , that : of the twenty ordered witforwomen , but one @ gmail remained . com 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
Jocelyne giving my
Gervais year such a special start .
Vice Chair , Women in Tobacco
The Master
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