The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 30 Spring 2019 | Page 2

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
With nine months of my Master’s year complete, a great Freeman
deal has happened.
and foremost,
all cigars
three of
had kindly First
provided
the torpedo
our Company’s signature formal events have taken place. and
We had
enjoyed
a
wonderful
lunch
at
Saddlers’
Hall our
had them placed in souvenir tubes with
for the Installation and fabulous dinners at Drapers’ Hall Crest
and emblazoned
Goldsmiths’ on
Hall
the Annual
Banquet
and
it. for
Several
of us also
sported
January Dinner respectively. These showcase occasions allowed
Company
to Smoking
do what it hat
does
best; extend
a limited the
edition
Livery
- originally
generous hospitality and bonhomie towards our guests. conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty
We were blessed to have outstanding Principal Guests I have fond memories of all these celebrations and I
ordered, but one remained by the close of the day!
that offered a variety of interesting topics in their
am grateful for the strong support of the Wardens and
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the
speeches. The first was Margaret Evison, the Chief
our Livery Company members at each.
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
Executive of the Mark Evison Foundation, one of
Guest,
and for
everyone
attending
and
my
The
Master
represents
the
Company
at giving
many civic
the many charities that we support. The second was
year such
a special
events
during
his or start.
her year. This includes attending
Mark Littlewood, Director General of the Institute
Common Hall to vote for the Lord Mayor and the
of Economic Affairs, who delivered an entertaining
Sheriffs. In the case of the voting for this year’s Non-
speech on the serious matter of the impositions of
Aldermanic Sheriff, unusually, it was a contested
The Master
the ‘nanny state’ on the general public. The third
election.
There
were
three
candidates
in
the
ballot;
and final Principal Guest was Air Vice Marshal Nick
Richard
Fleck
(Tallow
Chandler),
Liz
Green
Kurth, Chairman of The Ulysses Trust, a charity
(Framework Knitter) and Gwen Rhys (Glass Seller).
that provides funding for challenging expeditions
The City was abuzz in the lead up to the election
and adventurous activities involving members of the
Volunteer Reserve Forces and Cadet Forces of the UK. day in late June as the candidates all jockeyed for
The Master’s Year
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