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 .
The Inter-Livery Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race
Always a fun part of the Livery calendar , our Company was represented this year by myself , Renter Warden Roger Brookes ; Liveryman Martine Petetin ; and Elise Rasmussen ; managed by the able Clerk Sandra , and cheered on to partial victory by the Mistress ; Senior Warden Ralph Edmonson and wife Maureen , and for a time Jerry Merton , our nominated Fourth Warden elect .
Ralph also became ‘ Photographer in Chief ’, bringing a superb camera to the event and took all the photographs with the downside that he ’ s not in any of them of course ! Meeting at St Lawrence Jewry , which is very convenient for this event , we were able to change into our aprons , running shoes and chefs hats in peace and add ‘ sellotape ’ to the hat which was never going to last the course .
The racing was due to begin at 12pm and so , gathered in front of the Guildhall Art Gallery , the Course Master spoke briefly before introducing the Lord Mayor who was there in full regalia and
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 gave trooped an amusing back and to the short quarterdeck address before where setting Coffee , Cigars off a starting , and Cognac gun ( which awaited nearly us ( floored I did mention us all ) to that our announce Livery the enjoyed formal dining start . on Elise the was High running C ’ s ..) and in the which novelty seemed race - the to hit costumes the mark for – which Liveryman must reflect Jemma Freeman the Lord Mayor had kindly ’ s charities provided . Needless the torpedo say , cigars a lot of and musicians had had , etc them . turned placed up , in but souvenir Elise trumped tubes with the lot our Crest of them emblazoned by arriving on as it a . full Several organ of , us complete also sported with a pipes limited , stops edition and pedals Livery !!! Smoking Nothing hat could - originally touch her conceived and , when as the a parade sort of shooting of novelties hat were , it serves called its forth purpose for an inspection so well as it a came “ team as ” hat no , surprise that of the to us twenty when ordered she was , announced but one remained as the winner by the ! close Well of done the Elise day !!! Thank I wish the you same to the could Master be Mariners said for the for rest allowing of us . I us was the use up first of the but venue came , to a close Tim second for being but a perfect was relieved Principal to Guest at least , and finish for this everyone year ; Roger attending was pipped and giving by one my of
year the Young such a Freemen special start and . Martine would have won the most elegantly run race had that been a category ,
but also lost out , so it was Elise who saved the day ! Incredibly she didn ’ t come last in her heat The either Master - as her hands couldn ’ t actually touch and she could hardly see , it was very satisfying to see her soundly beat the chap in lane 5 .
22 3