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.
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