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.
Women In Tobacco celebrates its 7th Birthday
June 8th 2017 was an auspicious date not simply because of the Parliamentary Election!
Women In Tobacco( WIT) celebrated its 7th birthday by cruising the Thames and listening to financial analyst, Erik Bloomquist discuss changes within the tobacco trade and the ramifications of Next Generation Products to the business landscape and stock portfolios.
The birthday celebration was sponsored by SPI( Liveryman Henry Tuck is a Director of SPI), SWM and the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum. Women In Tobacco is a non-profit organization with an international membership of approximately 500.
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 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 Freeman had kindly provided the torpedo cigars and had had them placed in souvenir tubes with our Crest emblazoned on it. Several of us also sported a limited edition Livery Smoking hat- originally conceived as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its purpose Mistress so Tobacco well as Pipe a“ team Maker” hat Maureen, that of the Edmondson twenty, ordered Clerk Sandra, but one Stocker remained and Court by the Assistant close of the and day WIT! Thank Chair, Elise you to Rasmussen the Master were Mariners attendance for allowing. us the use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal Women In Tobacco welcomes female Freemen and Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my Liverymen as well as spouses of male Freemen and year such a special start. Liverymen to participate. There is no membership fee or dues. For more information, please contact witforwomen @ gmail. com
The Master
Assistant Elise Rasmussen
34 3