The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 27 Summer 2017 | Page 7

Lost Brethren
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove
Past Master John James
and his Adler
team at MBE
Cook JP,
& Butler and we cracked
Ritter of Miltenberg along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably
introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our
Principal
Tim
gave a generous and
John was a Pipe Maker and Pipe
Man Guest,
through
and Wonnacott
through. A
very
humorous
reply
to
which
I
responded
initially
member of the Confrérie des maitres-pipiers in St Claude, France,
drenching
poor Tim
in a a member
glass of water
knighted in Germany for his by
work
in the industry
and
of - he was
very
about it (sorry Tim!). I was very pleased
the L’Académie Internationale
de kind
la Pipe.
to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms
A Liveryman by Patrimony, and
the elder
son
of the which
first Master
Alan missing
L
Letters
Patent
have been
for many
Adler, when the Company was
re-formed
in 1954.
John was
Master
years
- our Clerk
tenaciously
sought
them out, and
in 1982, served twice as Chairman
the Tobacco
Trade
Benevolent
the new of Immediate
Past
Master,
Chris Allen, and his
Association (now the Welfare
Fund
of
our
Benevolent
Fund)
as well a beautiful re-
IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded
as Chairman of our Benevolent
Fund itself.
was are
also
President
presentation
and He
they
now
resplendent in frames
of the Briar Pipe Trade Association
and received
‘Lifetime
carved with
tobacco a leaves
(or close to); Sandra also
Achievement Award’ from the
industry.
located
a huge banner not seen since 1985 and Angus
Menzies, Clerk to the Master Mariners and never shy
John was Managing Director of A. Oppenheimer & Company and
of a challenge saw to it that it was displayed on the
its many subsidiaries worldwide but his particular love was for the
Quarterdeck.
industry of briar pipes and his Company’s world famous pipe brands
GBD, BBB, Comoy, Civic, Dr Whilst
Plumb all and
to name
but a few. biblical-
this Loewe
was going
on, apparently
John travelled the world not style
only downpours
for his beloved
industry
were pipe
being
had all but
over London
also for the other parts of his - family
businesses.
was a we
font
of our lunch
oblivious
to all that He
drama
ended
all knowledge about the pipes
and
had probably
famous where Coffee,
and
trooped
back to the
the most
quarterdeck
collection of meerschaum pipes
in the
Cigars,
and world.
Cognac awaited us (I did mention that
our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C’s..) and
John received an MBE in 2008
for his
extensive
which
seemed
to hit charitable
the mark work.
– Liveryman Jemma
He was Chairman of the Board
of Visitors
HM Prison
Chelmsford,
Freeman
had kindly
provided
the torpedo cigars
a Justice of the Peace, a specialist
magistrate
sitting
on in
the souvenir
Family tubes with our
and had
had them
placed
Court, the first Chairman of Crest
The Mid
Essex Hospital
Trust when
emblazoned
on it. Several
of us also sported
it gained its Trust status. A Trustee
Barrow Livery
Farm Smoking
Riding for hat
the - originally
a limited of edition
Disabled, raising huge sums conceived
of money for
charitable
as a them.
sort of John’s
shooting
hat, it serves its
giving will probably never really
be known
he helped
so of the twenty
purpose
so well in as detail,
a “team”
hat, that
many friends and many unknown
individuals
and countless
ordered,
but one remained
by the char-
close of the day!
ities. John was the sort of person
would Mariners
aspire to be
Thank whom
you to many
the Master
for allowing us the
- his giving was never selfish use
or conceited,
he to
was Tim
an exceptional
and Principal
of the venue,
for being a perfect
very special man.
Guest, and for everyone attending and giving my
year such a special start.
Barrow Farm RDA have informed us that the incredibly generous
donations following John’s Service of Thanksgiving have enabled
them to purchase a new carriage driving pony, pay for her training
The Master
and specialised kit. The pony has been named ‘Vella Tor’ at the fam-
ilies request in John’s memory.
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