The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 30 Spring 2019 | Page 15

The Inter-Livery Pancake Races
Every year the Worshipful Company of Poulters
organises a pancake race on the cobbles of Guildhall
Yard, raising funds for the Lord Mayor’s charities.
Last year’s event was a bit of a damp squib, with
Health and Safety considerations meaning that the
rain prevented any actual running, and competitors
were restricted to a standing toss. The lack of
running may have played to Past Master Miller’s
strength(s) but, unfortunately, glory was not
bestowed upon him or any other member of
his team.
This year, the sun shone brightly on the contestants
and a crack team of Pipe Makers assembled at
the appointed hour. Our team was made up of
the Master, the Mistress, the Third Warden and
Assistant Elise Rasmussen, and was cannily led
and organised - as ever – by the Clerk. The Clerk’s
instruction for the team to tie their aprons outside
their gowns (so as to avoid any unnecessary flapping
and improve aerodynamics) was frowned upon by
some contestants, and then imitated by many.
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
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
The
racing edition
was fiercely
numerous
a limited
Livery competitive,
Smoking hat with
- originally
pancakes,
pans
and contestants
ending
conceived frying
as a sort
of shooting
hat, it serves
its up
sprawled
across
the
cobbles.
For
once,
and
much
purpose so well as a “team” hat, that of the twenty to
the
obvious
of the by
master
of ceremonies,
ordered,
but surprise
one remained
the close
of the day!
two
intrepid
Pipe
Makers
(The
Master
and the Third
Thank you to the Master Mariners for allowing
us the
Warden)
managed
to
creep
into
their
respective
use of the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal
finals.
Despite
the Mistress’s
valiant
efforts,
Guest, and
for everyone
attending
and
giving and
my the
creative
genius
of
Elise
-
whose
two
previous
novelty
year such a special start.
costumes had been prize-winning creations - no
further glory was to fall upon us. Indeed, our two
finalists were out-run and out-tossed by those
The around
Master
them. However, it is fair to say that honour was
upheld, a good time was had by all and a significant
sum of money was raised for good causes.
Jerry Merton
Third Warden
15
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