The Livery Newsletter and Gazette Issue 32 Spring 2020 | Page 2

The Master’s Year
This has been a very special year for me and for the Mistress. It all began with a bang because almost
immediately after our Installation at Vintners’ Hall in early June we were off to Ironbridge! To be candid,
Ironbridge was a little tough to start with, as being so recently installed, we knew only a few people....but
that soon changed in a combination of nice trips and events where everyone was so friendly. Our visit to the
Broseley Clay Pipeworks was definitely a highlight.
Two eminently pleasant Company-related events
then followed - the annual golf day at Tandridge,
expertly executed and coordinated with charm and
precision (in spite of the bad weather) by Past Master
Derek Harris. The annual Tobacco Trade Sponsored
Charity Lunch then happened, by contrast, on the
perfect summer’s day and it wasn’t just at Lords -
it was in the Long Room at Lords! It doesn’t get
better than that, particularly with Henry Blofeld to
entertain us. Many congratulations to Past Master
Roger Merton for organising it all!
We were also fortunate that our year collided with
the celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the
foundation of the original Tobacco Company of
Westminster in 1619. This culminated in late June
with a Choral Evensong at the historic Temple
Church, followed by a reception at Middle Temple
Hall. The service, largely the brainchild of Past
Master Mark Gower-Smith, was just perfect - I
still have Parry’s “I Was Glad” ringing in my ears!
And the reception afterwards was a celebration
of fellowship - the cigars, so kindly provided by
Hunters & Frankau, were particularly appreciated.
Overall, on top of a strong turn-out of our Members
and their guests, we had some 80+ livery companies
represented together with a strong contingent
from the Corporation of London and Alderman
Sir Andrew Parmley representing the Mayoralty.
Professor Jonathan Phillips was our much applauded
guest speaker, providing so eloquently the right
historical context for everything.
This was a great way to meet many Livery
Companies and gave us a good foundation for our
year. Added to this Kate and I were already members
of the ever-closer Apollo 19 Year Group established
at Ironbridge, and of the 1920s Group formed to
bring our vintage together. For Kate, the City
Consorts proved to be a particularly friendly and
active group.
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All this has meant that we have had a very social year
attending lunches, dinners, lectures, music events,
charity events and City Functions. We have also
made a number of really good friends!
First and foremost, we have thoroughly enjoyed
representing our Company and attending its events.
As you can imagine, the first committees and Court
and the first dinner are all pretty intimidating but
you soon settle down.
Luckily, we are particularly blessed with a strong
and supportive team in our Livery - from my
Wardens to so many Past Masters willing to lend a
hand, a very approachable Court, a long suffering
and experienced Clerk in Sandra, Alan our stalwart
Clerk’s Assistant, Mark our fabulous Beadle, David
Parrott (the best Chaplain in the City) and Ian our
Treasurer. May I take this opportunity to thank you
all for your help and support - I couldn’t have done it
without you!
Our key events continued with a wonderful, relaxed
and cigar smoke-filled open-air autumn dinner
in September aboard the quarterdeck of HQS
Wellington, the only floating Livery. Our host was
my dear friend Captain Jim Barclay, Master Mariner.
We were then treated to our first venture into the
hallowed grandeur of Mercers’ Hall for the Annual
Banquet. It’s an impressive hall and we were looked
after very well. Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts was
our superb guest speaker.
Our celebrations then included the Company’s Carol
Service at St Lawrence Jewry. This was well attended
and there is nothing better than a full Church
to raise the volume! The programme was again
prepared by Past Master Mark Gower-Smith and
the incredibly talented Choir provided by Sevenoaks
School, with which we have a valued relationship.
My special thanks also go to the Mistress, Fourth