Information Technologists’ Company
NEWS
Photography by WCIT Court Liveryman Mark Holford
WCIT Court Partners’
Weekend, Normandy
W
hat unique venue for the Court Partners’ Dinner could this year’s
Master organise? This question agonised him for 18 months until
suddenly last summer, recognising that 2014 saw the 70 th
anniversary of Operation Overlord in which Bletchley Park’s Colossus had
played such a major part, the decision came to him.
Via a ferry from Portsmouth bound for Ouistreham, our party of 31 arrived
at Lion d’Or, our hotel in Bayeux. From there over three days we visited, by
coach, various important landmarks of the 1944 Normandy invasion
including Pegasus Bridge, Juno and Sword Beaches at Arromanches, Omaha
Beach and the American cemetery, Longues Battery and the Caen Peace
Museum. At the British Cemetery at Bayeux the Master laid a wreath in the
name of the Company, the full citation concluding with the words:
The Master, Michael Webster, laying a wreath in the name of
the Company at the British Cemetery at Bayeux, France
“The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists,
the City of London Livery Company, representing the industry of which the
Colossus computer at Bletchley Park, of invaluable use in relation to
Operations Overlord and Fortitude, was an early originator.”
The trip was not all undiluted militaria. We visited, for example, the Bayeux
tapestry and the Sunday market at Caen and the Court Partners’ Dinner in
normal black tie mode was held for the first time abroad.
It is appropriate that others than the organiser describe how successful or
otherwise was our excursion but suffice it to say that the author has received
some gratifyingly complimentary letters of thanks.
Contributed by the Master
The traditional Company Court Partners’ Dinner held at the
Lion d’Or Hotel in Bayeux
A Gift to The Company
From Past Master Jonathan Soar
I
t is a Livery custom for a Master to present a gift to his or her Company
after their year in office. On the 9th April, following the Court meeting,
Past Master Jonathan Soar proudly unveiled a painting, which is his
contribution to the tradition.
Jonathan was Master in 2011 / 2012 and one of the many enjoyable occasions
during his year was taking part in Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on
the River Thames. The colourful splendour of the day, being rowed down the
river by the Barge Master and his crew in our Thames Cutter, Cito, was
captured on film by Freeman Tony Scott.
The WCIT Thames Cutter “Cito”
Painting by Ken Willis
If you are interested in purchasing a signed
print, please contact Eleanor at the Hall.
By happy coincidence, Tony’s father-in-law, Ken Willis, is a skilled artist
who took the commission to turn one of the photographs into a wonderful
painting, which is now on display in the Livery room. Ken did not charge for
his time and talent, instead agreeing to the Past Master donating to a charity
supported by the family, the Adult Sarcoma Fund at Oxford Radcliffe
Hospital.
Contributed by Past Master, Jonathan Soar
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