Modern Companies Dinner

Monday 12 March.

Modern Companies events are held twice a year for the Companies formed after 1926. The Master Mariners became the first new Company to be formed for over 200 years under the Guildry of the City, receiving their livery in 1932 and becoming 78th on the role of precedence. Since then a further thirty companies had received livery with others in a pipeline, either as current Company without Livery or a Guild.

The Worshipful Company of Marketors had long been scheduled to host this event in Spring 2012 and the organisation of the evening therefore fell to our learned Clerk, who undertook that duty with her customary skill and aplomb. On the night we were sadly without our Master, still in hospital recovering from his serious heart operation the previous week.  Under our Policies and Procedures, the Senior Warden is required to step up to the plate on such occasions and act as Deputy Master.  My first task was therefore to announce that I was standing in for the Master and to arrange with the Clerk for a Get Well Soon card to be circulated and signed by all present. The Middle Warden would be delivering this to the Master.

The Modern Companies certainly appear to be well in tune with one another – sharing many of the same problems in a meeting of minds.  The conversation between Masters and Senior Wardens present, without any partners and with only two Clerks present, certainly appeared lively and robust. There was a shared belief in the importance of Outreach and charitable contribution beyond the world of City business and an acknowledgement of the recent problems affecting the public reputation of the City.

In my speech given as host I welcomed all Masters and Wardens, particularly Sir John Stuttard well known to us as a former Lord Mayor. Nigel Pullman JP, a Shrieval candidate was also present at the dinner and the guest speaker was Richard Regan, a former Sheriff and the Chief Commoner.

Last night’s event took place at Watermen’s Hall, which dates back to 1780 and remains the only original eighteenth century Georgian Hall in the City of London, providing a very elegant setting for the dinner and one of the few venues regularly used by the Livery which is not a livery hall. The Company of Watermen was uniquely established by Act of Parliament in 1555 as a City Company to regulate Watermen and Wherrymen carrying passengers by boat under oars on the river Thames. They joined with the Lightermen carrying goods in 1700. 

The only missing thing from the evening was our Master’s presence and we wish him a rapid recovery to full health and strength.

Sally Muggeridge

Deputy Master 13^th March 2012

Tax, Opium and the Olympics

06.03.12

And so the the last event before the big day, and to Mincing Lane which was once the world's leading centre for tea and spices trading, and in the 18th Century was the centre of the British opium business as well as other drugs - but no more. This was the sedate and entirely legal Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers Budget Banquet which took place at the spacious and sumptuous Clothworkers Hall where we are to have the Bowden Dinner in October.

Walking up the magnificent grand travertine marble staircase set beneath a majestic glass dome we were greeted by the Master Peter Gravestock and his Wardens. Following the reception, about 150 of us sat down for an excellent dinner, fine company and good speeches including the Guest Speaker Sir John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority who have been responsible for creating the Olympics site on budget and on time.There were some fascinating facts and anecdotes leaving us all eager for the opening of the Olympics in July. A stirrup cup followed and I made my way back home (over the bridge) for the last time for a week or two.

John Flynn
Master Marketor

That was the week

02.03.12

This could be called the week in which nothing happened, in that there were no official duties - well not for me. But some how I was very busy dashing around sorting out speakers and events, popping to the hospital and the dentist, reviewing a musical, working on our strategy, and even getting to the Mansion House one evening, but not a formal City event. I agreed the Dublin trip which it to be the 3rd to the 6th May and will start with a reception with their Lord Mayor and then lots of Guinness. The rest of the time I spent on the day job of City Digital and a mountain of emails - or should it be a cloud.

Meanwhile Brenda attended a luncheon set up by the Stationers Mistress for the Lady Mayoress at the Stationers Hall.  For Brenda one of the delights was the tour of the Hall. We have been there so many time but she knew little of its history - now she is an expert. As always it was apparently an excellent event with delightful company.

And then the big news. On Friday I got a date for the Op, or as I call it "opening day". It is to be the 8th March at St Thomas' Hospital, with me going in on the 7th.  For those not aware I have three furred up pipes and a leaky valve, so it is just a matter of opening the bonnet and doing a repair - sort of. This means that I will out of circulation for a while but have been assured that I will be back running around within six week. What are the bets on how soon I will be back blogging. Fear not, I will spare you the gruesome details.

Fortunately, as Master, I have a great Clerk in Adele and a strong team of Wardens in Sally, Roddy and Michael, so everything will continue as usual. All have assured me that nothing will change while I am away. OK!

John Flynn
Master Marketor      

Bloomberg

24.02.12

Who better to organise a trip to Bloomberg for the Marketors than our own Peter Phillips who, a few years ago, actually appeared on Bloomberg TV having won an investment award. Bloomberg is a company that provide up to the second news for the financial sector. They supply traders with the global information and tools required to manage their portfolios. A very different world to the one in which most of us ply our trade, but we did not realise how different until we entered their offices in Finsbury Square.  First to the reception and then to the refreshment area which contained every form of snack and lunch time bite you could want - and all free. Then we discovered on each floor a vast aquarium containing fish which were largely colour coordinated to the colour scheme of the particular floor. A dream work environment which was completely open plan with most desks having the customary four screens.

But then down to the serious work. A team of Bloomberg staff took us through their offer, the marketing and the TV studios. The Bloomberg Terminal, which is the core of their services, offers an extremely complex array of information on global companies and markets. However, access to the minutia of information is simple (for those trained in using it) and new features and products are being added daily. You can even follow commodities in real time as they travel around the world and also track weather changes which might affect the final price. As for Marketing, addressing a highly segmented and global market, they are wedded to inter departmental marketing integration, several examples of which were given. And so to the studio where we saw a live broadcast. While small, this TV station has a global reach of over 300 million homes and employs all the latest technologies. A long way from ticker tape and cans of film experiences by the Mistress (Brenda) when she first started work in News.

Bloomberg started in the '80s and has recently been growing at 10-15% per annum. Perhaps a clue to their success is the slogan on their coffee mugs whch reads "process less>>  >> profit more". The one thing we did learn was that staff, who came from a diverse array of professions, were both enthusiastic and delightful hosts. Thanks to them all plus, of course, Michael Bloomberg who founded the company and is currently Mayor of New York.

And so we went on to a local hostelry to reflect on the lessons learnt while of course enjoying suitable refreshment and an amply helping of Fellowship. To our delight, and very appropriately, we were also able to celebrate the birthday of John Wheen our very capable Chair of the Events Committee.

John Flynn
Master Marketor 

The Court and Bremner

23.02.12

The first official duty today was to Chair my first Marketors Business Court. Before it started there were two presentations. One relating to the exceptional work of the Heritage Committee in digitising the archives, and the other on the conclusion of Phase One of the Forming the Future project. Both were informative and important to the company in their different ways. I wont go into the detail of the Court other than to state that there were 19 in attendance and, despite a heavy agenda, I did manage to end at 5:35, the target being 5:30.

And so a quick dash home to change, and on to the Grosvernor House Hotel for the CIM Marketing Excellence Awards. While on a VIP ticket, it was as a Trustee of the CAM Foundation, one of the sponsors, rather than as the Master that I was first recognised. With what seemed to be over 900 guests at the banquet this was a great event, and I was fortunate enough to be announcing one of the winners. This I learnt the day before when the CAM Chair dropper out, and so as immediate past chair, it fell to me. Which means that I can now say that I shared a stage with Rory Bremner - if only briefly. Oh yes, my category was Technology and the winners were McCann London on behalf of XBOX 360.

As always at such events the real pleasure was meeting old friend from the CIM and other parts of the industry and, of course, making new ones. A really great evening, thanks to our friends at the CIM.

John Flynn
Master Marketor      

Ye Olde Pancake Race

21.02.12

It's Shrove Tuesday and so, in the City of London and particularly the yard of the Guildhall, it is time for ye olde Inter Livery Pancake Race. This tradition goes back a whole ... eight years when it was started by the Poulterers Company. However it is already shrouded in strange rules and regulations relating to dress codes and race procedures. Before the races there was a course inspection followed by a blessing from Canon Paul Thomas. The first race was started by Sir Michael Savory coincidentally with a cannon, and was the Master race. This was won last year by our very own, now Immediate Past Master, Jim Surguy. So, as I was unable to race, who better to replace me then he. And didn't he do well coming second in both the heats and the final. Indeed all our entrants were placed (did not come last). So congratulations to Annie Brooks in the Ladies Race; Lesley Wilson as a nurse in the Novelty Race, and Jeremy Stern in the Liverymen race. 

All runners were spurred on by our large team of supporters who, complete with banner, were the noisiest in what was a large crowd which included some totally confused tourists. Throughout the race, pancakes were available for all, while after it there was lunch in the Guildhall Crypt. This included soup in a commemorative cup, and a hot buffet which was most welcome on what was a bright, dry, but cold day. As usual the Cook and Butler put on a fine spread.

 So, in all a great event with an excellent opportunity to meet with fellow Marketors and also people from other Livery Companies. Finally I would like to point out that, contrary to popular belief at the races, I did not use the words tosser or eggscitement in this blog - damn!

John Flynn
Master Marketor

Is Occupy' Right?

16.02.12

Before reporting on a most excellent lecture this evening I must give an insight into the lesser known duties of a Master. These include agreeing the service which is to take place prior to the Spring lunch and ensuring that the St Brides choir has the variety of pieces to set off their amazing voices while also reflecting my very broad range of musical interests. Then there is the food at the Spring Lunch itself. This all has to be tasted and approved which is why Brenda and I had almost the equivalent of two lunches each this afternoon. The things we do for the Marketors.

And so to the evening and the World Traders' annual Tacitus Lecture at the Guildhall. With almost 850 people attending, this was by far and away the largest gathering of the week and I guess possibly even the year. The subject was "Is Occupy' Right?" and the lecture given by Terry Smith. A controversial figure in the City, and author of "Accounting for Growth: stripping the camouflage from company accounts" Terry's outspoken and forthright views were well received by this very mixed audience. This was reflected in the Q&A session which covered a broad range of topics. Rather than go into the detail I would refer you to http://www.world-traders.org/  where you can see the video and read the transcript. Just to give you a taste, he believes that the banks should be split and the markets left free to fail - and justifies these and other opinions with common sense logic.

And thence to a buffet in the Library of the Guildhall where we met a surprisingly large number of friends many from different parts of our life. In all one of the better nights this week.

John Flynn
Master Marketor