Historical setting for an historical lunch

On Monday Marianne and I went to a splendid event in the Crypts of Guildhall. Pre-lunch drinks preceded a wonderful lunch presided over by our very own Adele Thorpe who is the current President of the Aldgate Ward Club. We were her personal guests. The occasion was the Civic lunch in the presence of the Lord Mayor, together with the lady Mayoress and Alderman Fiona Woolf.
Of the 25 Wards of the City Aldgate is, with Tower Ward, the Easternmost of the City wards. The Ward club traces its history back over three centuries so it was fitting to hold the lunch in the oldest medieval crypt in London. As the City changes so do the populations of the Wards and the City of London Corporation has undertaken a review of the internal boundaries of the City's 25 Wards and new boundaries will come into effect in 2013. One wonders with the sheer scale of some of the enormous buildings going up in the City, housing huge numbers of people, whether they might not comprise Wards themselves.
After lunch Adele gave a masterly speech, or should I say a Presidential speech, welcoming the guests--all in witty rhyme. It justified the terrific applause it received. Such hidden talent!
The Aldgate Ward club, if this was a fair representation of its social activities, would seem to be in rude good health.