Bonhomie and the Bowden

18.10.12

To paraphrase Noel Coward "I've been to a wonderful dinner". It was our Bowden Charter Dinner which took place at Clothworkers Hall. Almost 140 guests passed through the wrought iron gilded arch of Dunston Court into the vast art deco reception area of the Hall to be serenaded by a jazz band of the period. The evening started with the Ceremonial Court where we admitted seven people to the Freedom, three to Livery and one to the Court. There was however one person not in attendance at the Court, the Clerk Adele Thorpe, the person who had organised the whole evening. Regrettably she was ill, and so her place was taken at very short notice by Valerie Boakes, Liveryman and Past Master of the City Livery Club. Plus Assistant Clerk Doreen Blythe took on the mantle of organiser. Well done, and our thanks to both.

And so to the reception where all were greeted by the Master, the Mistress, the Wardens and their partners. Following a time for everyone to meet and greet we then all moved into the Great Hall for dinner. An excellent meal of duck and venison was followed by the Sung Grace, the Loving Cup and an address from our guest speaker Keith Weed, the Global Marketing Officer of Unilever. Addressing both the importance of marketing to the growth of an organisation, and the real global issues surrounding sustainability, his was both an informative and thought provoking presentation which was a call to action for all our community. 

And so to the end of this my final Great Event which concluded with a Stirrup Cup, an opportunity for a final moment of fellowship. As the Senior Warden remarked, there was a real spirit of 'bonhomie'. So my thanks to all who were there for making this one of the most memorable events of my year.

John Flynn
Master Marketor