03.05.12
And so to the Worshipful Company of Distillers "City Debate" which took place in the Great Hall located at 60 Victoria Embankment, the premises of J P Morgan. The topic was "China is the Heart of Asia" and the opening speaker was our very own Martin Riley who is a Freeman of the Marketors and CMO of Pernod Ricard. He set the scene perfectly with an array of statistics which painted a very clear picture of the opportunities and threats for those seeking to expand in China. That the drinks industry is one of the few where the investment in marketing can reflect in the movement of the share price made the four speakers all the more interesting. However, there were two statistic that came out which gave some of us cause for concern. The first was that overall the UK do more trade with Ireland than the whole of Brazil, Russia, India and China, and that our European partners have a greater share of, and greater impact in, China than we do. The unasked question was how to get UK business to approach the market in the way those addressing us do.
On this occasion the Mistress accompanied me and, as usual, we found the hospitality and the fellowship delightful. And as you might expect, the after event drinks were something special.
John Flynn
Master Marketor
Friday, 4 May 2012
Subalterns Thinking and Curry
30.04.12
Regrettably there were a number of Marketors events which I had to miss recently due to not being quite as fit as I hoped. As before, I feel that they deserve a mention in my blog as they were organised, attended and enjoyed by Marketors. Also I would like to thank Senior Warden Sally Muggeridge for deputising for me.
The first of these was the Subalterns Evening on the 19th April which was organised and hosted by Fujitsu. A remarkable evening by all accounts with a total of 18 Marketors attending, all Freemen, with the exception of the three Wardens. After a reception, our Senior Warden, Sally Muggeridge welcomed the 30 fellow diners from 151 Regiment and Fujitsu and during the dinner they received background presentations from Simon Blagden MBE Non-Exec Chairman, Fujitsu Telecommunications, and Lt Col Adrian Lee, CO 151 (London) Transport Regiment. Later Capt. Kim How of 151 explained the logistics of the London Olympic Game on which he had been working, and Cpl Bonnie Dacre, who had recently returned from Afghanistan, addressed the winning of hearts and minds and also the inherent dangers in working there.
Regrettably there were a number of Marketors events which I had to miss recently due to not being quite as fit as I hoped. As before, I feel that they deserve a mention in my blog as they were organised, attended and enjoyed by Marketors. Also I would like to thank Senior Warden Sally Muggeridge for deputising for me.
The first of these was the Subalterns Evening on the 19th April which was organised and hosted by Fujitsu. A remarkable evening by all accounts with a total of 18 Marketors attending, all Freemen, with the exception of the three Wardens. After a reception, our Senior Warden, Sally Muggeridge welcomed the 30 fellow diners from 151 Regiment and Fujitsu and during the dinner they received background presentations from Simon Blagden MBE Non-Exec Chairman, Fujitsu Telecommunications, and Lt Col Adrian Lee, CO 151 (London) Transport Regiment. Later Capt. Kim How of 151 explained the logistics of the London Olympic Game on which he had been working, and Cpl Bonnie Dacre, who had recently returned from Afghanistan, addressed the winning of hearts and minds and also the inherent dangers in working there.
Finally, Major General Mark Poffley, Hon Col 151 (London) Transport Regiment summed up the evening and fielded questions and everyone departed much later than planned with a much greater understanding of 151’s role both at peace and at war. Great pity I missed this particularly as I worked for Fujitsu for many years.
Next to the Think Tank Seminar on the 23rd April at Chicago Booth. Despite heavy rain the turnout was about 35 with a good mix of members and guests. The speakers, who were both winners of the Marketors Trust Awards, addressed topics of real interest to the audience. This was reflected in the Q&A which lasted 40 minutes. Apparently there was a real sense of engagement and everyone had a chance to participate. As always there were drinks and substantial canapés afterwards but apparently everyone talking so much that they didn’t drink the planned amount of wine – must be a first for the Marketors!
And so to the The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) - now called The Soldiers Charity - and the Lord Mayor's Annual Curry Lunch on 26 April at the Guildhall or as it was renamed for the occcasion “The Lord Mayor’s Diamond Jubilee Big Curry Lunch”. HRH The Duke of Kent was guest of honour and, with practically every Livery Company represented, plus a great many other dignatories, the receiving line was long. Eventually released to follow the curry aromas to the Great Hall there was also there an astounding array of glittering prizes up for auction - from cars to dinners, holidays etc and two stunning necklaces donated by the Goldsmiths. Sadly neither the Deputy Master or the Clerk were successful in winning anything. However the amount raised is likely to be over £225,000. By many accounts an enjoyable, if occasionally chaotic, event which I am sad to have missed.
I am delighted to advise that these should be the last events to which I will have to send my apologies. I am really looking forward to the rest of my year
John Flynn
Master Marketor
Saturday, 21 April 2012
The Spring Events
20.04.12
This year it was decided that we should link the Thanksgiving and Rededication service to the Spring Lunch and have a parade from one to the other. As it turned out this was the perfect choice with each part offering something new.
The service at St Brides Church, Fleet Street was led by our Honorary Chaplain, The Venerable David Meara, and supported by an excellent turnout of Marketors. The solemnity and grandeur of the event was strengthened by the performance of the amazing St Brides Choir who included in their selection Mascagni's Easter Hymn, Bizet's Au fond du temple saint from Pearl Fishers and Lloyd-Webbers Pie Jesu. However it was the Anthem at the end which finally brought the congregation to actually applaud, something they had wanted to do all along. It was Loesser's "Sit down you're rocking the boat" from the show Guys and Dolls. The choir became a West End chorus and the lead character, Nicely Nicely, was perfect.
And so, with a spring in their step, or in my case with wheel chair wheels rolling, the congregation formed up to make their way to Stationers Hall. Our police escort, while on a bike and in shorts, created one of the other memorable moments for us. As we approached the large junction of Ludgate Circus, he stopped the traffic in all directions allowing us to parade diagonally across to Ludgate Hill. A truly unique occasion.
Finally we reached Stationers Hall. It was a little chilly to have the reception in the garden as planned but there was adequate space inside this grand building. As I was unsure whether I could stand for a full welcoming line-up it was decided to forgo that and have, what could be described as, a welcome area for the Master. This worked extremely well as it gave me more time with people, and I was seated. The other items on show were our Treasures. This was a most impressive display which came as a surprise to many.
And so to the lunch. As we did not have a Ceremonial Court it was decided to make awards during the lunch. The first of these was the new Exceptional Service Award which I was delighted to present to Peter Short . His work on the Company's History Project, the Marketors Livery Golf day and the Lord Mayors Show has been exemplary, indeed his work on any one of these would have warranted consideration for this award. Next came two awards for academic achievement. First to Ben Blake and Nicholas Reid of London Business School for a project addressing pricing for TV over the internet; and then Joshua Jalloul from the University of Westminster Business School with a dissertation addressing the effectiveness of "green" advertising. Both were excellent pieces of work.
Next I welcomed our guests which included the Masters of the Carmen, Launderers, World Traders and Management Consultants; closely followed by our guest speaker, Anthony Thomson. A Liveryman of the Marketors and an ex committee chair, he is a consummate marketer, who started his career by selling advertising space for a newspaper and went on to be the Chairman of the new MetroBank the first High Street chain to be established in over one hundred years. His presentation was both entertaining and informative to the point where some asked if I could ask him back.
So, in all a most excellent day which seems to have something for everyone. What an ideal way to return to the fold.
John Flynn
Master Marketor
This year it was decided that we should link the Thanksgiving and Rededication service to the Spring Lunch and have a parade from one to the other. As it turned out this was the perfect choice with each part offering something new.
The service at St Brides Church, Fleet Street was led by our Honorary Chaplain, The Venerable David Meara, and supported by an excellent turnout of Marketors. The solemnity and grandeur of the event was strengthened by the performance of the amazing St Brides Choir who included in their selection Mascagni's Easter Hymn, Bizet's Au fond du temple saint from Pearl Fishers and Lloyd-Webbers Pie Jesu. However it was the Anthem at the end which finally brought the congregation to actually applaud, something they had wanted to do all along. It was Loesser's "Sit down you're rocking the boat" from the show Guys and Dolls. The choir became a West End chorus and the lead character, Nicely Nicely, was perfect.
And so, with a spring in their step, or in my case with wheel chair wheels rolling, the congregation formed up to make their way to Stationers Hall. Our police escort, while on a bike and in shorts, created one of the other memorable moments for us. As we approached the large junction of Ludgate Circus, he stopped the traffic in all directions allowing us to parade diagonally across to Ludgate Hill. A truly unique occasion.
Finally we reached Stationers Hall. It was a little chilly to have the reception in the garden as planned but there was adequate space inside this grand building. As I was unsure whether I could stand for a full welcoming line-up it was decided to forgo that and have, what could be described as, a welcome area for the Master. This worked extremely well as it gave me more time with people, and I was seated. The other items on show were our Treasures. This was a most impressive display which came as a surprise to many.
And so to the lunch. As we did not have a Ceremonial Court it was decided to make awards during the lunch. The first of these was the new Exceptional Service Award which I was delighted to present to Peter Short . His work on the Company's History Project, the Marketors Livery Golf day and the Lord Mayors Show has been exemplary, indeed his work on any one of these would have warranted consideration for this award. Next came two awards for academic achievement. First to Ben Blake and Nicholas Reid of London Business School for a project addressing pricing for TV over the internet; and then Joshua Jalloul from the University of Westminster Business School with a dissertation addressing the effectiveness of "green" advertising. Both were excellent pieces of work.
Next I welcomed our guests which included the Masters of the Carmen, Launderers, World Traders and Management Consultants; closely followed by our guest speaker, Anthony Thomson. A Liveryman of the Marketors and an ex committee chair, he is a consummate marketer, who started his career by selling advertising space for a newspaper and went on to be the Chairman of the new MetroBank the first High Street chain to be established in over one hundred years. His presentation was both entertaining and informative to the point where some asked if I could ask him back.
So, in all a most excellent day which seems to have something for everyone. What an ideal way to return to the fold.
John Flynn
Master Marketor
Friday, 6 April 2012
Did I miss something?
07.04.12
Exactly one month ago to the day I went into hospital for a standard heart procedure. The success rate was 98% - what could possibly go wrong ? Well, as it turned out, almost everything. Without going into the gory, and at times hilarious, details sufice to say that I am now back home and, while a little frail, am starting to slowly get things together, including addressing the 807 emails that were awaiting me.
Has the Marketors survive without me - of course it has. Under the guiding hand of the Deputy Master, Senior Warden Sally Muggeridge, and with support from Wardens Roddy Mullins and Michael Harrison it has been business as usual; while also moving forward several key issues and major projects. And then there is "the office" with Adele and Doreen managing a wide range of important activities relating to the Company and the City.
As the Masters Blog is by way of a record of the Company events and of his own activities through out the year, I feel that it would be right to briefly mention those events into which so much effort had been put, and which sadly I was unable to attend. First of these was the Modern Company Dinner hosted by us at Watermans Hall on the 12 March and arranged by the Clerk. I am delighted to say that the Deputy Master has provided a very thorough report in the Blog preceding this one. My only contribution was the provision of 55 coasters all bearing different ads, in which, apparently there was quite a brisk trade in swaps at the end of the dinner.
And then came, what would have been a busy day, Wednesday 14th. First was our own Private Tour of the Royal Opera House followed by dinner at Cote; all ably arranged by Liveryman Angela White Horan. A sad miss for us bearing in mind our love of the theatre. In the evening there was a invitation to a Royal Ballet School Masterclass from the Mercers Company at their Hall. Yet another theatrical event missed.
One of my big disappointments was the fact that during this time HMS St Albans sailed into London and was along side HMS Belfast, which is a few minutes walk from where I live - when I am at home. There was a visit for a small number of Marketors which included staying on board while it sailed to Gravesend. Congratulations are due to Liveryman Hugh West for organising the visit and the trip.
And so to the double event of the month The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress's Livery Dinner at the Mansion House on the 22nd, and the United Guilds Service at St Paul's the following day. Brenda could not make the Dinner but did manage to get to the Service - a magnificent event which was followed by lunch at our second home Stationers Hall. She particularly wants me to thank our friends from both the Marketors and other Livery Companies for their kind thoughts and support throughout the day.
I was confident that The Charles Dickens Bicentenary Event on the 27th, organised by Freeman Annie Brooks, was going to be a success and, according to the Mistress, would not have been disappointed. Starting at the Museum of London, our formal City of London Guide was Stetson wearing Herb Danner, husband of Liveryman Debra Marmor. Not only did he have an encyclopedic knowledge of Dickens but also the way people lived in the area at the time.
My big regret this month was that, because of my extended stay in hospital, we had to cancel The Masters Dublin Trip. We had a delightful message from their Lord Mayor, who was arranging a reception for us, and from the management of Guiness who were laying on a special Marketor event. And then there was the Titanic, the book of Kells, the Abbey theatre, etc. My thanks to Liveryman High West for putting so much work into this project.
So that was it, the missed Masters month. This month, April, is comparatively quite with my retuning to the fold formally for the Spring Lunch. I do look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Starting with a champaign reception in the garden of Stationers Hall it should prove to be an excellent afternoon, the speaker being a Liveryman and the founder of Metro Bank the first new high street bank for over a 100 years, and already very successful. Preceding this will be a free, and optional, service of Thanksgiving and Rededication at St Brides. This will be acccompied by the magnificent Choir of St Brides who, on several occasions, will be as you have never heard them before. I promise you will be smiling as you leave. Hope to see you then.
John Flynn
Master Marketor
Exactly one month ago to the day I went into hospital for a standard heart procedure. The success rate was 98% - what could possibly go wrong ? Well, as it turned out, almost everything. Without going into the gory, and at times hilarious, details sufice to say that I am now back home and, while a little frail, am starting to slowly get things together, including addressing the 807 emails that were awaiting me.
Has the Marketors survive without me - of course it has. Under the guiding hand of the Deputy Master, Senior Warden Sally Muggeridge, and with support from Wardens Roddy Mullins and Michael Harrison it has been business as usual; while also moving forward several key issues and major projects. And then there is "the office" with Adele and Doreen managing a wide range of important activities relating to the Company and the City.
As the Masters Blog is by way of a record of the Company events and of his own activities through out the year, I feel that it would be right to briefly mention those events into which so much effort had been put, and which sadly I was unable to attend. First of these was the Modern Company Dinner hosted by us at Watermans Hall on the 12 March and arranged by the Clerk. I am delighted to say that the Deputy Master has provided a very thorough report in the Blog preceding this one. My only contribution was the provision of 55 coasters all bearing different ads, in which, apparently there was quite a brisk trade in swaps at the end of the dinner.
And then came, what would have been a busy day, Wednesday 14th. First was our own Private Tour of the Royal Opera House followed by dinner at Cote; all ably arranged by Liveryman Angela White Horan. A sad miss for us bearing in mind our love of the theatre. In the evening there was a invitation to a Royal Ballet School Masterclass from the Mercers Company at their Hall. Yet another theatrical event missed.
One of my big disappointments was the fact that during this time HMS St Albans sailed into London and was along side HMS Belfast, which is a few minutes walk from where I live - when I am at home. There was a visit for a small number of Marketors which included staying on board while it sailed to Gravesend. Congratulations are due to Liveryman Hugh West for organising the visit and the trip.
And so to the double event of the month The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress's Livery Dinner at the Mansion House on the 22nd, and the United Guilds Service at St Paul's the following day. Brenda could not make the Dinner but did manage to get to the Service - a magnificent event which was followed by lunch at our second home Stationers Hall. She particularly wants me to thank our friends from both the Marketors and other Livery Companies for their kind thoughts and support throughout the day.
I was confident that The Charles Dickens Bicentenary Event on the 27th, organised by Freeman Annie Brooks, was going to be a success and, according to the Mistress, would not have been disappointed. Starting at the Museum of London, our formal City of London Guide was Stetson wearing Herb Danner, husband of Liveryman Debra Marmor. Not only did he have an encyclopedic knowledge of Dickens but also the way people lived in the area at the time.
My big regret this month was that, because of my extended stay in hospital, we had to cancel The Masters Dublin Trip. We had a delightful message from their Lord Mayor, who was arranging a reception for us, and from the management of Guiness who were laying on a special Marketor event. And then there was the Titanic, the book of Kells, the Abbey theatre, etc. My thanks to Liveryman High West for putting so much work into this project.
So that was it, the missed Masters month. This month, April, is comparatively quite with my retuning to the fold formally for the Spring Lunch. I do look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Starting with a champaign reception in the garden of Stationers Hall it should prove to be an excellent afternoon, the speaker being a Liveryman and the founder of Metro Bank the first new high street bank for over a 100 years, and already very successful. Preceding this will be a free, and optional, service of Thanksgiving and Rededication at St Brides. This will be acccompied by the magnificent Choir of St Brides who, on several occasions, will be as you have never heard them before. I promise you will be smiling as you leave. Hope to see you then.
John Flynn
Master Marketor
Thursday, 15 March 2012
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 13th March 2012
Wednesday, 7 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
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
Saturday, 3 March 2012
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
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
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