Luncheon with the Past Masters Wednesday 12th June

It is an annual tradition for the Master to lunch with the Past Masters in June each year where all aspects concerning the progress of the Company is discussed in confidence. We lunched in a private dining room at Guildhall with the Senior Past Master present taking the chair and acting as host.

Dinner with the Livery Committee Tuesday 11th June

At the invitation of Deputy William Fraser OBE, Chairman of the Livery Committee, this took place at Cutlers Hall with many Masters and Clerks in attendance.

Dinner with City of London's branch of the Chartered Management Institute Monday 10th June

This year's Chartered Management Institute's Management Champion is Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, Sheriff to the City of London 2010/11 and President of the Law Society 2006/7, also a member of the Competition Commission and a partner at electricity reform and infrastructure projects specialist CMS Cameron McKenna. On board HQS Wellington at Temple Stairs on the Embankment, home of the Master Mariners, Fiona delivered a superb lecture on the theme of 'Tomorrow's City', exploring how we can continue the tradition the City has for innovation and how it can best be harnessed to tackle the major sustainability challenges ahead and The Triple Bottom Line (Profit, People and Planet). My question on this topic of Cities of the future was, Fiona advised me over supper afterwards, apparently very challenging.  I thought her answer was brilliant! Following supper an on board workshop took place with author Carole Railton on the subject of personal branding and body language. Under Carole's stewardship we walked around the splendid Livery Hall, the former engine room of the ship and under the waterline, with our heads held up majestically high to show us how to walk tall towards better business success.  Before disembarking I briefly viewed the excellent exhibition on board celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Arctic Convoys in which many Merchant Ships and their crews were lost in terrible weather and sea conditions.

Ironbridge Gorge Museums Master's Livery Weekend 2013 Friday 7th June to Sunday 9th June

The first bridge built of cast iron over the River Severn- showing the potential of the "new" material for all types of construction

The Masters of Livery Companies have been gathering together at Ironbridge in June for thirty years.  The tradition was initiated by the late Sir Peter Gadsden, Lord Mayor in 1979-80.   Having grown up in Shropshire Sir Peter undertook a visit to the county as part of his Mayoral Year including a visit to the Museum.  He was fascinated by the story of Ironbridge as the birthplace of the Indistrial Revolution.

He subsequently founded the London Committee of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Development Trust which aimed to fundraise and support the Museum through City and livery connections.  He became President of the Development Trust in 1983 and started the Livery Day that year as a one day visit to the Museums on a Saturday in June.  Word spread and this developed over the years as more Companies started to attend and the event expanded to become the full weekend of activities that it is today.

Ironbridge in 2013 is a key event in the year of all Master’s of Livery Companies and attendance this year was at a record number.   Connections between Ironbridge and the City of London date back much further than the 30 years that the Companies have been visiting.  Abraham Darby, the Quaker Ironmaster built the actual iconic Ironbridge itself and was given the Freedom of the City in 1775.

The Industrial Revolution took place in Britain due to the stable social and political conditions, the raw materials, merchantile power and available capital.  To this could be added the genius of invention and an abundance of skills nurtured by the Guilds and Livery Companies.

Since the institution of Livery Weekends, the Livery Companies have donated approximately £500,000 to Ironbridge in cash or in-kind donations, supporting many of the projects and education programmes.

Part of the working exhibits in Blists Hill Victorian Town

For the Masters attending this year it was a very full programme, kicking off with a Black Tie dinner at Coalbrookdale on the Friday evening after driving up directly from our Canterbury visit.  The Saturday was a full-on tour of the many separate museums, including the Jackfield Tile Museum, Blists Hill Victorian Town, the Ironbridge itself, the Old Furnace,  the Museum of Iron, and the Enginuity workshops and dare I say, playspace for adults.    There is a vast amount to see and to learn and plainly a whistle-stop tour cannot do justice to what Ironbridge offers the visitor.  At best it was a taster of the attraction of this venue which should really be on everyone’s holiday itinerary at some point in life.   What also struck me is that Ironbridge today is a very attractive area, lying as it does in a wooded valley offering glimpses of our industrial heritage.  It was not always like this – gone is the polluting smoke and smells and the ravages of industry on countryside.   The trip was also better for us in 2013 with three days of unbroken sunshine – this is also different to previous years when it has rained.

With the Consort on the Ironbridge itself

On the Saturday night we had the President’s Summer Ball in the Engine Shop at Coalbrookdale – another Black Tie affair with dancing afterwards.  The Lord Mayor Roger Gifford and the Lady Mayoress Clare Gifford were in attendance, along with Sheriff Nigel Pullman.  These events have been invaluable in enabling Masters and partners of different companies to get to know each other better.

On Sunday we returned again to Coalbrookdale to view the Darby Houses and the Costume Project and had the pleasure of seeing the Lady Mayoress try on a Victorian Dress – together with the requite bustle.  The weekend ended with a light lunch and refreshments before we all hit the road.

For my husband and I the weekend was not finished – we were off to a Cliff Richard “Still Rocking and Reeling”  Concert at Hatfield House on Sunday night on the way back to London.  My thought was that Sir Cliff is somewhat older than the majority of livery masters but showing a lot more energy than we had after a busy few days of non stop activity. And next week looks equally full!

 

City Ale Conner Christine Rigden explaining to Masters the technicalities of the role and testing the local brew

The Master’s visit to Canterbury Thursday 6th and Friday 7th June

Our home in Kent lies on the ancient Pilgrim’s Way from St Margaret’s Bay to Canterbury, and we own an adjacent property called Pilgrim’s Cottage.  We are therefore constantly reminded of Canterbury’s role in the history of our country and particularly its international importance as a place of pilgrimage. Travel to Canterbury in the modern era is quick and speedy by high speed train or Motorway and Canterbury continues to attract huge numbers of visitors, particularly with its close proximity to France and Belgium. 

A group of us greeted each other on the platform at King’s Cross on Thursday and in just over a hour  were whisked to Canterbury, in good time to walk to the Abode Hotel, check in and prepare ourselves to meet our city guide, Philippe Lecampe.  Philippe, himself a Liveryman of the Blacksmith’s Company, gave us a most amusing and seriously educational tour of the noisy City centre and the quieter Cathedral precincts. Encouraging us to look up at the buildings atop the usual modern shops, we gained a real understanding of how Canterbury must have looked in former days, and to use to which buildings were put as pilgrim hostels.  Despite heavy bombing in the war, Canterbury has retained many interesting medieval buildings – and in some ways reflects how London must have looked prior to the Great Fire and the greater move to redevelopment.

After the tour, conducted in a rare bout of sunshine, we returrned to our hotel for a cream tea that was most welcome and went down very well.   Several of us then left for Evensong in the Cathedral Quire and listened to the boy choristers singing the responses, psalm,  anthem etc.  Always a relaxing and uplifting way to spend a half hour.   On our return we got together for drinks in the hotel bar prior to being joined for dinner by our good friends  the Rt Rev Michael Turnbull and his wife, Brenda.  Michael kindly said grace and later regaled us with some interesting aspects of the Church of England.

After dinner we walked in the gathering darkness back to the Buttermarket to meet the Very Revd Robert Willis DL, Dean of the Cathedral.  Robert was waiting for us at the Christ Gate and invited us in to the unlit Cathedral.  Presenting each of us with a candle as our only illumination the Dean eventually guided us to the place where Thomas a Becket had been murdered.  We next moved down to the atmospheric Crypt where many services are conducted and then later up into the Quire and climbing up several steps eventually reached the Chair of St Augustine into which Justin Welby was recently installed and enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury by the Dean.   It was a memorable visit into a cathedral in the peace of the night which everyone found an emotional experience.

Friday morning found us at The Tower House visiting the newly installed Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Mrs Heather Taylor.  Women power was alive and kicking in Canterbury for the Deputy Mayor and Sheriff was Mrs Ann Taylor – no relation, and the Lady Mayoress was Mrs Linda Taylor, daughter in law to Heather.  TheThree Taylors!  The Lord Mayor gave us an introduction to the regalia and treasures of the City, including a really fine sword and Mace.  The visit included coffee and later we were shown the Guildhall where the Council meets.  Our next stop was the Freemasons Museum of Kent for a quick visit and then on to the Beaney Institute where there are some fine oil paintings of cattle and sheep by Thomas Cooper.

We met for lunch at 12.30pm in a private room overlooking the exquisite 16^th Century Weavers Houses on the river.   After a lunch in which we enjoyed fine fellowship I had to say my goodbyes and depart with the Consort in an effort to reach Telford by road in good time for a Black Tie Dinner.

We made it!  By all accounts all enjoyed their 24 hour sojourn in Canterbury, which certainly looked splendid bathed in sunshine throughout the visit.

With our tour guide in Canterbury

Inside the Cathedral after our tour with the Dean and cat

Royal Chelsea Hospital Wednesday 5th June

All Livery Company Masters and Clerks were invited to the Governor’s Review, which is an annual event held by the Royal Hospital to commemorate its founding by King Charles II.  Founder’s Day is held as close as possible to the King’s birthday and the date of his restoration as King in May 1660. This day is also known as Oak Apple Day as it commemorates the escape of the future King after the battle of Worcester in 1651 when he hid in an oak tree to avoid capture by the Parliamentary forces.  The reviewing officer this year was Lord Shuttleworth KCVO, Chairman of the Association of Lord Lieutenants of the United Kingdom.

Last time I was at the Hospital was when my good friend General Lord Walker was Governor from 2006 – 2011. He will host our Court Dinner in December at the House of Lords. The present Governor is General Sir Redmond Watt. It was a stunning summer’s day and I sat and watched as the Band of the Irish Guards played and the Scots Guards gave a trumpet fanfare from the roof while the Governor and Lord Shuttleworth inspected the proud red coated and very upright In-Pensioners, also chatting to those in wheel chairs and those not able to stand for long periods.

The Chaplain, the Reverend Dick Whittington MBE, said the Royal Hospital Collect and then three cheers for the Chelsea Pensioners were requested by the Governor with the Pensioners hats raised high each time.  We were advised that a tour of the Hospital with a Chelsea Pensioner or two could elicit many fascinating stories of the Hospital and its inhabitants.

Special thanks were given for all the wonderful carers that look after the residents.  Thanks were also expressed for the many Livery Company Masters present (a record number I was advised) and we then adjourned to the South Terrace for drinks.  The building and its grounds are marvellous and I again glimpsed the interior which I have visited before.  Hip, hip Hoorah!

Mobility Scooters provide a handy vehicle for parading purposes

Visit to Guildhall Library - Monday 3rd June

We were given an interesting and informative insight into the history of Guildhall and its library in particular by Peter Ross, the Librarian.  A library was originally established using funds in the legacy of Lord Mayor and Mercer Richard Whittington but we learned that the Duke of Somerset requisitioned all the books for his new library at Somerset House.  He was executed for exceeding his duties.
The current library has 200,000 titles and has been established since 1820 - positioned in various locations around Guildhall.  It includes a first folio edition of Shakespeare, the copy of Magna Carta and the Bills of Mortality since 1665. Since 1880 it has housed the Stock Exchange collection and Lloyds of London registrations from 1740.
A display had been set out by Peter for the Marketors and guests present - some with great marketing interest and these items were introduced to us and explained.  There is certainly much to interest for anyone with the time to spend a day browsing or doing research - this has to be the most comprehensive information source on London and its history and complements the Museum of London.
Afterwards we adjourned to the Globe at Moorgate for a supper and some excellent fellowship.  The event was brilliantly conceived and organised by Laurie Young.