Master Water Conservator

The Installation Court was held in the magnificent setting of the Apothecaries’ Hall. The focus of the Court meeting was on the growth of the Company and increased activity and income. The Company was very pleased to welcome Liam Hogg, Lee Morton and Gerald O’Shaughnessy as new Liverymen, and Martin Ballard, Avtar Jirh, Tom Morton, Michael Nates, Lina Nieto, Elizabeth Price, Mark Smith, John Ward, Judy West and John Wylie as new Freemen of the Company.

My thank you event for the Court and Company had to involve water, so what better way than a sunset cruise on the Thames!   I wanted a memorable expression of thanks to members of the Court, Past Masters, Fellow Masters, Consorts and friends. I took the advice of the Master Waterman and approached several companies to hire a boat for the evening. The first we declined when we found that the catering was not of the required standard. Everything was going well for the second boat until I advertised it to the Court and had more responses than could fit on the boat. So we got a bigger boat and filled it. The caterer was concerned how they could feed us all but I was confident it would work. On Monday morning I took a call from the boat company to say that the refuelling on Saturday night had resulted in contaminated oil getting to the engine and they offered a fourth boat …. the Wellington ! I politely declined, as I knew the Wellington would not be cruising anywhere. Eventually they fo

The Club was founded in 1914 and is co-located with the Little Ships Club on Bell Lane near Southwark Bridge overlooking the Thames. It offers meeting rooms, a bar and accommodation. It is a useful stopping point between meetings and somewhere to re-energise and change. Over a few beers and nibbles I reconnected with other Masters and had a soft sell from the Club. They are offering reduced membership for companies and Masters and have just announced free membership for the Master in their year of office.   An attractive opportunity!   Grateful thanks to our hosts.

The influence and responsibility of the Lord Mayor of the City of London stretches well beyond the Square Mile. The City of London’s original jurisdiction over the River Thames started at a line to the west of Southend on the borders with Leigh, across the river to Yantlet Creek on the Isle of Grain.   The upper reach of the City’s jurisdiction is at Staines.   At each of these locations there is a stone obelisk marker. The City’s claim to the river dates from when the City of London purchased the right from Richard I in 1197.   The City of London was able to charge tolls, control activities such as fishing on the river, and exercise other legal powers over river use, including navigation.   The City of London also controlled part of the River Medway to Upnor on the boundary with Rochester. As the exact powers of the City and their ability to apply them to the River Thames and Medway were frequently in dispute, officials of the City continued to visit the stones regularly until the

After strenuous efforts for find a date that was convenient to everyone, a group of Company Members visited Bletchley Park to discover the incredible achievements of Britain's World War Two Codebreakers.   We were ably guided by Court Assistant Christine Jarvis who is an expert on London and well beyond.   As several of the group had travelled considerable distances to get there we started with a cup of coffee/tea.   We then joined a guided tour of the site, learning much about its history and the people who worked there. It is amazing but only recently are we finding much out about the thousands who worked there.   Numbers of staff rose from 180 to over 9000.   The silence is a reflection of the high level of secrecy that surrounded their work which was respected by them.   We learnt about the collaboration with the French, US and Polish intelligence communities and saw the memorial to the Polish Codebreakers who led the initial work.   We heard about the brilliant minds and com

Ever since its foundation by the then Lord Mayor Sir William Purdie Treloar in 1907, Lord Mayors of the City of London have supported Treloar’s School & College for disabled young people.   Mansion House hosted a Gala Dinner for Treloar’s in April (I believe this is an annual event).   New this year, and in addition, was the Treloar’s Afternoon Tea Party, which had been planned for some considerable months beforehand. Hats were encouraged, according to the invitation – and what a wonderful display of headwear there was!   As many of the ladies had been to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party relatively recently, some of the hats were quite stunning – although no one could compete with the Master Gold & Silver Wyre Drawer!   Male guests felt outnumbered but some wore hats too! The Tea Party took all afternoon, beginning with a drinks reception at 12.30pm.   Activities were carefully structured around various “courses” of afternoon tea.   Round tables for ten people were beau

Martin and I were delighted to be invited as guests to the Company of Communicators’ Summer Reception, for many reasons: we were glad of an opportunity to support Master Sally and her Consort Paul; it sounded a lovely relaxed summer’s evening activity after a hectic Livery Weekend in London; and it was at Girdlers’ Hall, a rather exclusive venue. It is such a pleasant surprise to discover Girdlers’ Hall, with the appearance of a Georgian country home, nestling in the shadow of the City’s skyscrapers, its stone columns and brick façade a comforting contrast to the concrete and steel surrounding it (even though it was only completed in 1961!).   The Hall is a stone’s throw from Moorgate Station, in close proximity to the Guildhall. We arrived early, so pre-empted the military escort, and had time to appreciate the magnificent Tudor Bell carpet on display in the Livery Hall. A champagne reception took us out to the beautiful restorative gardens where a jazz trio was playing gently.